Chinese Zodiac Instead Of the Legends of King Arthur

A surprising interpretation of the Knights of the Round Table by Roger Dubuis.

Since the Excalibur Knights of the Round Table debuted in 2013, the model has experienced many reincarnations. It was first presented in a limited edition of 28 pieces, and visitors to SIHH were blown away by its twelve rose-gold knight figures positioned around the legendary Winchester Round Table.

Two years later, another model was released with the figures in bronze gathered around a table made of black jade. In 2018, it was followed by a third Arthurian legend which had a round table made from solid blocks of blue enamel. The enamel acquired a brownish-red hue the following year.

The brand is ringing in 2021 with a new interpretation of the well-known model. It's kept the same composition, but the knights have been replaced by the well-known animal signs from the Chinese zodiac. These figures also serve as twelve hour markers in the Excalibur Knights of the Round Table Chinese Zodiac Limited Edition.

The symbolic number twelve is also reflected in the number of limited edition pieces released. Models from the knight series had been released in 28 pieces, but now these models are limited to twelve. It's important to note that the watch actually has a 24-hour display.

Each figure is responsible for two hours, meaning the hour hand makes a full rotation every 24 hours. This is in keeping with the traditional ancient Chinese approach of 24-hour timekeeping. The Chinese divided the time the time between one midnight and the next into precisely twelve "dual hours" called shí (時; 时).

They were aligned with the Chinese ordering system known as the twelve "Earthly Branches" with signs for the duodecimal cycle, each of which has its own animal (the animals of the 12-year cycle are the same as those in the 12 "dual hours").

These can be seen on the dial with the finest of engraving, which has allowed even the tiny hairs to be defined. The micro-sculptures in the shape of animal heads are cast in rose gold, and the center of the dial is made of jade. The watch is equipped with the mechanical self-winding caliber RD821-6.

This movement consists of 172 parts, of which all faces are individually hand-finished. Unlike counterparts used in the Excalibur line, the RD821-6 facilitates a 24-hour display. The caliber has a 48-hour power reserve, with the movement enclosed in a 45-mm case.