New Roger Dubuis Bi-Retrograde Perpetual Calendar for 2025: Hommage La Placide

Some of the very first watches released by Roger Dubuis in the mid-1990s, notably the Sympathie and Hommage collections, prominently featured bi-retrograde day and date mechanisms. Those unique retrograde day and date displays remained a signature of Roger Dubuis watches for years, but gradually the brand shifted its focus from ultra-classy dress watches to avant-grade sporty “hyperwatches.” As of 2025, though, the pendulum may be swinging back towards more conservative designs, as the brand has released their first new Hommage model since 2014: the Roger Dubuis Hommage La Placide bi-retrograde perpetual calendar, limited to 28 pieces.

The Basics of the Roger Dubuis Hommage La Placide Biretrograde

The 38mm diameter, classic case shape, and dial layout of the Hommage La Placide are almost identical to the first Roger Dubuis bi-retrograde perpetual calendar from 1999–but this time with an in-house base movement.

The rhodium-plated blue surfaces on the dial contrast pleasantly with the raised mother-of-pearl elements. Sunken subdials, applied markers, and a stepped chapter ring complete the immersive three-dimensional look of the dial. The blue aventurine moonphase disc, with an applied yellow gold moon, is also a nice touch.

Like every Roger Dubuis, this watch carries the Poinçon de Genève (Geneva Seal), certifying its assembly and finishing meet strict standards set by the Canton of Geneva. I expect collectors who have grown weary of the “louder” Roger Dubuis designs will take note of the Hommage La Placide (“La Placide” being the childhood nickname of Roger Dubuis), although its list price of €115,000 isn’t for the faint of heart. This watch marks the 30th anniversary of the Roger Dubuis brand, and there’s a lot of history behind the bi-retrograde perpetual calendar module inside.

Context and History

Roger Dubuis (the man) honed his skills as a watch restorer for Longines and later Patek Philippe, before becoming an independent consultant for brands like Harry Winston. That’s where Dubuis, along with the talented Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, developed the world’s first bi-retrograde perpetual calendar mechanism, which premiered on a Harry Winston wristwatch at Baselworld 1989. Dubuis later co-founded his namesake brand, along with Carlos Dias, in 1995.

That bi-retrograde perpetual Harry Winston served as the template for what became, arguably, the signature module of the Roger Dubuis brand: the RD72. Dubuis left the brand in 2004, and passed away in 2017.

Richemont–the conglomerate who owns Cartier, IWC, Panerai, Vacheron Constantin and Jaeger-LeCoultre–has fully owned Roger Dubuis since 2016, and the brand’s all-time sales peak in 2008 now seems like a distant memory. As the company increasingly focused on skeletonized Excalibur models, parts like RD72 bi-retrograde perpetual calendar modules and RD14 base movements languished in storage for 20+ years.

But to celebrate 2025, the 30th anniversary of the brand, the Roger Dubuis Hommage La Placide proudly boasts a refurbished RD72 module and RD14 base. Roger Dubuis calls this, simply enough, caliber RD1472. It looks great through the exhibition caseback. Limiting releases to 28 pieces is a longstanding tradition for the brand, and they’re keeping it alive here.

2025 Roger Dubuis Hommage La Placide Specs

Model Name	Hommage La Placide
Reference Number	RDDBHO0612
Case Material	18k pink gold, sapphire display back
Case Diameter	38 mm
Case Thickness	11 mm
Water Resistance	30m
Movement Caliber	RD1472 (RD14 base + RD72 module, automatic, 8 beats per second)
Power Reserve	48 hours
Movement Functions	Perpetual calendar (retrograde day, retrograde date, month, leap year), moonphase, hours, minutes
Decoration Techniques	15 types (wheel/tool beveling, Geneva stripes, mirror polish, perlage, etc.)
Dial Details	Rhodium-coated blue with mother-of-pearl raised surfaces, blue aventurine moonphase disc with yellow gold moon
Hands	Hour/minute: pink gold, satin brushed & polished; retrograde: brass coated pink gold
Bracelet/Strap	Blue calf leather strap with 18k pink gold triple folding clasp
Extras	Collector’s box comes with push corrector, magnifier, and Poinçon de Genève certificate
Limited Edition	28 pieces
MSRP	€115,000 (excluding taxes)

Final Thoughts

Although I’ve focused more on the RD72 module thus far, the RD14 automatic base movement is notable in its own right. Its features include a swan neck regulator, an in-house balance spring (surprisingly few companies can actually make that part), and a redesigned gear train. The blue leather strap doesn’t have quick-release or micro-adjust features, but I wasn’t really expecting them on a watch as traditional as this, and the gold tri-fold cursive “RD” deployant clasp looks badass.

To celebrate the revival of the Hommage lineup, existing Hommage owners are invited to bring their watch to any Roger Dubuis boutique and receive a complimentary new strap, which is pretty neat. The only two Roger Dubuis boutiques in the USA are in Costa Mesa, CA and Chicago, IL.

While I do personally think the sporty Roger Dubuis Excalibur line is cool, it’s hard not to feel like the brand has over-emphasized that model in recent years at the expense of earlier Roger Dubuis DNA. But the 2025 Hommage La Placide Biretrograde Perpetual Calendar seems like a promising sign of things to come, and maybe someday we’ll even see a relaunch of the Sympathie.