Having won the 2011 “Aiguille d’Or” by the Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, for its DB28 model, De Bethune now offers a matt black interpretation of its iconic model, available in a limited edition of 50 pieces.
Adorned with its famous crown at 12 o’clock, the DB28 which is known for the surprising lightness of its case and the comfort of its floating lugs – a patented system that adapts to the size of the wrist and its various movements – is as supple as ever, since the lightness of titanium is replaced by that of zirconium.
In its research on materials and new processes, De Bethune saw the choice to machine zirconium as a natural and sustainable alternative, both for its properties and its colour. The hardness of the metal, together with stable oxidation that is unaffected by daily changes in temperature, are twin assets that guarantee the resistance and durability of the exterior of a timepiece.
Despite the mirror-polished shiny look of its dial, the DB28 Dark Shadows nonetheless opts for a satin-brushed zirconium case creating an all-matt effect. Its dial opens a window onto the movement, displaying a wealth of nuances including multiple ways in which the light plays across the material and its different finishes to reveal a variety of shades ranging from anthracite grey to intense black. A touch of ruthenium and hand-polished blackened steel accompany the sandblasted bridges and the refined elegance of Côtes de Genève reinterpreted by De Bethune.
The DB28 is equipped with Calibre DB2115 which is endowed with the numerous technological innovations developed and produced within the Manufacture. 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.
As one can see from careful observation of the sky, moon phases are read off on an exclusive display by means of a palladium and anthracite zirconium hand-polished steel sphere spinning on its axis and boasting a degree of precision equivalent to a mere one-day difference every 122 years.
