In the distant lands of Northern Ireland, there is a coastline where the Atlantic crashes against fractured earth shaped like hexagons. Known as the Giant’s Causeway, hexagonal pillars rise from the sea like nature's own puzzle—its unique structure giving life to mythology and legends. Among them is the story of Merlin, the legendary Arthurian wizard who is said to have once stood on this very coastline. Here, he could sense the potent magic of the basalt stones, lifting these hexagonal wonders from the sea and spreading them out with enchanting geometry.
It's this sublime magic that Roger Dubuis recaptures in their latest masterpiece, Knights of the Round Table, the Omniscient Merlin. The Maison has not only incorporated basalt into watch, but has assembled a diet of extraordinary materials to create a dial that mimics this mystical terrain in miniature.
56 individual blocks are patiently mounted by hand, each carefully positioned at a variety of heights to echo the complex and storied landscape. Basalt, pink gold, black grass in the Murano style, and transparent glass sit on a base plate of 18K pink gold, working in tandem and contrasting with each other to create an interplay of shadows and light. Slightly angling some blocks helps accentuate the depth of the dial, avoiding a standard honeycomb effect.
All this sets the stage for the main event. At the watch’s edge, twelve knights stand at the ready, each claiming an hour mark with a unique pose. If you look close enough, you’ll find a personality behind every figure at the Round Table. To imbue each knight with the detail of the slimmest weapon or the nuances of a worn helmet, each figure requires up to three days of meticulous craftsmanship to complete.
Now, it's time we float back down to reality a little and talk about the more grounded features. The watch itself has an imposing presence—measuring 45mm in diameter, and 16.87mm thick—yet it looks lighter and more compact in person than the numbers might suggest. This effect is partly due to the cleverly designed front sapphire crystal that extends beneath the bezel, allowing light to flitter in and offering a clear view of the dial from the side. On the caseback, you’ll find a 360-degree oscillating weight, designed to evoke the stained-glass windows of the medieval age. Encircling this is perhaps the hardest engraving you’ll ever see on a watch.
“Around this table, the bravest knights will gather as equals. They will set forth in search of adventure, righting wrongs, protecting the weak and humbling the proud.”
I like to think that this quote inspires the automatic Monobalancier RD821 calibre beating within, driving it to operate steadily at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a power reserve of 48-hours.
The Omniscient Merlin is just one of the many in the Knights of the Round Table series that Roger Dubuis has released but it is the first to be offered to the public. With only 28 pieces crafted, the invitation has been extended—although the choice is ultimately yours to decide whether you want claim to a seat at this exclusive round table.
