BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
If watches were supercars, then the renowned independent watchmaker De Bethune would be comparable to Pagani or Bugatti due to the exotic nature of the watches they create. Just recently, they launched a duo of such exotic watches, the Rose Gold DB25GMT Starry Varius and DB28XP Steel Wheels Tourbillon.
Hailed by the brand as “the ultimate travel companion”, the DB25GMT Starry Varius is part of the DB25 family, a travel watch dressed in a 5N rose gold case while sizing at 42mm x 11.8mm. The dial has a starry sky complication in the center, surrounded by three concentric rings that show the local time, home time, and date. De Bethune’s approach to GMT watch is that the local time is displayed with pink gold hands on a silver flange with classical Arabic numerals. The home time is indicated by a rotating rose gold and blued steel sphere, and also serves as a day/night indicator.
The date is shown on a unique raised platform in the center of the dial with a blued pointer hand. The watch is powered by the in-house Calibre DB2507, which has a 5-day power reserve. The DB25GMT Starry Varius is available in a limited edition and is priced upon request but expect around USD 120,000.
The De Bethune DB28XP Steel Wheels Tourbillon is an ultra-thin watch having a 43mm grade 5 titanium case that is only 9.1mm thick. With the brand’s signature floating lugs and a crown at noon, the dial is openworked and has a titanium chapter ring coupled with blued microlight decoration and polished spherical hour markers.
A titanium build 30-second tourbillon is at 6 o’clock weighing just 0.18 grams. Found inside is the hand-wound Calibre DB2009V6 with 5-day power reserve. You can choose an alligator leather or a blue fabric strap. Limited to just 10 pieces, it’s priced at USD 210,000.
