A few weeks ahead of the SIAR 2020 and right on time for the Mexican holiday of the ‘Día de Los Muertos"‘ —Day of the Dead—, De Bethune presents the DW5 Cempasúchil unique piece. This one-off creation for the Maestri’art Collection sings the joy of an enduring celebration. This new watch is the outcome of a three-way dialogue and a conversation that spans two eras, between two exceptional art engravers. The first is José Guadalupe Posada, the legendary Mexican engraver and chisel virtuoso who made the dead dance at the end of the 19th century.
Posts filed under De Bethune
News: De Bethune Launches Certified Pre-Owned Online Boutique
Following the steps of other independent watchmaking brands like Urwerk or MB&F, De Bethune finally decided to jump on the Certified Pre-Owned bandwagon. Whether you are looking for a rare De Bethune from the past or you just can’t find a current one you like at an authorized dealer anymore, this new offering will make your dreams of owning a De Bethune come true no matter what. The De Bethune Certified Pre-Owned online boutique is the perfect place to look for that one particular watch.
News: Presenting the De Bethune DB28XP 10th Anniversary Watches
De Bethune Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the DB28 drawing on the quintessence of its DNA, and releasing three new watches. When the first De Bethune DB28 was launched in 2010, De Bethune's idea was to present a timepiece with an identity all its own and a resolutely futuristic vision of the art of watchmaking. The distinctive case shape, the crown at 12 o'clock inspired by pocket watches. Just some of the hallmarks of the contemporary aestheticism specific to De Bethune.
Insider: De Bethune DB28 GS Grand Bleu. Sporty, Elegant and Refined.
In 2002, David Zanetta, a collector with a passion for art, history, and timepieces, decided to join forces in founding De Bethune with Denis Flageollet —a fourth-generation descendant of watchmakers. Today, after stepping down and ceding all his shares, David Zanetta is long gone from De Bethune and Pierre Jacques along with Giovanni Perin —a private equity investor— are now leading the brand better than ever. Each year for a few hundred fortunate connoisseurs around the world, De Bethune offers timepieces with captivating designs like the one we have here.
News: De Bethune Presents the Maestri’Art DW5 Armilia Unique Piece. A Hand-Engraved Piece of Horological Art.
De Bethune plunges into the fantasy universe of designer and scenographer François Schuiten, nicknamed the “Watchmaker of Dreams” while engaging in a dialogue with the enigmatic world of The Obscure Cities through signature motif highlighted on the very structure of its DW5. A reality shift, a parallel universe in which humans are often left to their own devices —even though the reality is never very far away— this imaginary world is composed of enigmas and mysteries. Through shadows and unusual reflections of our world subject to the principle of worrying strangeness, the authors of The Obscure Cities usher their readers into spectacularly extravagant settings while maintaining a distinctly human approach.
News: Presenting the UR-Bethune Moon Satellite. A One-Off Signed De Bethune x Urwerk for ONLY Watch Auction.
Expressing the perfection of the celestial order, this unique timepiece is a complex interaction of mechanisms specific to De Bethune and Urwerk and a true fusion of their watchmaking genes. This one-off watch signed De Bethune x Urwerk has been expressly made for the ONLY Watch auction taking place next November 9, 2019. In support of the ONLY Watch biennial charity auction of unique timepieces, De Bethune and Urwerk have joined their creative energies for the very first time to bring a timepiece unlike any other.
Insider: De Bethune DB28 Kind of Gold. A Highly Exclusive 10-Piece Limited Edition for the U.S. Market.
The De Bethune DB28 Kind of Gold is a very exclusive 10-piece limited edition exclusively available for the U.S. market. A watch that clearly embraces the principles and values of the manufacture, this time is fitted with a 5N rose gold round shaped middle case with a diameter 42.60 mm and a thickness of 9.20 mm, featuring the traditional short and long floating lugs in mirrored polished blued grade 5 titanium. The finish of the middle case and the floating lugs is as exceptional as it gets and the blued openworked dial and lugs create an endless symphony against the warm tones of the 5N rose gold middle case.
Eye Candy: De Bethune DB28 Yellow Tones. The Beauty of Gold in Titanium.
