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. The new DB25 Starry Varius is fitted with a highly polished case in 18K white gold measuring 44 mm in diameter and which features hollowed lugs and a display case back that allows for full view of its beating heart.
About its Dial
Of course the most prominent aspect of this watch is the blued center of its dial with elegant Roman numerals over a silver toned perimeter and accented with highly polished gold bead markers. The silver toned dial with star-studded mirror polished blued titanium inlay is an incredible work of art. De Bethune's master watchmaker and creative talent, Denis Flageollet has turned the central motif of this dial into a true horological masterpiece for those in love with the firmament. The gold hands further accentuate the dial providing incredible contrast.
First, starting with a rough plate of titanium, the dial inlay has to be perfectly polished to an absolute mirror finish, then it is given a protective lacquered coating and sent back to the machine room to be cut out, cleaned and oven-blued. After another detailed inspection, the dial inlay is coated one more time with another layer of protective lacquered coating before it gets carefully perforated in the areas where the stars will be riveted one by one.
After the extremely precise perforations are executed, around one hundred stars in the shape of small individually profile-turned gold spherical pins are riveted onto the dial inlay plate. Lastly, the milky way surrounding the stars is delicately applied from gold leaf. These one-of-a-kind watches reproduce the sky as viewed from a given place at a given time defined by the location where the person commissioning the watch is located. Depending on the angle at which light hits the dial, the blued titanium inlay looks either deep blue or electric blue. The dial is a true chameleon and one of the nicest dials out there.
The Movement
Turning the watch over reveals the exceptionally finished manual wound De Bethune Calibre DB 2109 with 4-day power reserve. Equipped with 46 jewels and composed of 330 parts, the movement features the traditional 'Côtes de Bethune'. The main difference between the 'Côtes de Bethune' and the 'Côtes de Genève', is that on the first ones, the decoration is symmetrically arrange to radiate out fro, the center of the stripes. The movement of course features the De Bethune signature balance spring with flat terminal curve on a slightly redesigned balance wheel.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the new De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius wears true to its size and with impeccable wrist presence. A watch that will for sure be a conversation piece wherever you go. The best part about this watch is that the firmament can be fully customized to your desired location. That way, every time you check the time, it will be like you're looking up at the sky on a dark starry night.
Sticker Price CHF 60,000 Swiss Francs —approximately $63,000 USD. For more info on De Bethune click here.
