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Patek Philippe 5070 without the hype and the ransom. In a nutshell, that's the Roger Dubuis Hommage Chronograph H40-56. This maverick-designed 40mm 18-karat white gold goes blow-for-blow with Geneva's best on every level from style to substance and comes out unbowed... and defiant.
Truth be told, there are two fundamental types of Roger Dubuis luxury watch. There are the oversized sports and lifestyle models designed to mix the currents of traditional finish and contemporary tastes. And then there are the Roger Dubuis purists' pieces, the ones Roger designed to honor his city, his past, and his mentors.
The Roger Dubuis Hommage Chronograph falls into the latter column. Its classical proportions, graceful tapered lugs, pump pushers, and just-right 40mm diameter appeal to a connoisseur's sensibility.
Designed to complete with the likes of the Patek Philippe 5070, Vacheron Constantin Les Historiques Chronograph, and Breguet's finest, this Hommage Chronograph levels the playing field with a stunning salmon dial that guarantees double-takes among even the most jaded watch enthusiasts.
Roger Dubuis combines a vintage-style "railroad" chapter ring, tachymeter scale, twin register chronograph, and selective use of heat-blued cobalt chronograph hands to electrify first-hand viewers.
Salmon-colored dials are a rarity in high horology; the selection of such a dramatic canvas is followed by masterstrokes with polished white gold Arabic numerals, stick indices, and skeletonized feuille hands.
Roger Dubuis himself takes the reigns of the horsepower within; the caliber RD 56 was regulated by the master himself prior to its chronometer certification. Early Roger Dubuis chronometers such as this Hommage Chronograph were submitted to the historic observatory at Besancon, France for validation.
Compared to the common and recently prominent COSC chronometer test, the French standard is more selective, exclusive, and deeply-rooted in the golden age of 18-19th century horology. Roger Dubuis himself is named as the regulator of this RD 56 movement by the Besancon authority's certification document.
But observatory chronometer credentials are only the beginning of this caliber's story. Geneva Seal finishing standards have been applied throughout; cotes de Geneve, mirror-polished screw heads, a capped column wheel, gleaming anglage, and a tight baseplate perlage pattern demonstrate the substance in this RD chronograph's title; the Roger Dubuis Hommage Chronograph is a true homage to the city, tradition, and best practices of Geneva.
Beyond its sterling resume of certifications, the RD-56 caliber boasts an impressive pedigree. Based on the same column wheel Lemania 2300-series chronograph as the first Omega Speedmaster Professional moon watches, the Patek Philippe 5070, the Vacheron Constantin Patrimony Traditionnelle Chronograph, VC Les Historiques Chronograph, and the Breguet Chronograph Classique 5287... well, you get the picture.
See this hidden gem of the luxury watch collector's market in its full white gold/salmon dial glory. View high resolution images of this Roger Dubuis Hommage Chronograph H40 on www.thewatchbox.com
Video and content by Tim Mosso