The De Bethune DB27 Digitale International Polo Watch is for sure one of those very under the radar De Bethune watches that not everyone knows about. Released in 2015 as another option for Polo players, De Bethune rendered a hardened steel iteration of the Digitale to celebrate the first time the brand sponsored Liechtenstein’s Polo Club and created the ‘De Bethune Princely Polo Cup’. This international tournament has seen polo players and teams come from all over Europe to participate in one of the most elitist tournaments in the world. Following the steps of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, the watch that was released in 1931 as the only timepiece designed for polo players, De Bethune’s presented their polo watch capitalizing on that concept and taking full advantage of their existing design within the DB28 ‘Digitale’ watch.
Since hiding the beauty of their timepieces wasn’t an option for the team at De Bethune, utilizing the DB28 Digitale’s concept was the best solution. By combining a 43 mm hardened black DLC steel case with a semicircular arching aperture —with a minutes-rotating disc— and a jumping-hour aperture at 12 o’clock, the De Bethune DB27 Digitale International Polo Watch is prepared for any potential impacts during a polo match while players ride their horses and swing their wooden mallets up in the air. De Bethune states that hardened steel has a resistance of 5,000 Vickers which is much superior to regular stainless steel at roughly 1,000 Vickers.
Elegantly stealthy and clad in black, the De Bethune DB27 Digitale International Polo Watch is a rare bird that features a blued titanium and rose gold medallion at the center of the case where one would typically find the spherical moon phase display on the DB28 Digitale. The medallion features an engraving of two mallets and a white gold ball.
With its winding crown positioned at 12 o'clock and the traditional short and long floating lugs, as far as ergonomics goes, the De Bethune DB27 Digitale International Polo Watch offers forms and shapes that come with endless possibilities and ultimate comfort on the wrist, especially if one is riding the saddle and swinging the mallet. The watch features a solid case back for ultimate resistance and the case is polished finished. The watch is powered by the De Bethune S233D manual wound calibre. This 350-part movement provides a power reserve of 5 days when fully wound and is equipped with a titanium and platinum oscillating weight.
On the wrist, the De Bethune DB27 Digitale International Polo Watch wears true to its size and was released in a 10-piece limited edition. A very stealthy De Bethune that doesn’t leave the DNA of the brand behind.
Last Known Sticker Price CHF 60,000 Swiss Francs. For more info on De Bethune click here.
