Comments:
I love the old RD models and it’s such a pity that Diaz had to sell it! 😔
A wide selection of Roger Dubuis 'Much More'
Given my love for vintage Patek Philippe rectangular watches with 'exploding numerals', I thought it would be interesting to browse one of the modern interpretations of this design offered by Roger Dubuis with the 'Much More' model.
credit: Fratello
Side by side with the Franck Muller Long Island
credit: @gondololeiloes
credit: Bonnano Roma
credit: @the_ethical_hedonist
credit: The Huntington Company
credit: European Watch Company
credit: FutureGrail auction
credit: @h.m.montre
credit: @theydid
credit: prestigetime.com
credit: @vintage_universal.1954
credit: The Huntington Company
credit: estatesconsignments
credit: catawiki
credit: @cosimo_watches
credit: bernsteinwatchco
credit: timetunnel-jp
credit: Bruno.M1 aka @collectible_watches through @ watchpurists
credit: swisshours.com
credit: @quiedora_watches
credit: @pnftimes
credit: timetunnel-jp
2/ ROMAN NUMERALS
credit: Bruno.M1 aka @collectible_watches
credit: Stories of Time
credit: FutureGrail auction
credit: timetunnel-jp
credit: @jonhochman
credit: @3wluxury
credit: The Watch Club London
credit: @horologybythesea
credit: Watch Collecting
credit: Ticking Way
credit: Christie’s
credit: @vintagewatchesmiami
credit: Christie’s
credit: Watch Collectors
credit: Loupe This
credit: Watch Shop Croatia
I hope you won't hold it against me for not having collected all the data (size, model and caliber ref. number, etc.): it simply takes me far too much time.
The watches are presented in four categories, within which I have distinguished each time between dials with Arabic numerals and those with Roman numerals:
- Time Only - Hours & Minutes
- Time Only with Small Seconds at 9 o'clock
- Monopusher Chronograph
- Perpetual Calendar (this category is subdivided into 'classic' and bi-retrograde display)
Best, Emmanuel
A/ TIME ONLY - HOURS & MINUTES
1/ ARABIC NUMERALS
credit: Fratello
Side by side with the Franck Muller Long Island
credit: @gondololeiloes
credit: Bonnano Roma
credit: @the_ethical_hedonist
credit: The Huntington Company
credit: European Watch Company
credit: FutureGrail auction
2/ ROMAN NUMERALS
credit: @h.m.montre
credit: @theydid
credit: prestigetime.com
credit: @vintage_universal.1954
3/ MIX OF ARABIC & ROMAN NUMERALS
credit: The Huntington Company
credit: estatesconsignments
B/ TIME ONLY WITH SMALL SECONDS AT 9 O'CLOCK
1/ ARABIC NUMERALS
credit: catawiki
credit: @cosimo_watches
credit: bernsteinwatchco
credit: timetunnel-jp
2/ ROMAN NUMERALS
credit: Bruno.M1 aka @collectible_watches through @ watchpurists
C/ MONOPUSHER CHRONOGRAPH
1/ ARABIC NUMERALS
credit: swisshours.com
credit: @quiedora_watches
credit: @pnftimes
credit: timetunnel-jp
2/ ROMAN NUMERALS
credit: Bruno.M1 aka @collectible_watches
credit: Stories of Time
credit: FutureGrail auction
credit: timetunnel-jp
D/ PERPETUAL CALENDARS
1/ CLASSIC (NON RETROGRADE) DISPLAY
a/ Arabic numerals
Side by side with a vintage Patek Philippe example
credit: @jonhochman
credit: @3wluxury
credit: The Watch Club London
b/ Roman numerals
credit: @horologybythesea
credit: Watch Collecting
credit: Ticking Way
2/ BI-RETROGRADE DISPLAY
a/ Arabic numerals
credit: Christie’s
credit: @vintagewatchesmiami
credit: Christie’s
credit: Watch Collectors
b/ Roman numerals
credit: Loupe This
BONUS: A SINGLE AND APPARENTLY VERY ELUSIVE ANNUAL CALENDAR
credit: Watch Shop Croatia
Those are some stunning Roger Dubuis "Much More" watches.
I came close to adding one of these watches on several occasions and really regret not adding one. My favourites are the Mono pusher chronographs with Calendar models a close second the only ones I am not too keen on are the biretrograde models as I feel it makes the dials look messy and confused.
Marc
My personal ideal combo would be
time only (hours/minutes) with oval minutes track and "Bulletin d'observatoire", but not with blue numerals like the one featured above!
