Roger Dubuis is closing the latest chapter of its legendary Knights of the Round Table collection with a timepiece inspired by one of Arthurian mythology’s most mysterious figures: Merlin. The new Metamorph Merlin transforms the legendary wizard’s world of magic, forests, knights and shapeshifting into an extraordinarily intricate mechanical sculpture for the wrist.
Limited to just 28 pieces worldwide, the watch combines haute horlogerie with miniature sculpture and fine jewelry techniques. Its price is equally extraordinary: $439,000.
The creation continues Roger Dubuis’ long-running fascination with the mythology surrounding King Arthur and his twelve knights. Over more than a decade, the Swiss watchmaker has interpreted the legendary Round Table through increasingly elaborate timepieces, turning familiar elements of the Arthurian story into miniature works of art. The Metamorph Merlin represents the collection’s final chapter, bringing the series to a suitably dramatic conclusion.
At the center of the design is Merlin himself, whose legendary ability to change form inspired the watch’s visual concept. Roger Dubuis draws on the mythical forest associated with the wizard, as well as the legend of the Lady of the Lake, creating a dial intended to resemble an enchanted woodland landscape.
The dial is constructed from 57 individual blocks, combining four distinct materials: green CVD-coated elements, polished pink gold, transparent glass and shimmering Crystalium. Together, these components create a layered, architectural appearance that gives the impression of looking into a mysterious forest rather than simply reading the time.
But the most remarkable details are the twelve figures positioned around the perimeter of the dial.
Representing the legendary Knights of the Round Table, each miniature sculpture stands where traditional hour markers would normally appear. Crafted from pink gold, the knights measure just six millimeters in height, yet each receives an extraordinary level of individual attention. A specialist engraver spends approximately three days hand-finishing each knight, giving the tiny figures their distinctive armor, poses and character.
The result is a dial that functions as much like a miniature stage as it does a conventional watch face. Rather than simply decorating the timepiece, the sculptures transform the passage of time into part of an Arthurian scene.
The forest-inspired color palette reinforces the effect. Deep green dominates the dial, while pink gold details provide contrast and warmth. The hexagonal geometry of the 57 dial elements adds another layer of visual complexity, creating an almost crystalline landscape beneath the sculpted knights.
Even the case contributes to the narrative. Measuring 45 millimeters, the pink gold case is paired with a sapphire crystal ring positioned beneath the bezel. Merlin himself appears engraved on one of the watch lugs, providing another subtle reference to the legendary figure who inspired the piece.
A green calfskin leather strap completes the design, matching the forest-like tones of the dial while allowing the gold case and miniature sculptures to remain the visual focus.
Beneath all that theatrical craftsmanship is a serious piece of mechanical watchmaking. The Metamorph Merlin is powered by Roger Dubuis’ RD821 automatic caliber, a movement consisting of 172 components and offering approximately 48 hours of power reserve.
Operating at 4 Hz, the movement can be admired through the open caseback, allowing collectors to see the mechanical architecture beneath the elaborate exterior. It is a reminder that, despite the watch’s strong emphasis on sculpture and storytelling, Roger Dubuis has built the piece around the same principles of precision engineering expected from a high-end Swiss manufacture.
The Metamorph Merlin also fits naturally within Roger Dubuis’ broader design philosophy. The brand has repeatedly explored subjects far beyond traditional watchmaking, from supercars and motorsport to warriors, mythology and fantasy. Its Knights of the Round Table series has become particularly recognizable for its combination of miniature figures, precious metals and highly complicated dials.
With the Metamorph Merlin, that approach reaches perhaps its most theatrical expression.
Only 28 examples will be produced, making the watch considerably more exclusive than an ordinary limited-edition release. Its $439,000 price places it firmly within the realm of ultra-high-end collectible horology, where craftsmanship, rarity and artistic execution can matter just as much as the function of telling time.
For Roger Dubuis, however, the Metamorph Merlin is about more than rarity. It serves as the concluding statement in a collection that has spent more than a decade turning one of the world’s most enduring legends into wearable art.
Merlin may have been famous for magic, but in this final chapter of the Knights of the Round Table collection, Roger Dubuis relies on something considerably more tangible: hundreds of hours of craftsmanship, miniature sculpture, precious materials and an exceptionally complicated approach to design.
At $439,000, the quest to own one may be almost as legendary as the quest for the Holy Grail itself.
