Roger Dubuis
Reference H40 500 Hommage Monopoussoir | A rare limited edition white gold single-button observatory chronograph wristwatch, numbered 11 out of 28 pieces, Circa 1999
Auction Closed
June 15, 08:08 PM GMT
Estimate
25,000 - 50,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Dial: white
Caliber: cal. 50 mechanical, 16 jewels
Movement number: 37
Case: 18k white gold, screw down sapphire crystal display back
Case number: limited edition 11/28
Closure: 18k white gold Roger Dubuis folding clasp
Size: 40 mm diameter
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: yes
Accessories: Roger Dubuis presentation box with outer packaging, Certificate of Origin dated July 23, 1999, Bulletin de Marche, Certificate of Origin for the watch movement, leather folder, and operating instructions book
Before establishing his eponymous brand, Roger Dubuis spent over a decade at Longines and Patek Philippe, where he specialized in high complications. After 14 years at Patek Philippe, he left to establish his own restoration atelier in Geneva in 1980, where he also developed movements for other brands. It was not until the mid-1990s, however, that he co-founded his own manufacturer.
The earliest Roger Dubuis timepieces were immediately embraced by collectors, as they recaptured the spirit of traditional Genevan watchmaking, so closely associated with Patek Philippe, while introducing a distinctive and more expressive design language. Dubuis’s intent to position his brand among the greats was evident, from his pursuit of the prestigious Geneva Seal for his movements to the refinement of details such as his proprietary deployant clasps.
As its name suggests, the “Hommage” collection pays tribute to the great watchmakers of the past. Its design draws inspiration from celebrated Patek Philippe references such as the 130 and the “Tasti Tondi” ref. 1463, while remaining unmistakably Dubuis in its artistic execution and elegant proportions.
Produced in three case sizes: 34 mm, 37 mm, and 40 mm, the models were made in highly limited numbers, with each configuration was produced in series of 28 examples. The present watch, housed in a 40 mm case, features the distinctive H40 profile with its polished, stepped concave bezel and sculptural lugs. Its restrained monochromatic dial is accented by a blue chronograph seconds hand and 30-minute counter, and further distinguished by the presence of a single chronograph pusher at 2 o’clock.
In the early years of the brand, Roger Dubuis produced a small number of monopusher chronographs. While most examples integrate the pusher within the crown at 3 o’clock and are powered by the RD caliber 65 (based on the Lemania 2310), a rarer subset, such as the present model, features a pusher at 2 o’clock in an asymmetrical configuration. These watches are powered by the RD caliber 50, based on the Lemania 2220, widely regarded as a precursor to the 2310.
The present example, coming to auction from the family of the original owner, is preserved in excellent overall condition and is offered complete with its full set of original accessories.