Watch Paparazzi

Royal Charles Gordon-Lennox spotted wearing Roger Dubuis

The Duke of Richmond Charles Gordon-Lennox was recently spotted on the wrist with the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Monobalancier Eon Gold, reference DBEX0954 — a watch that sits firmly at the intersection of fine horology and exhibition-grade skeletonisation. For a royal who presides over the Goodwood Estate and its celebrated Festival of Speed and Revival, a timepiece that foregrounds mechanical theatre is a natural fit.

At the technical core of the DBEX0954 sits the in-house RD720SQ automatic caliber, an evolution that brings the Excalibur Monobalancier's power reserve to 72 hours — a notable improvement over previous iterations in the line. The movement is Geneva Seal certified, a standard Roger Dubuis applies across its entire collection and one that demands hand-finishing to exacting tolerances on every visible and non-visible component. The single balance wheel, displayed without a traditional bridge at 6 o'clock, oscillates at 28,800 vph and anchors the movement's architecture visually as much as mechanically. The case is executed in Eon Gold, Roger Dubuis's proprietary 18-karat rose gold alloy developed for enhanced scratch resistance — a practical consideration in a case that costs as much as a small car.

The Excalibur line has been Roger Dubuis's flagship since the brand repositioned itself as a hyper-watchmaker under Richemont ownership in the mid-2000s. The round, multi-lug case with its Gothic-arch dial motifs draws on Arthurian iconography, and the Monobalancier variant has consistently been among the most legible and collector-friendly expressions — the openworked dial communicates depth without sacrificing wearability.

Among collectors, the DBEX0954 occupies a specific niche: it appeals to those who find full skeleton pieces visually overwhelming but want meaningful mechanical exposure. The Eon Gold case material and the upgraded RD720SQ movement make this reference a current-generation piece with genuine horological substance rather than purely a design exercise.

At a retail price of $77,000 USD, the Excalibur Monobalancier Eon Gold DBEX0954 positions itself against independent heavyweights in the skeletonised automatic segment. Grey-market availability remains limited given Roger Dubuis's controlled distribution. The Duke of Richmond's sighting adds a layer of aristocratic credibility to a brand that has traditionally cultivated a louder, more flamboyant image.