Roger Dubuis has never treated the wristwatch as a quiet object, and the Knights of the Round Table line remains one of the clearest expressions of that attitude.
The new Knights of the Round Table The Metamorph Merlin brings the brand’s Arthurian storytelling back to the foreground, this time with a deep green dialscape and a more elaborate pink gold case.
It’s the third and concluding chapter in the Merlin trilogy, following two earlier editions that explored the legendary wizard through different tones and materials.
At a glance
- Roger Dubuis has introduced the Knights of the Round Table The Metamorph Merlin as the final model in its Merlin trilogy.
- The watch combines a 45mm pink gold case with a green multi-dimensional dial made from 57 blocks in four materials.
- Production is limited to 28 pieces, with pricing available on request.
A green stage for Merlin’s final act
The Metamorph Merlin is built around a dial that feels closer to miniature set design than conventional watchmaking.
Its surface is formed from hexagonal columns inspired by the basalt formations of the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, creating a jagged architectural landscape beneath the hands.
Earlier Merlin editions used black and white as their dominant tones, while this closing model turns to green.
The colour gives the watch a forested character, linking it to the magical woodland imagery around Merlin, the Lady of the Lake and the stories of transformation that give this edition its name.
The 57 dial blocks are made from polished glass with CVD coating, transparent glass, sparkling Crystalium and pink gold.
That mix matters because the dial isn’t simply decorative, it’s the main theatrical device of the watch.
Twelve knights as sculptural hour markers
Around the perimeter sit the twelve Knights of the Round Table, each rendered as a tiny pink gold sculpture.
They act as hour markers, but their role is far more characterful than that description suggests.
Some appear ready to strike, others kneel or stand on guard, giving the dial a sense of movement even when the time display itself remains deliberately simple.
Pink gold is also used for the central hour and minute hands, keeping the practical display legible without interrupting the miniature tableau.
It’s a familiar Roger Dubuis approach, where craft, mythology and horology are pushed into the same frame rather than treated as separate ideas.
Engraved pink gold case and a view from the side
The case measures 45mm across and 16.87mm thick, so this is very much a watch with presence.
For this edition, Roger Dubuis adds engraved imagery to the caseband and lug flanks, a first for the Knights of the Round Table collection.
On the 9 o’clock side, the engraving depicts knights in poses that echo the sculptures on the dial.
At 3 o’clock, flanking the crown, Merlin appears alongside a white stag, one of the forms associated with his shapeshifting ability.
A sapphire window above the caseband allows the dial to be viewed from multiple angles, reinforcing the idea that this is a three-dimensional scene rather than a flat display.
The RD821 calibre behind the legend
The movement inside is the automatic Roger Dubuis calibre RD821.
It runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 48-hour power reserve, with hours and minutes kept as the only functions.
The technical brief is restrained, but the finishing is central to the watch’s identity.
Visible through the exhibition caseback, the calibre has the twisting architecture and hand-finished detail required for the Poinçon de Genève.
An inscription around the caseback adds another layer of Arthurian theatre, celebrating the duty and charge of the Knights of the Round Table.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Roger Dubuis |
|---|---|
| Model | Excalibur Knights of the Round Table The Metamorph Merlin |
| Case size | 45mm diameter, 16.87mm thick |
| Case material | Pink gold |
| Dial | Deep green multi-dimensional dial with 57 blocks in four materials |
| Dial materials | Polished glass with CVD coating, transparent glass, Crystalium and pink gold |
| Movement | Roger Dubuis calibre RD821, automatic |
| Frequency | 28,800 vph, 4 Hz |
| Power reserve | 48 hours |
| Functions | Hours and minutes |
| Water resistance | 30 metres, 3 bar |
| Strap | Calf leather |
| Certification | Poinçon de Genève |
| Production | Limited to 28 pieces |
| Price | Price on request |
The Metamorph Merlin won’t be for anyone seeking understatement, but that has never been the point of this collection.
For collectors drawn to high watchmaking with sculpture, myth and unapologetic visual drama, it’s a fitting close to Roger Dubuis’ Merlin chapter.
