Hommage H37 | Rose Gold

Believed to be limited to 28 pieces, this Roger Dubuis Hommage H37 is a striking execution of the watchmaker's distinctive Hommage design. It combines a rose gold case with an intricately engraved black dial, powered by a practical automatic movement, based on the high-quality Lemania 8810 ébauche.

The Design

This time-only piece is perhaps the purest incarnation of the Hommage concept, paring it back to its most essential components. As the name suggests, the Hommage pieces were designed as a homage to the great watchmakers of the past, according to Dubuis himself. In practice, this meant classic, vintage-leaning designs, combined with refined mechanical movements. This piece is a perfect execution of the concept, with its 37mm rose gold case and subtle details. 

It features an intricately engraved wave-form like pattern, radiating from the central pinion. Striking, polished applied Breguet numerals surround this in rose gold, complimenting the case and dauphine hands. This style of numerals first appeared just before the French Revolution, when Abraham-Louis Breguet helped to cement the style. Since then, these cursive numerals have been used on a range of prestigious timepieces, though they've become most associated with vintage watches from Patek Philippe. The printed minute track and rose gold applied numerals form an appealing contrast against the engraved, dark surface, helping with overall legibility. The dauphine hands are sharply finished, with the two different portions of the hand reflecting the light in different ways.

The case is subtle and discrete, with its finely polished bezel and lugs, contrasting with a delicately brushed mid-case, a subtle nod to vintage dress watches from the past. Though this piece is fitted with a sapphire crystal, it is also accompanied by an additional closed caseback, which features fine perlage on the inside. 

The movement

The watch is powered by the Calibre RD 57, based on a Lemania 8810 ébauche. One of the highest quality base automatic movements available at the time, the Lemania 8810 was also used for the brand's perpetual calendar, as well as being integrated by other watchmakers of the time, such as Daniel Roth.

The movement bears the Seal of Geneva and was regulated by Roger Dubuis himself. At the time of production, it was only Patek Philippe movements that carried the Geneva Seal, hence why Dubuis felt that it was crucial to have the same hallmark of quality. The seal focuses on the art of decorating a movement with finesse and skill, in the style of Genevan watchmaking. 

The movement is revealed through an engraved sapphire case-back, featuring a 25-jewel, a monometallic balance adjusted to 5 positions, a self-compensating Breguet spring and a swan-neck micrometer regulator. As indicated by the "Bulletin d'Observatoire" signature on the dial, this movement was tested for accuracy at the Besançon Observatory, setting far more exacting standards than a test from the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC).

The Set

This watch is accompanied by its original black alligator Roger Dubuis strap and rose gold tang buckle, in addition to a bespoke Anthracite strap in grained leather

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