Amongst the litany of independent brands that have popped up in recent years, few of them can compete with the timepieces that De Bethune has been creating. Although the brand has only been around the block for around two decades, they are recognized as one of the most exciting and important independent watchmakers today to come out of the Sainte Croix in the Swiss Jura mountains. De Bethune has created a powerful ‘DNA’ as they have unrelentingly developed and stuck with their own unique style. The De Bethune DB28 ‘Kind of Blue Milky Way’ Tourbillon you see here today is a perfect example of the Maison's spirit and disruptive horological creativity.
The DB28 is somewhat of a brand icon for De Bethune, it assumed the role of a catalogue constant and it has been the brand’s creative canvas/medium for many different iterations in showcasing the core values and design prowess of De Bethune. The first DB28 was introduced back in 2011 which also immediately won them an award at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, and to this very day, I have not seen any other watch that is quite like the DB28. Its sheer beauty is complicated to explain in mere words but easily understood when worn on the wrist.
As an independent brand, De Bethune has truly embraced the art of pushing boundaries, even to the point of playing with fire (quite literally) when selecting the colour palette for this particular DB28 variant. It's important to note that this is no ordinary colour coating; instead, it is achieved through a traditional technique dating back to the 16th century, where the surface of the metal undergoes a transformative process through extensive exposure to heat. Similar to thermally-blued screws, the grade 5 titanium and stainless-steel components of the DB28 are subjected to controlled high heat, resulting in the oxidation of their surfaces and a dramatic alteration and modification of their physical properties. This process not only enhances the resilience of the material against corrosion but also creates a stunning and mesmerising blue appearance as seen here on the DB28 ‘Kind of Blue’ Tourbillon.
Encased within its 43mm grade 5 titanium case is the DB28’s stunning blue dial. A quick glance over it and you’ll find a high-frequency tourbillon placed at 6 o ‘clock. What makes this tourbillon truly remarkable is its construction using silicon and titanium, resulting in a weight of just 0.2 grams, making it possibly one of the lightest tourbillon modules to have ever been made. Turn over to the case back of the watch and you will be greeted by the beautiful manual-winding Cal. DB2019 in all of its glory. Here you will also find a power reserve indicator. The Cal. DB2019 features an array of cutting-edge technology - a double self-regulating barrel ensuring an impressive 5-day power reserve, a signature balance spring with a flat terminal curve, a silicon escape-wheel as well as an ultralight, 298-part tourbillon module.
Another notable feature of the watch is the patented floating-lug system, which aids in the fitment and adjustment to the wearer’s wrist size and movements. Given its size and the amount of tech utilized in its design, you will be astounded at how light the watch physically feels on the wrist, this is largely attributed to the usage of titanium in its construction. In terms of production quantities, it should also be noted that this is a limited edition and only 5 pieces were ever made featuring the ‘milky way’ starry sky on the dial.
Overall, the DB28 ‘Kind of Blue' Tourbillon is a special watch, and it is not difficult to see why. Insane craftsmanship, impressive movement, intricate dial details, and an extremely wearable case. It has been an absolute pleasure to be able to handle, and now offer this beautiful piece of wearable art on the site.
