De Bethune, the twenty year old Swiss watch manufacturer founded by David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet, has launched new black variations of their renowned DB28 timepiece.
De Bethune is one of those watch brands that frequently surprise and delight watch collectors around the world with their sharp looking highly technical timepieces. The new DB28 Black collection is a welcome addition to the current DB28 range further enhancing the choice of available models with the clever use of different finishes and tones. These include the use of mirror polishing and satin brushing coupled with black zirconium, a key element in the composition of the cases and floating lugs of the DB28. The different ways in which the light plays across the material and the aforementioned finishes reveal countless different tones ranging from anthracite grey to intense black.
Whilst researching materials, De Bethune saw the opportunity to machine zirconium as a natural and sustainable alternative for the colour black. The hardness of the metal, together with stable oxidation that is unaffected by the normal daily change in temperature guarantee the resistance and durability of the exterior. Adorned with its famous crown at 12 o’clock, the DB28 which is well known for its lightness and the comfort provided by the floating lugs that is a patented system adapting to the size of the wrist and its various movements. The new variations are based around the flagship model, featuring a contemporary design inspired by historical pocket watches, highlighting the technical and visual breakthroughs achieved by the meticulous decorative work of artisans, custodians of age-old expertise.
DB28 Black matte – understated elegance
The DB28 Black matte is equipped with DB Calibre 2115 which is endowed with the technological innovations developed and produced in house. Its precision is further consolidated by the self-regulating twin barrel and by the presence within the regulating organ of a silicon/palladium balance wheel and a balance-spring with a flat terminal curve, protected by the triple pare-chute system. The moon phases are read off on an exclusive display by means of a platinum and blued steel sphere spinning on its axis and boasting a degree of precision equivalent to a mere one day difference every 122 years.
DB28 T Black gold – sophisticated elegance
The DB28T is powered by the DB Calibre 2009, a mechanical hand-wound movement equipped with the De Bethune silicon/titanium tourbillon. De Bethune has undertaken a complete rethinking of the tourbillon in terms of its use in wristwatches. The carriage must be as light as possible, with a high frequency and a maximum rotation speed, along with minimum weight and inertia. Based on new technologies, De Bethune has developed an 0.18 g silicon-titanium tourbillon fitted inside a carriage that spins on its axis every 30 seconds, equipped with a balance-wheel oscillating at a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour. This tourbillon is the lightest on the market (classic tourbillons are four times heavier) and comprises of 57 parts, the lightest weighing less than 0.0001 grams and the heaviest 0.0276 grams.