Last week we presented to you the new DB28 Digitale by De Bethune here. Today, we bring you another one of their exceptional novelties presented at Baselworld 2014. This time we are talking about the amazing De Bethune DB29 Maxichrono Tourbillon featuring a mono-pusher 24-hour chronograph with five hands on the central pinion and a 30-second indication tourbillon via the half hunter display case back. This new watch is fitted with a 5N rose gold case measuring 46 mm in diameter and 11.70 mm in thickness. The highly polished round case features cone-shaped lugs and a hinged half hunter case back that allows for full visibility of the movement and the tourbillon when opened via a very small push piece located below the winding crown. To round out the elegant look of this watch, De Bethune chose to fit it with an extra supple brown alligator strap with pin buckle.
This exceptional timepiece features an amazing horological complication where all chrono functions are operated via a mono-pusher on the winding crown and where all chrono hands are located in the central pinion along with the hour and minute hands. The De Bethune DB29 Maxichrono Tourbillon is fitted with a very elegant and well balanced silver-toned dial that features four different levels to provide exceptional depth and a domed shape towards its perimeter to maximize readability. From the center to the periphery one can find the 24-hour central chrono register, a chapter ring with Arabic numerals to read the time and lastly a chapter ring with minute indicators for the chronograph minutes and seconds. The five central hands —four blued steel and one rose gold for the chrono minutes register— are perfectly curved on their tips and perfectly contrasting. While the hour and minute hands are Breguet style-shaped hands, the rest of the hands are needle type with the 24-hour chrono hand being the smallest of them all.
Once you focus your attention to the half hunter solid case back on the watch and after pressing the small push-piece located right below the crown, a wonderful surprise and a real treat for the eyes awaits. As you open the half hunter case back, you can contemplate the fascinating manual-wound De Bethune calibre DB2039 with 30-seconds indication tourbillon. This in-house movement which is composed of 410 parts, 49 jewels and three column wheels is fully crafted and decorated by hand. The beating heart provides an outstanding power reserve of five full days.
On the wrist, this watch is an absolute treat wearing slightly smaller than its actual size —due to the shape of its lugs— and very comfortably. One of the nicest touches on this watch is the lack of branding on the dial that makes it even more unique and exclusive. Only those watchlifestylers in the know, will be able to call you out on what brand you are wearing. This timepiece will be produced in a very small batch of 20 timepieces per year without being a limited edition watch 'per se'.
Sticker Price 270,000 CHF ex VAT. For more info on De Bethune click here.
