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.
The De Bethune DB28 Maxichrono features a mono-pusher 24-hour chronograph with five hands on the central pinion, all chronograph indications imprinted on the center and perimeter of the dial and black Arabic numerals. This new watch is fitted with a 5N rose gold middle case measuring 45 mm in diameter and 11 mm in thickness.
The highly polished middle case along with its black traditional short or long floating lugs in mirror-polished anthracite zirconium create an endless symphony of avant-garde design. To round out the elegant look of this watch, De Bethune chose to fit it with an extra supple black alligator strap with pin buckle.
The Dial & Monopusher
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 DB28 Maxichrono 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 black glossy Arabic numerals to read the time and lastly a chapter ring with minute indicators for the chronograph minutes and seconds. The five central hands —two flame-blued steel hands for the hours and seconds of the chronograph, one rose gold hand for the chronograph minutes and two hand-polished blackened steel hands for the time with hours and minutes— are perfectly curved on their tips and perfectly contrasting.
The Strap
The De Bethune DB28 Maxichrono is fitted with a black alligator strap with an anthracite zirconium black buckle with 5N rose gold pin.
The Movement
Now, if you were impressed by the front of the watch, wait till you see the display case back where another wonderful surprise and a real treat for the eyes awaits. As you turn the watch around, you can contemplate the fascinating manual wound De Bethune calibre DB2030. This in-house movement which is composed of 384 parts, 47 jewels and three column wheels is fully crafted and decorated by hand. The beating heart oscillating at a frequency of 36,600 vph provides an outstanding power reserve of five full days.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the De Bethune DB28 Maxichrono is an absolute treat that wears slightly bigger than its actual size —due to the shape of its lugs— but 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 that are in the know will be able to call you out on what you are wearing. This timepiece is also available as ref. DB28MCTN in mirror-polished grade 5 titanium middle case with matching mirror-polished grade 5 titanium short or long floating lugs with blue Arabic numerals on the dial.
Sticker Price CHF166,000 Swiss Francs. For more info on De Bethune click here.
