There's something deeply human about our obsession with measuring time against the cosmos. De Bethune understands this instinctively, and with the DB25 Perpetual Sky, they've created a timepiece that doesn't just display complications; it captures the infinite poetry of the heavens on a 40 mm watch.
A Celestial Canvas
The moment you glance at the DB25 Perpetual Sky reference DB25SQPV2, you're not looking at a dial; you're gazing into the night sky. The blued titanium surface has been meticulously hand-polished and thermally oxidized using a process exclusive to De Bethune's manufacture. Then comes the magic: artisans set each white gold star into micro-perforations of varying sizes, creating an authentic representation of the cosmos. The Milky Way emerges through laser micro-engraving and handcrafted 24K gold leaf inlay, a process so delicate it speaks to centuries of watchmaking tradition.
At 12 o'clock, a palladium and blued steel sphere displays the moon phases as they appear in the sky; this is not a simplified disc, but a three-dimensional sphere that achieves astonishing accuracy, with a deviation of one lunar day every 122 years. This innovation, patented by De Bethune in 2004, remains one of horology's most poetic complications. Just below, a gold disc subtly indicates the leap-year cycle within the starry expanse.
The perpetual calendar displays with remarkable clarity against this cosmic backdrop. Date at 6 o'clock, day of the week aperture at 9 o'clock, and month at 3 o'clock, all on blue discs with gilded transfers that complement the celestial dial. Hand-curved, mirror-polished yellow gold hands sweep across a silver-toned chapter ring with Roman numerals, ensuring legibility while maintaining the watch's elegant proportions.
The Movement
Beating inside the grade 5 titanium 40 mm case—measuring just 11.3mm thick—is the manual-wound DB2005 V3 calibre, comprising 339 meticulously finished components. This is where De Bethune's technical mastery truly shines: a self-regulating twin-barrel delivers a 5-day power reserve. At the same time, the titanium balance wheel with white gold inserts—patented in 2016—is optimized for temperature variations and air resistance. The ‘De Bethune’ balance spring with flat terminal curve, silicon escape wheel, and triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system represents decades of innovation compressed into 30 mm of mechanical poetry. The sapphire display case back reveals the polished grade 5 titanium cover plate and mirror-polished barrel bridge—a testament to the hand-finishing that defines true haute horlogerie.
On the Wrist & Price
The DB25 Perpetual Sky is available only in limited annual production, determined by the pace of the workshops in L'Auberson. Each watch represents countless hours of craftsmanship that cannot be rushed. Paired with an extra-supple alligator strap and titanium pin buckle, the DB25 Perpetual Sky achieves that rare balance of technical achievement and wearable comfort.
Sticker Price USD 145,000. For more info on De Bethune, click here.
