DB 26

The new DE BETHUNE (http://www.presentwatch.com/de-bethune/index.html) 2009 collection contains a very beautiful piece with contemporary appeal, the DB26. While the uncluttered appearance of the case and the dial reveals the exacting mastery of the various crafts carried out within the DE BETHUNE workshops, it also serves the better to conceal within its heart a new caliber, the DB2005, a perpetual calendar movement wholly developed and produced in the manufacture.

This timepiece is sure to establish itself as a great classic and will unquestionably enrich the watchmaking heritage of the brand. At first glance, it is the sapphire hands surrounded by hand-blued steel which attract the eye.

The duo David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet have conceived and designed hands of perfect transparency which enable the person wearing this timepiece to read all the indications displayed in the windows of this perpetual calendar with the greatest of ease. Whatever the position of the hands, the date, the day and the month can be clearly read.

Then, for a fleeting moment, one admires the DE BETHUNE spherical moon rotating on its own axis, accurately indicating the phases of the celestial body. Consisting of two parts, one steel and the other platinum, this tiny sphere is flame-blued by hand. Next to it, a round window indicates the years of the leap-year cycle. As a further subtle touch, two blued steel indexes point to the month and the day in the windows for better visibility.

The De Bethune DB26 is a splendid creation from one of our favorite watch manufacturer.

Technical specifications of the DB26

Case material : rose gold or grey palladium gold
Case shape : round
Case dimensions : 44,4mm in diameter and 16,1mm thick
Lugs : pivoted Hands : sapphire hands surrounded by hand-blued steel
Strap : alligator leather with sport type ardillon buckle Crystal : sapphire, 1800 Vickers hardness with double anti-reflective treatment
Crown : screw-down at 6 o’clock, settings in 3 positions Movement : DB 2005 – hand-wound mechanical - 339 parts – decorated and « colimaçonné », steel chambered and polished by hand – double self-adjusting mainspring barrels – titanium / platinum balance with flat terminal curve protected by a triple-parachute anti-shock system
Functions : hours, minutes – perpetual calendar indicating date at 9 o’clock, day / month through windows – moon phase indication and leap year indication at 3 o’clock - power reserve indicator on the back Correctors : day, month and moon phase
Jewels : 25 Frequency : 28'800 vibrations per hour
Power reserve : 5 days