This is one of the first 100 watches ever made by Roger Dubuis in the earliest years of his eponymous brand and is quite unusual for both its utterly restrained sector dial and palladium case. This H37 predates the tradition of individually numbered 'X/28' cases in the Hommage series and instead simply reads 'No 98' on its calibre RD57. Despite that, the calibre is still finished to the Geneva Seal standard and certified by the Besançon Observatory. And we for certain this watch was made by the master's hands himself.
The original purchaser of this watch, from whom it is consigned with us, had the chance to bring this watch in front of Roger Dubuis at a dinner upon Roger's first visit to the US in 2012. Mr. Dubuis was extremely surprised to see the watch again and said it was one of the very first he and Carlos Dias had created together. At the time, there were only four employees at Roger Dubuis. Mr. Dubuis remarked that he performed the production and final assembly. He was, when asked, uncertain how many of these early H37 series were made in palladium, only that the number was very small.
This Hommage 37 clearly echoes Roger's time at Patek Philippe, with a restrained sector dial, concave bezel, 3-body 37mm case with a brushed midcase, and graceful long lugs reminiscent of the ref. 130. The dial proudly displays its Observatory credentials and the maker's name, signed Swiss GQHM Made, an abbreviation for Geneva Quality Hallmark. Its hands are particularly sharp and well-finished under loupe. The calibre RD57 predates the brand's full manufacture calibres and is an altered Lemania 8810 ébauche which was finished to Geneva Seal standards and regulated in 5 positions by Roger himself with a swan-neck regulator and Breguet overcoil.
Early Roger Dubuis has enjoyed a bit of a renaissance in the rise of independent watchmaking in recent years. However, the scarcity of these truly early pieces has seen few come to market, despite collector's desire. This early sector dial is a perfectly judged blend of classic refinement with inspiration from the classics and Roger Dubuis own eye for style and proportion. The result is undeniably beautiful, not just a sector dial three-hander, not just an independent watch from before the category existed, but a watch upon which a very successful watchmaker's reputation was built.
