Royal Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani spotted wearing a Roger Dubuis

Prince Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, younger brother of the Emir of Qatar and a prominent figure in international sports governance, was recently photographed wearing one of the most technically audacious watches in the Roger Dubuis catalogue — the Excalibur Spider Carbon Flying Tourbillon, reference RDDBEX0752. The sighting adds another landmark piece to a wrist portfolio that routinely favours limited-production, haute horlogerie-grade complications.

The RDDBEX0752 is built around Roger Dubuis's in-house calibre RD505SQ, a manually wound flying tourbillon movement that carries the Geneva Seal — a certification requiring every component, including movement finishing, to meet strict Genevan standards. The flying tourbillon operates without the traditional upper bridge clamping the cage, leaving it visually suspended in the dial architecture. The skeletonized construction strips the movement to its structural essentials, and every remaining surface is finished to Geneva Seal specification: anglaged edges, polished bevels, and côtes de Genève striping on the bridges. Power reserve sits at approximately 60 hours.

The case material defines this reference's identity. Roger Dubuis used a multi-layer carbon composite construction for the 45mm Excalibur Spider case, producing a component that is simultaneously stiffer than steel, lighter than titanium, and visually distinct with its characteristic dark weave texture. The octagonal bezel — a design signature of the Excalibur Spider lineage since its introduction in the mid-2010s — is rendered entirely in carbon, eliminating any conventional metal componentry from the exterior. Water resistance is rated to 30 metres, appropriate for a dress-exotic piece of this calibre.

With production limited to 28 numbered pieces globally, the RDDBEX0752 occupies a genuinely rarefied tier even within Roger Dubuis's consistently limited output. The Geneva manufacture deliberately keeps production volumes low across its range, but a 28-piece edition places this reference in direct competition with the most exclusive offerings from Voutilainen, F.P. Journe, or Richard Mille on the scarcity axis. Collector interest in carbon-cased flying tourbillons from independent-leaning Swiss houses has intensified through the 2020s, and the Geneva Seal on a skeletonized movement remains a technically credible differentiator.

Prince Joaan, a trained equestrian and IOC member, has appeared publicly with watches ranging from Patek Philippe complications to contemporary Richard Mille sports pieces. His choice of the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Spider Carbon Flying Tourbillon signals an appreciation for movement transparency and material innovation over brand convention. At a UK list price of £248,500, the RDDBEX0752 sits firmly in the stratum where allocation and relationships matter more than retail availability.