Analysis: the Malichus team
Roger Dubuis has announced "The Metamorph Merlin", the 13th edition of its Excalibur Knights of the Round Table series and the last watch in the Merlin trilogy. This analysis looks at what changed and what stayed the same compared with the two earlier watches, how the watch is built, and what the published details say about its place in the series and the way it is offered.
The announcement at a glance
- The watch closes the Merlin trilogy: the black-dial Omniscient Merlin (2024), the white-dial Enchanter Merlin (2025), and this green-dial watch (2026).
- It is the first watch in the series with a pink gold case, and the first with hand-engraved relief on the case flanks.
- Production is limited to 28 pieces, with price on request.
What changed and what stayed
The trilogy rests on one dial architecture, and specific elements change from watch to watch. The table summarises what the brand has announced and what reports have relayed.
| Element | Status in this edition |
|---|---|
| Dial architecture | Constant: 57 hexagonal blocks, the same as the previous two watches |
| Dial colour | Changes: black, then white, then green |
| Case material | New to the series: 18K pink gold |
| Case flanks | New to the series: hand-engraved micro-relief |
| Movement | RD821, designed to fit the three-dimensional dial |
| Production | 28 pieces |
The axis of development has therefore moved from the dial to the case. The dial keeps its architecture while changing colour and materials, and the case adds two new layers: the metal and the engraving. According to Luxe Digital, engraving had previously appeared only on dials in the collection.
Also according to Luxe Digital, the series launched in 2013 as a showcase for métiers d'art crafts. The current edition is the final chapter of a single narrative thread rather than a standalone watch.
Dial engineering: the forest of Broceliande in layers
The dial depicts the forest of Broceliande with 57 hexagonal blocks. The blocks combine four materials: green CVD-coated glass, polished pink gold, transparent glass and shimmering Crystalium, finished with four decoration techniques according to the brand. According to the published description, this mix creates depth and reflections that shift with the viewing angle. The green ties directly to the watch's subject: the forest where Merlin turned into a stag.
Twelve pink gold knights, each about 6 mm tall, stand above this forest. According to the brand, each knight is cast in pink gold and then sculpted, engraved and patinated by a specialist over up to three days, which comes to some 36 working days for the twelve if the work is done one after another. One knight is roughly 13% of the 45 mm case diameter, a ratio that shows the scale of detail involved. According to Monochrome, King Arthur stands at 12 o'clock holding Excalibur.
The case: where the story is told
The dial shows the forest, but the watch's subject, the transformation, appears on the two flanks of the case. Reports differ in how they describe the split of scenes. Monochrome says the right flank shows Merlin transforming into a stag and the left shows knights and a dragon-slaying scene. Fratello says Merlin appears in two forms, the white stag as the symbol of metamorphosis and the wise Merlin holding a book, and that the scenes run all the way around the case.
The technique is hand-engraved micro-relief on the pink gold case middle, and reading the detail calls for a loupe, according to Fratello. The brand puts the work at around seventy hours for a single case. The narrative is therefore split across two levels: a general scene visible from the front on the dial, and detailed scenes that appear only when the case is examined from the side.
The RD821 movement: complexity in the finishing
The watch runs on the in-house automatic RD821, designed to fit the three-dimensional dial. Its published specifications include:
- 172 components and 33 jewels
- 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz, or 8 beats per second)
- 48-hour power reserve
- A skeletonised rotor, which Luxe Digital describes as inspired by stained-glass windows
- Hand finishing in the canton of Geneva using 14 different decorative techniques
- The Poinçon de Genève
The watch shows hours and minutes only, on large open-worked sword-shaped hands. The movement's technical value therefore lies in its architecture and finishing rather than in a range of functions.
What the Poinçon de Genève means
According to The Swiss Collector, the Seal was established in 1886 by the Grand Council of the canton of Geneva and is monitored by an independent public body, Timelab. It requires the movement and case to be assembled, adjusted and cased within the canton of Geneva, and to meet twelve finishing criteria, including bevelling, perlage, Geneva stripes and black polishing. Since 2011, functional tests have been added covering water resistance, rate deviation and power reserve.
In that context, the watch's stated water resistance of 3 bar (30 metres) matches the minimum water-resistance figure the sources list among the Seal's tests. The same source estimates that about 24,000 watches receive the Seal each year, against more than a million that receive COSC certification, and adds that Roger Dubuis certifies 100% of its output.
Dimensions and wear
The case is 45 mm in diameter and 16.87 mm thick, in 18K pink gold with a sapphire ring under the bezel. The case back is pink gold and sapphire crystal, held by four screws. The strap is calf leather with stitched tiles, in green, with a pink gold folding clasp and a quick-release system. The reference is RDDBEX1118. Fratello notes that the watch is fairly heavy.
Production and pricing
The watch is limited to 28 pieces, and no price has been announced: it is sold "on request". That means there is no published reference price to compare against. The available details do not allow any estimate of the watch's value on the secondary market.
The limits of this reading
This reading relies on the specifications published by Roger Dubuis and on the launch reports listed below. The available images were supplied by the brand. The Malichus team has not examined the watch in person, so the analysis does not cover colour in natural light or how the watch feels on the wrist.
Analytical summary
The published details show that "The Metamorph Merlin" differs from its two predecessors in the case more than in the dial: a new metal, and hand-engraved flanks for the first time in the series. Its technical value is concentrated in the three-dimensional dial engineering and in a movement finished to the Geneva Seal, while its timekeeping function is simple. The limited run of 28 pieces at an unannounced price defines how it can be acquired. With it, the trilogy is complete: black, white, then green.
Frequently asked questions
What is new in The Metamorph Merlin compared with the two earlier watches?
It is the first watch in the series with a pink gold case and the first with hand-engraved case flanks. The dial architecture (57 hexagonal blocks) is the same.
How many pieces are being made?
28 pieces.
How much does it cost?
The brand has not announced a price. It is available on request.
What functions does the watch have?
Hours and minutes only, on the automatic RD821 movement with a 48-hour power reserve.
How water resistant is it?
3 bar, equivalent to 30 metres. This rating means resistance to splashes and rain, not swimming or diving.
What do you make of the details above? Join the conversation in the comments on Instagram @malichusofficial.
Sources: the official Roger Dubuis website, Fratello (5 October 2026), Monochrome Watches, Luxe Digital and The Swiss Collector. Images and video: Roger Dubuis.
