Watch Paparazzi

Musician DJ Khaled spotted wearing Roger Dubuis

DJ Khaled has built one of the most documented watch collections in hip-hop, and his latest sighting adds a genuinely rare piece to that public record: the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Skeleton Double Flying Tourbillon Fully Paved with Baguette-Cut Diamonds, reference RDDBEX0406 — a watch classified by the brand as a Unique piece, meaning a single example produced to order.

At the heart of the RDDBEX0406 sits the Calibre RD01SQ, a manually wound skeletonized movement that carries the Poinçon de Genève — the Geneva Seal — arguably the most rigorous third-party quality certification in Swiss watchmaking. The movement powers two independent flying tourbillons positioned at six and twelve o'clock, each rotating on its own axis without a traditional bridge above the cage. The visual result on a fully open dial is close to kinetic sculpture. Operating frequency is 21,600 vph with a power reserve of approximately 60 hours.

The Excalibur line has anchored Roger Dubuis's identity since the brand was refounded under Richemont in the early 2000s, with the round case and gothic-inspired design language referencing Arthurian mythology. The double flying tourbillon configuration entered the collection as an apex complication, and the fully paved baguette variant pushes that further still. Baguette-cut stone setting — where each rectangular diamond must be individually cut and fitted to millimeter tolerances — is among the most labor-intensive disciplines in jewelry horology, reserved for the highest tier of any manufacturer's output.

DJ Khaled's affinity for statement watches is well established. His collection spans Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, and heavily customized Rolexes, and he has worn Roger Dubuis pieces publicly before. The RDDBEX0406 fits his aesthetic precisely: technically credible, visually unambiguous, and genuinely scarce. For a musician whose brand is built on maximum impact, a Geneva-sealed double tourbillon paved in baguettes is a coherent choice rather than simply an extravagant one.

The UK list price was reported at £120,000 at the time of original sale. As a Unique piece, secondary market pricing is effectively case-by-case; comparable fully paved Roger Dubuis tourbillon uniques have transacted between $200,000 and $350,000 at auction depending on provenance and stone quality. The RDDBEX0406 occupies a category where horological merit and gem value intersect — making it as relevant to a jeweler's loupe as to a movement enthusiast's.