The beauty of gold, the brilliance of precious stones, and yet none of it in this watch. Upon closer inspection one could mistaken its case with an aged yellow gold, bronze or brass case. With complete mastery of the art of thermal oxidation of metals, De Bethune explores all the possible color shades resulting from the heat released by the chemical reactions of heat-treated steel and titanium. The De Bethune DB28 Yellow Tones brings a hue of yellow never seen before on a titanium case.
Baselworld 2019: De Bethune DB21 Maxichrono Re-Edition. Live Pics & Price.
The first Chronograph from De Bethune came out in 2006 and it was an instant sensation with its five central hands. In 2014, the DB29 Maxichrono Tourbillon came out and then in 2017, it was revisited as the DB28 Maxichrono. This year at Baselworld 2019, a new iteration of the Maxichrono made its appearance with the DB21 Maxichrono Re-Edition in a limited edition of 10 pieces. One of our favorite mono-pusher chronographs out there, the De Bethune DB21 Maxichrono features a mono-pusher 24-hour chronograph with five hands on the central pinion and concentric chrono totallizers that go all the way from the center of the dial to the periphery.
Insider: De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius. An Incredible Star-Studded Blued Titanium Dial.
If you are a regular to our website, De Bethune needs no introduction. Last week, we brought you the news about one of the two novelties unveiled by the brand at Baselworld 2018 after a couple of years without releasing any new watches. The first watch released after their hiatus was the De Bethune DB28 Steel Wheels. Now, along with the new DB27 Titan Hawk V2 we brought you here, the brand has released a watch that takes its inspiration from the DB25T Milky Way with a star-studded dial like no other.
Baselworld 2018: De Bethune DB27 Titan Hawk V2. Hands-on with the New Entry Level Watch from this Independent.
After a couple of years without releasing any novelties, De Bethune made a come back last January 2018 with the release of the DB28 Steel Wheels. A week ago at Baselworld 2018, De Bethune added two new pieces to their lineup and one of them is the new DB27 Titan Hawk V2 we have here and its sibling with silvered white dial. While the new De Bethune DB27 Titan Hawk V2 is the new 'entry level' watch for this manufacture, the design and finishes clearly embrace the principles and values of the manufacture without cutting any corners.
Insider: De Bethune DB28 Maxichrono. Hands-on with an Exceptional 24-Hour Monopusher Chronograph.
Today, we bring you another exceptional timepiece for your reading and viewing pleasure. The De Bethune DB28 Maxichrono ref. DB28MCRZN is one of our favorite 'monopoussoir' —mono-pusher— chronographs along with the De Bethune DB29 Maxichrono Tourbillon —reviewed by us here— and the Blancpain Villeret Chronographe Monopoussoir reviewed here.
Insider: De Bethune DW5 Dream Watch 5 Meteorite. Hands-on with an Intergalactic Meteorite Timepiece.
Originally launched in 2014 with a grade 5 titanium case, the latest iteration of the De Bethune DW5 Dream Watch 5 features a tourbillon and a full meteorite case from 'Campo del Cielo' in Argentina. 'Campo del Cielo' is an area located about 620 miles —1,000 kilometers— northwest of Buenos Aires, that holds the largest number of iron meteorite fragments in the world and is also the site where the two largest meteorites ever recovered on earth where found—100 tons and 37 tons respectively.
Insider: De Bethune DB28 GS Grand Sport. A Perfect 'Haute Horlogerie' Timepiece for Spring and Summer.
In 2002, when David Zanetta, a collector with a passion for art, history and timepieces, decided to join forces in founding De Bethune with Denis Flageollet, a fourth generation descendant of watchmakers. Each year for a few hundred fortunate connoisseurs around the world, De Bethune offers models enshrining the quintessence of mechanical horology and captivating designs like the one we have here. This time, we take a closer hands-on look at the De Bethune DB28 GS Grand Sport with a new blue natural rubber strap and a 300ft —100 meters— water resistance, making it an ideal timepiece for Spring or Summer.
SIHH 2016: Presenting the new De Bethune DB25 World Traveller. Hands-on Live Pictures & Pricing.
This year, was the first year that the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie invited some of the independent brands into the 26th edition of the SIHH 2016 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève. In a new section named the 'Carré des Horlogers', nine top independent brands —artisan-creators as referred to by the SIHH— had the opportunity to show their novelties for the very first time at the Salon.
