There’s a definite “Flintstones Meets Haute Horology” vibe to the “modern stone-age” design of the carbon Roger Dubuis Excalibur Carbon Skeleton. The dichotomy between its rough carbon case and meticulously-finished skeletonized movement (which requires 530 man-hours to complete) makes this watch utterly original. It’s also incredibly light due to the forged carbon case – and it sits so comfortably on the wrist that it’s easy to forget that you’re wearing a watch at all. The lightweight, ergonomically-designed clasp that comes with the Carbon Roger Dubuis Skeleton Automatic is one of the most comfortable that I’ve owned.

The micro-rotor is very efficient and it contributes to the overall aesthetic of the watch. The movement’s finishing is incredible; with details that are hard to adequately capture in photos. So much black polish. Note the detailed perlage on the movement’s bridges. New details emerge into prominence and fade back out again as it moves in and out of direct light. The texture of the finishing itself can seem very different in different lighting conditions. This was the first non-tourbillon skeletonized version of an Excalibur – and the movement finishing wasn’t dialed back. It’s on par with RDs that sell for many times the cost of this one. It’s expensive but a relative bargain by comparison.

At 42mm with only a little bit of red, the Roger Dubuis Excalibur Carbon Skeleton is also somewhat understated when compared to the colourful 45mm iterations that the brand is known for. My only caveat: legibility might be a problem for some – but I found an easy solution. My issue was that the red tips of the hands didn’t stand out enough for me in some lighting conditions, so my eyes sometimes needed an extra second or two to find them. I thought that a custom strap with red stitching might complement the red tips and make them pop more…and it did. Problem solved.