A Night Of Ping Pong And Glow In The Dark Watches With Roger Dubuis
At Spin New York 23, Roger Dubuis launched the first-ever timepiece to feature luminescent diamonds in various hues, the limited edition Excalibur EON Gold Glow Me Up.
By Jessica “J.J.” Owens
Contributor
What do you get when you mix ping pong and haute horology? An event that is quintessentially Roger Dubuis. Never one to shy away from amusement, the brand took a different approach when launching its latest timepiece.
True to Roger Dubuis’ mantra of an “innovative spirit, flagrant disregard for convention and irrepressible daringness,” the new Excalibur models depict the same boldness of past collections coupled with the latest luminescent technology.
A Horological Glow Stick
Tasked with unveiling three technological wonders, Roger Dubuis did anything but the ordinary. By partnering with Swedish bedding company Hastens Sleep Spa, the brand hosted a glow-in-the-dark pajama party with a side of ping pong at the New York social club, Spin23.
Perfectly complementing the brand’s je ne sais quoi, the night was the ideal dose of off-kilter fun to launch the brand’s latest releases featuring revolutionary technology in the form of luminescent and backlit elements.
The King of the Court
Displayed prominently on a Roger Dubuis emblazoned ping pong table, the EON Gold Glow Me Up watch certainly shined the brightest in the dimly table tennis arena of Spin23.
The first-ever watch to include luminescent diamonds in various hues, the Gold Glow Me Up bezel features 60 baguette-cut diamonds. But to make the watch unmistakable in the dark, the diamonds are set in grooves filled with Super-LumiNova. Filling the settings with lume is accomplished through a propriety process that, once complete, makes the diamonds appear to be glowing without any adjustments.
Not to be forgotten, the chambers of the calibre are also treated with the Super-LumiNova luminescent process, thus making the star-shaped bridge have the same glow-in-the-dark capabilities as the diamond-set bezel.
Out of the Box and into the Enjoyment
At a watch event like no other, the jovial and funky atmosphere at Spin23 gave way to a whole new wave of what an haute horology release could be. Upon receiving the invitation, the combination of highly complicated timepieces, ping pong, and a bedding company made little sense. But maybe that’s the point.
After countless Zoom presentations and virtual events, it was exceedingly refreshing to play ping pong and wear a few glow sticks while experiencing the new Glow Me Up and Excalibur pieces. The event brought its attendees back to a time where what mattered was the enjoyment and wow factor of a watch, even if it had to be done via phosphorescent plastic necklaces.
Haphazard as it may seem, the unveiling was very memorable due to the surrounding atmosphere. The latest Roger Dubuis novelties are just as exuberant as the event, solidifying the company’s belief that every second of life should be epic.
With only eight timepieces produced, the Excalibur EON Gold Glow Me Up retails for $215,000 and is available now.
For more information, visit the Roger Dubuis website.
(Images © Roger Dubuis)
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