Roger Dubuis, who created his eponymous watch business in 1995, has died at the age of 80.
The company, which is now owned by Richemont, is known for creating some of the world’s most rare and expensive watches in modern times.
Mr Dubuis learnt the technical and creative skills need to develop his highly complex watches during 14 years at Patek Philippe.
He left in 1995 to set up Roger Dubuis with Franck Muller’s designer Carlos Dias. The company was highly experimental, refusing to conform to accepted norms of how mechanical watches should look.
More recently it has settled on a style, the Excalibur, which maintains exclusivity, but is more recognisably a family of watches.
A statement released today from the company he founded says: “Mr Roger Dubuis, our company founder, has passed away on Saturday 14th October at the age of 80. His renown expertise in Haute Horlogerie, his disruptive vision, his human values will remain close to our heart. We are all committed to keep his unique spirit within our brand. Roger’s passing is a grievous loss for all of us and the entire watch community. Our sympathies are with his family and close relatives.”
