Introducing the Roger Dubuis Monovortex Split Seconds Chronograph

This split-seconds chronograph function of the RD114 calibre is operated by a double column wheel system. Its split-seconds hands operate conventionally, but its tripartite minute hand at the 3 o’clock position is anything but. Named the 120° Rotating Minute Counter (the “120° RMC”, for short), the tripartite hand has arms that point the units digit and carry the tens digit (0,1 or 2).

In simple terms: This three-hand satellite’s hands bear the number 0, 1 and 2. As the chronograph minutes elapse, this satellite indicating the minute will rotate. It doesn’t rotate in planar fashion though. Picture a piece of luggage that rises out of a hole and up onto a conveyor belt for you to see, before receding back down into a hole. The hand that you need to pay attention to, among these three hands, will rise above the other two, and point to an index on the 0-3-6-9 sector. For example, if 15 minutes have elapsed for the chronograph function, then the ‘1’ hand of the tripartite satellite will rise (indicating that the chronograph minutes elapsed is ‘1?’) and point to the second index after the ‘3’ on the 0-3-6-9 section (3 + 2 indexes; indicating that the chronograph minutes elapsed is ‘?5’).

While admiring this absorbing complication, which Roger Dubuis has already filed for a pending patent, you will also notice that the number 88 on the tachymeter scale is highlighted, because it was Monsieur Roger Dubuis’ lucky number.