An edition limited by the human scale of our workshopsIndependent watchmaker De Bethune continues to revamp its 40 mm DB25 collection presenting a new perpetual calendar featuring a starry sky and the Milky Way at Dubai Watch Week.De Bethune offers a 40 mm version of its DB25 Perpetual Calendar, designed for slender wrists without compromising on the brand’s aesthetic codes and technical innovations. This resizing required a complete overhaul of the model’s structure designed to preserve the legibility, comfort and performance of a Manufacture perpetual calendar.Design and comfortThe signature DB25 case retains its slim lines and slanted, hollowed-out lugs, ensuring a comfortable fit on the wrist. Made from grade 5 titanium, it combines a smaller diameter with a very light feel procuring exceptional comfort.Reading the perpetual calendarThe perpetual calendar is displayed against a backdrop of a starry sky and the Milky Way. The display is based on a multi-level architecture consisting of ring-shaped appliques circling the subdials and a silver-toned minutes track. The date is positioned at 6 o’clock, while the day and month apertures are located at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock respectively. The time is indicated with both accuracy and elegance by manually-finished, mirror-polished curved yellow gold hands.At 12 o’clock, a palladium/blued steel sphere displays the moon phases as observed in the sky – an innovation patented by De Bethune in 2004 – while a gold disc below indicates the leap-year cycle.Craftsmanship: De Bethune’s starry sky and Milky WayFor several years now, the starry sky and Milky Way have been an integral part of the Maison’s history. Defined according to a specific geographical location and date, this pattern enables subtle personalisation of the flat-polished blued titanium dial. After delicate polishing and bluing operations using a thermal oxidation process exclusive to the Manufacture, our artisans set each white gold pin into micro-perforations of varying sizes, bringing to life a poetic depiction of the starry sky. After laser-beam micro-milling, the Milky Way is gradually revealed through the handcrafted application of 24-carat gold leaf.A refined, modern calibre delivering optimal performanceEntirely developed in the workshops at L’Auberson, the DB2005V3 hand-wound calibre benefits – like all in-house movements – from all the achievements of De Bethune’s technology and research since its founding. It notably features a perpetual calendar; a spherical moon indicating the phases of the moon with a degree of precision corresponding to a one-day deviation in 122 years; a self-regulating double barrel; a titanium/white gold balance wheel; a “De Bethune” balance-spring with flat terminal curve; a silicon escape-wheel and a triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system. A sapphire caseback enables the viewer to appreciate the great aesthetic care devoted to its refined mechanics. Innovations and patented solutions are continuously updated by the Technical Office to optimise reliability and performance.Expertise and workshop exclusivity:More than 330 components are designed, crafted and decorated by hand, then assembled by a Grand Complication watchmaker in the Haute Horlogerie workshop.“Created, crafted and tested for reliability within our Manufacture, our perpetual calendar stems from artisanal work performed a few expert hands and many hours spent at the workbench. It is this high standard that makes each watch an exceptional timepiece, of which I am particularly proud.” Denis FlageolletGiven the delicacy and complexity of the work involved, the DB25 Perpetual Sky is available in a limited annual edition, produced at the pace of the workshops in L’Auberson. To ensure maximum comfort on the wrist, the timepiece is fitted with an alligator strap and titanium buckle.
