BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
As a part of its Geneva Watch Days novelties, De Bethune released the new DB28 Steel Wheels Saphir Tourbillon. This new watch continues the 10th-anniversary celebrations of De Bethune’s DB28 collection and is a heady mix of lightweight titanium and Sapphire.
One of the biggest achievements for any brand is to be able to create an instantly recognizable design language for its products, and De Bethune certainly deserves credit in this regard. The new De Bethune DB28 Saphir Tourbillon embodies the De Bethune DNA and cannot be mistaken for anything else and exhibits the signature design elements of the DB28 family.
Based on the DB28 Steel wheels showcased during SIHH 2018, the case on this new watch bears a familiar distinctive shape that is characterized by articulating skeletonized lugs. The case has been crafted from polished titanium and measures 43mm in diameter. The crown, like other members of the DB28 collection, is position at 12.
The dial on this new reference bears a close resemblance to the dial on the DB28 steel wheels but comes with a few noteworthy upgrades. To begin with, you still get a highly skeletonized face that has been carved out to expose the twin barrels, the gear train, and the wheels underneath. Also present is the signature Delta bridge, the circular polished pearl hour plots, and the blued titanium chapter ring. However, to add an added layer of transparency to the dial De Bethune has made extensive use of Sapphire on different elements such as the covers of the barrels and the delta bridge. The handset like the case and the dial has a bold design with the hour hand mimicking the shape of the delay bridge and the minute hand is an arrow tipped unit. Completing the dial is the large circular window at 6 that houses the Tourbillon mechanism, the regulating organ of the hand-wound DB2019V5 movement that powers this watch. The Tourbillon is made of titanium and silicon and operates at a frequency of 5 Hz. The cage of the Tourbillon rotated every thirty seconds and comprises 63 components.
The new De Bethune DB28 Steel Wheels Saphir Tourbillon is yet another masterpiece from the brand. The production run would be limited to just 10 pieces and the price is yet to be announced.
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