De Bethune is proud to announce the latest addition to its collection of iconic watches in blued titanium. This new creation is the result of the union between the proven elegance of the DB28XP and the timeless charm of the DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon with a touch of sapphire in a limited edition of 10 pieces.
Currently on a tour across Asia to engage with passionate collectors of the brand and explore its rich history and culture, Denis Flageollet, the founder and master watchmaker of De Bethune, has chosen to unveil the new DB28XP Kind of Blue Tourbillon Sapphire in Hong Kong. This special timepiece, he believes, will resonate with a market attuned to the vibrations of such artifacts and the energy they exude.
The DB28XP Kind of Blue Tourbillon Sapphire represents the seamless evolution of two iconic models from De Bethune: the DB28XP and the DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon. It encapsulates the best of both worlds by merging the sleek design and refinement of the DB28XP with a distinctly blue aesthetic inspired by the DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon, a hallmark of the manufacture's signature style.
This is a realm where layers of interpretation, textures, and the interplay of light with shadows and reflections take center stage. Crafted from blued titanium, the watch features a 43 mm blued polished grade 5 titanium case with a “microlight” case middle set with baguette blue sapphires. Its deep and luminous blue hue is achieved through the natural oxidation of the material, transforming each timepiece into a unique work of art.
The dial, entirely crafted in Microlight, breathes new life into and modernizes the traditional guilloché technique. The polished titanium hands along with the blued titanium hour ring with blued microlight decoration and polished hour markers deliver a distinctly contemporary look.
The blued grade 5 circular satin titanium minutes and seconds ring with bridge cover on the barrel and triangular central bridge in grade 5 blued polished titanium with blued drawn chamfered contour provide an expansive flat surface, reinforcing its structure. By playing with shadow and light, it introduces depth, resulting in a more structured and dynamic architectural outcome with Milky Way patterns produced by laser beam micro-milling and gilded with 24K gold leaf.
De Bethune embarked on a groundbreaking journey into the realm of ultra-thin timepieces in 2020 with the launch of the DB28XP, celebrating two decades of mechanical and aesthetic exploration. In his pursuit of an ultra-thin watch, Denis Flageollet conceived it as both a technical and aesthetic challenge—an intricate dance between delicacy and complexity, an adventure demanding precision, and a harmonious interplay between design and constraints.
Turning the watch over reveals the manual wound calibre DB2009v5 composed of 380 parts and 40 jewels. This movement provides a power reserve of 5 days thanks to a self-regulating twin barrel while beating at a frequency of 36,000 vph and includes a power reserve indicator on its back. The manually winding DB2009v4 movement features the distinctive De Bethune balance wheel, visible through the dial via a 6 o'clock opening. It is the outcome of De Bethune's ongoing physical and mathematical approach to enhancing its functionality. This balance wheel incorporates the latest advancements —modest in diameter, crafted from titanium, and fitted with small white gold weights positioned externally, providing it with exceptional inertia, reliability, and remarkable regulating quality.
In the expansive array of complications and functions that De Bethune has mastered, the tourbillon has often taken a leading role. A tourbillon equipped with an extraordinarily lightweight cage —0.18 grams, the lightest ever created— rotating every thirty seconds, comprising a total of 63 components —the lightest of which weighs less than 0.0001 gram.
True to the essence of all models in its collection, the DB28XP Kind of Blue Tourbillon Sapphire consistently surprises with the lightweight construction of its case. Crafted entirely from polished blued grade 5 titanium with a microlight case, embellished with sapphire rods and mounted on floating lugs that adapt to the size and various movements of the wrist—a patented De Bethune system. The case features a more contoured profile, following the natural lines of the wrist. The Microlight finish of the baseplate extends onto the sides, reaching the outer edge of the case —a meticulous undertaking that proves challenging in the absence of simple geometric elements.
Completing the ensemble is an alligator leather strap with a blued grade 5 titanium buckle, contributing to the practical and enjoyable wear of this timepiece.
Sticker Price $315,000 USD. For more info on De Bethune click here.
