House of Retrograde
Nothing stands still
Before the Maison even had a name, it had a signature: the retrograde system. Driven by an instinct to break away from static symmetry, Mr. Roger Dubuis envisioned a display that performed time rather than simply telling it. Instead of a full circle, the hand traces a sculpted arc and snaps back to zero the moment it reaches its limit.
Today, the House of Retrograde brings together every creation shaped by that vision. Today, this legacy lives on.
Welcome to a world where time refuses to stand still.
A Founding Signature
The retrograde mechanism represents the very first signature of the Maison. Mr. Roger Dubuis co-patented this specific complication in 1989, six years before the official registration of his company in 1995. The House of Retrograde celebrates this thirty-year legacy by returning to these authentic watchmaking origins.
The Architect’s Personal Manifesto
Driven by a fascination with mechanical complexity, Mr. Roger Dubuis dreamed up the bi-retrograde system to bridge the gap between rigorous watchmaking and raw emotion. It was a personal obsession, so much so that a Bi-retrograde was the very timepiece the founder chose to wear every day.
This display serves as the true foundation of the Maison, a signature complication that has gracefully evolved across several of the brand’s most iconic collections over time.
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"The watch has always been an object that stirs emotion."
Mr. Roger Dubuis
Exploration of the Retrograde
01.
Rythmic defiance
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A foundation for what's next
03.
Exploration of the retrograde
01.
Reimagining the dial
A hand travels along a circular arc, builds suspense, and then instantly snaps back to zero. This unique system relies on a snail cam and rack mechanism to trigger an immediate, theatrical jump.
A Split-Second Resurrection
By replacing concealed discs with these striking displays, Roger Dubuis transforms the dial into a stage for a "planetary ballet" performed right on your wrist.
Rythmic defiance
02.
Defying Stillness
Rejecting the stillness of tradition, the retrograde system brings a playful dynamism to the dial, transforming time into a vivid performance. It is a signature of pure expression, where mechanical tension meets the joy of the unexpected.
Orchestrating complexity
By pairing the retrograde with tourbillons and minute repeaters, the Maison continues to prove that calendar complications never have to be unimaginative. Whether through a single, bi-, or tri-retrograde display, Roger Dubuis harmonizes the rhythm of the stars with the pulse of contemporary life.
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A Foundation for What's Next
03.
The Continuum of Craft
The House of Retrograde stands as the anchor of the future. From the historic Hommage La Placide to the Excalibur Bi-Retrograde, these timepieces honor a legacy of theatrical Haute Horlogerie, reflecting a vibrant dialogue between heritage and modernity.
A Living Signature
Present across current collections and executed to the standards of the Poinçon de Genève, the Retrograde will continue to shape the Maison’s Timepieces with architectural clarity and mechanical discipline.
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