Gentlemen, first and foremost let me just say that this is my first post on the RD forum here at The Purists. I’d have put in more thought on this maiden post  if not for time constraint. Still, I am very much compelled to write this post albeit with some help.

So about a month or two ago, I visited a very good friend of mine who is a big Roger Dubuis fan ;-) As always, the discussions revolved around the philosophy of watch collecting and the like, and I was - and still am - at the receiving end of this friend's gratuitous advice on watch collecting.

Having been quite the sucker for chronographs, I asked my mate "what would be a good chronograph to buy under 20K?" Well the reply was Roger Dubuis, after a short pause.

So that's where it ALL started. However, he did not recommend the Hommage, instead the recommendations were of the Excalibur line. Thereafter, one search led to another on the internet and I discovered much to my delight, the Hommage series of Mr. Roger Dubuis. Since I was inclined towards classical watches, the love for the Hommage series was one of first sight.

I soon found myself pouring through dealer websites in hope of finding one for sale. A few popped up on the internet as 'for sale' but they were all sold to my chagrin. With some help from my good friend, I also managed to bid for one RD H40 in white gold on Christie's but alas, I was not awarded the watch. Finally, my search for treasure led me to Taiwan, and with even more help from a colleague who flew in to Taipei for his honeymoon, the deal was sealed -- I was made an offer I couldn't refuse. I finally became the owner of a Roger Dubuis Hommage ref. H40, the first of many to come (I hope).

Now, I did say I had some help with this post.....and that's with the pictures. My other mate and watch blogger the Raphmeister had kindly offered to shoot my timepiece and allowed me to use them for this post, so here you go, some quick and dirty but beautiful shots of the Roger Dubuis

Lying on my pocket square 

A close up of the black guilloche dial that shimmers at various angles -- very mesmerizing!

The classy RD logo on the crown and the etchings on the chrono pushers are both remindful of Mr. Dubuis' attention for detail

The deployant buckle

The movement:

And one last shot, just because

I’d simply say,  this classical chronograph is one for the ages – it is an important piece that had been flying under the radar. I love it because it has character and doesn’t pretend to be a PP 5070. To sum up why I love this watch:

1. Heritage and provenance (Mr Dubuis’ link with Patek Philippe)

2. The Poinçon de Genève

3. The Lemania CH27 movement, apt and important

4. The 40mm case is perfect for a classical watch

5. The glorious looking deployant buckle

6. The guilloche dial being a work of art

7. The clever mix of baton/Arabic numeral markers

8. The black guilloche dial/rose gold case is a beautiful combination

9. The price……..is very competitive! Relative to the PP 5070

Last but not least, I just have to say I’m enjoying this watch so much because it reminds of my fellowship and time spent with that good friend of mine. If you have made it this far, thank you for your time.

Best,

Gatsby