I also like the Monopushers, though, and agree with you concerning the bi-retrograde.
Best, Emmanuel
I also like the Monopushers, though, and agree with you concerning the bi-retrograde.
Best, Emmanuel
Some really are cool…
And with some I cannot quite gel 🤷🏻♂️
Many of the two handed ones and the mono pusher ones I tend to quite like, the small seconds and PC ones are not universally attractive to me 🤷🏻♂️
But find the GMT ones quite interesting 👍🏻
Like you, I don't like all of them.
My favorite (the only one I would consider, really) is time only, no small seconds, arabic numerals, bulletin d'observatoire.
Best, Emmanuel
OMG, exploding numerals, what a term
Roman Numerals monopusher, i think it it enamel too, Best Ashot
Yes, it might be.
Swiss hours only say "ivory white dial"...
For me, simpler is better, but also with Bulletin d'observatoire.
Best, Emmanuel
Wow, thanks for sharing your wonderful example!
I think my personal favorite would feature oval minutes track, Arabic numerals and "bulletin d'observatoire", but your watch looks stunning nonetheless!
Cheers, "Much More" lover,
Emmanuel
The time only white dal blue numbers, and the white metal chronograph... Wow, exquisite.
With a name like "Much More" I really don't think restraint is the way to go.
And along with your viceral descriptor "Exploding Numerals" I'd have to go with the roman numerals time only. Roman numerals explode so well ! And how can we forget Franck Mueller's Party-on-the-Wrist Straight out of Alice in Wonderland Color Dreams Crazy Hours? Which all leads me to recall the architect Morris Lapidus, Mister "Too Much Is Never Enough" and his exuberant confections in Miami. Restraint? I don't think so! Rock On sebks!
Aha, I love your comment, Greg!
I personally prefer Arabic here, but I'm with you nonetheless. And I just need the "bulletin d'observatoire" mention: a detail? Well, no, since chronometry is what a great part of watchmaking is about.
Cheers, Emmanuel
Thanks for this comprehensive line-up of the „much more“ models of RD! 🤩🙏🏼
This was tremendous work! Very much appreciated! 🙏🏼
Personally - due to my very small wrists I am more in the „too much“ and „golden square“ league, so rather wide then long… 🤓
One day… but then again, if I see where the revisioning costs going… 🙈
I hope for more TV screen models - from my perspective so much undervalued…
Too long is a problem for me too.
TV Screen? Why not, yes!
Now, this is pure dream for me...
But I have to confess that my true dream would be to own a vintage Patek Philippe "exploding numerals" reference (featuring the Chronometro Gondolo mention, preferably: cf. below)...
Cheers, Emmanuel
Now, this is pure dream for me...
These are nice pieces with a lot of personality.
I bought a ladies version with diamonds for my wife and it's one of her favorite pieces.
I could see myself buying a man's version at some point...
John
It’s nice to know that your wife enjoys hers quite a bit.
I also think RD did a very nice job here.
But my true dream is a PP Chronometro Gondolo example…
Best, Emmanuel
But my true dream is a PP Chronometro Gondolo example…
Best, Emmanuel
Beautiful piece. I wonder if that PP was the first exploding numerals piece, and if not, which watchmaker made the first.
It is often said that the exploding numerals
were introduced by Patek Philippe around 1910 and I have found a site where a piece from 1910 is presented and said to be the earliest known made by PP.
Of course, one can’t be completely sure, but it seems likely…
All great looking watches but my fav would be The retrograde models .
Love this complication.
Very iconic.
I just find that it makes the dial a little busy and, most of all, it cancels four numerals: 2, 4, 8 & 10.
For a full 'exploding numerals' experience, I personally prefer the time only display, with Bulletin d'observatoire.
Best, Emmanuel
I think this is one of the prettiest watches
Got this for my sister's birthday long time ago. She still loves it . She did call me and asked how to change the battery because it stopped 🤣
RD made spectacular watches...
...in an immediately identifiable style, and then they suddenly lost their minds. The only nitpick on these is the lack of a shaped movement. But design-wise, they are special...
I fully agree with you.
Have been lucky enough to try on La Placide yesterday and they’ve done a good job resurrecting the model.
Will post about it later.
Best, Emmanuel
Will post about it later.
Best, Emmanuel
Wearing the M32 monopusher at lunch
Thank you for doing the photo-review! Mine has great weight balance, and it wears a bit long. Regards, Chk