Insider: De Bethune DB25 Mexican Civilization Unique Piece. A Watch That Could Belong to an Aztec Mayan Museum Exhibit.
Inspired by the cues of the De Bethune DB25 Quetzalcoatl released last year, this unique piece made on commission by De Bethune for Berger Joyeros in Mexico City, is truly a gem in all the sense of the word. Featuring an 18K white gold case measuring 44 mm in diameter by 12.50 in thickness, the De Bethune Mexican Civilization Unique Piece brings the best in hand engraving with a strong mesoamerican twist.
Insider: De Bethune DB28 Dark Shadows Limited Edition. Exceptional, Refined, Bold and a True Example of 'Haute Horlogerie'.
Referred to as modern day alchemists, it has taken just eleven short years for two watchmaking devotees to build what history will doubtless view as the foundations of 21st century horology. In 2002, when David Zanetta, a collector with a passion for art, history and timepieces, decided to join forces in founding De Bethune with Denis Flageollet, a fourth generation descendant of watchmakers. Passion is at once the watchword, the winning formula and the reward for the constant personal commitment of these exceptional men. The De Bethune DB28 Dark Shadows clearly embraces the principles and values of the manufacture. Fitted with a sandblasted anthracite zirconium round shaped middle case with a diameter 42.60 mm and a thickness of 9.20 mm, the DB28 Dark Shadows features the traditional short and long floating lugs also in sandblasted anthracite zirconium. The finish of the middle case and the floating lugs is smooth and precise as good as it gets. The blackness of the case design along with the openworked dial create an endless symphony of avant-garde design.
Insider: De Bethune DB25T Zodiac. A Discreet Tourbillon for those in Love with Astrology.
If you are a regular to our website, De Bethune needs little to no introduction. Just in case you're not, let's give you some basic background. In 2002, when David Zanetta, a collector with a passion for art, history and timepieces, decided to join forces in founding De Bethune with Denis Flageollet, the son, grandson and great-grandson of watchmakers. Not doing more, but instead doing better has been the guiding principle for their creations. Almost four years ago in November of 2011, De Bethune received the GPHG 'Aiguille d’Or' —Grand Prize at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève. David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet, are now masterfully accompanied at the head of the company by Pierre Jacques. Today, their vision and philosophy has given birth to some of the most fascinating and understated horological creations we've seen in the last ten years. Such is the case of the recently launched De Bethune DB25T Zodiac, a tourbillon tailored for those in love with astronomy and those who allow their destiny to be guided by the zodiac signs and the constellations these represent.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the De Bethune DBS Tourbillon 10th Anniversary. Live Pictures and Pricing.
De Bethune is one of those 'haute horlogerie' manufactures that knocks it out of the park every time they release a new piece. As if the new De Bethune DB25 Quetzalcoatl —featured here— wasn't impressive enough, David Zanetta and the De Bethune team, decided to create a 10th anniversary DBS Tourbillon to be presented at Baselworld 2015. Ten years ago, David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet decided to support the 'Only Watch Project' —an auction placed under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco on behalf of research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy— by creating the first DBS, an incredibly high-tech model with an innovative design. The white gold case of the DBS testified to a new thought process undertaken by the brand founders in terms of ensuring a wristwatch makes an ideally comfortable fit, and marked the start of in-depth work on forging a specific De Bethune functional aesthetic.
Baselworld 2015: Introducing the De Bethune DB25 Quetzalcoatl. Live Pictures and Pricing.
Quetzalcoatl is a composite name in the Nahuatl language derived from 'quetzalli' and used to describe the large, precious green feathers of the sacred quetzal bird; and 'coatl', meaning snake. It is one of the main divinities of the Mesoamerican civilizations and the feathered serpent, its most iconic incarnation, reigned for many long centuries over pre-Columbian America. This powerful symbol of Mesoamerican culture was the core of worship and sacred rituals. The related myths and legends appear in the writings of the colonial period. In conjunction with the evening star, it was considered to govern the cycle of time from dawn to dusk. This deity of the summer winds was naturally closely associated with agriculture and in particular with corn farming, as well as being the sovereign protector of goldsmiths and artisans, and the inventor of the calendar.
