This year, the Roger Dubuis Maison was the protagonist of the official launch in Japan of its "Powered by Raging Mechanics" partnership with the iconic supercar manufacturer Lamborghini Squadra Corse. Inspired by Lamborghini's interest in Japanese culture last year with the launch of a unique and unrepeatable spider, the Geneva-based Maison paid tribute to the five elements of Nihon culture with a limited edition series of the watch resulting from its collaboration with Lamborghini: the Excalibur Aventador S. For Roger Dubuis, the choice of Japan as the ideal location to celebrate its partnership with Lamborghini Squadra Corse was both instinctive and logical. Indeed, the Land of the Rising Sun represents a key region for the Manufacture, which feels great respect for this culture, at once ancient and avant-garde. In particular, the Swiss manufacturer was very impressed by the strong presence of the elements (water, earth, wind, fire and sky), which characterise the very essence of this fascinating land. At the end of 2017, Lamborghini Squadra Corse celebrated its 50th anniversary in Tokyo with the launch of the Aventador S Roadster 50th Anniversary Japan: a limited edition of five unique cars representing the five elements. The first is a dark blue shaded version that recalls water, while the others will be unveiled in November. Each model is unique. In this 2018, Roger Dubuis thus joins Lamborghini Squadra Corse in paying tribute to Japanese culture and its key values of respect and strength with the presentation of five spectacular watches also inspired by the five elements. For the three-day launch event in Japan, the Maison outdid itself by offering participants an adrenaline-fuelled mix. The atypical presentation of this truly explosive limited series was held from 1-3 June at the Terrada Space in Tokyo, a location in stark contrast to the linear design that characterises Lamborghini Squadra Corse and the Excalibur Aventador S timepieces themselves. Here, in the heart of this original and virile setting made even more incisive by motorsport-inspired design elements, a select group of lucky guests attended a dinner set amidst some of Lamborghini's latest supercars, including the Huracan Super Trofeo Evo. The world premiere Excalibur Aventador S line-up, powered by an unprecedented calibre co-designed with Lamborghini Squadra Corse exclusively for this collection, is covered by no less than five motorsport-inspired patents. The solid 45 mm C-SMC carbon case features design elements borrowed from Japanese culture in homage to the Japanese inspiration that drives Roger Dubuis' partner Raging Mechanics. Among other peculiarities, each timepiece is characterised by the symbol of an element - which presented a series of technical challenges for both watchmakers and mechanical engineers. In addition, all the straps, which recall the upholstery of the Lamborghini Squadra Corse cars, are made of Nero Ade leather and Nero Cosmus Alcantara, bear the Y symbol, which in Japanese culture represents bamboo, and have stitching to match the colour of the exterior. Just like the cars, the calibre features a hexagonal carbon plate with the Japanese symbol of the element that identifies each model.
