There are the brands that everyone knows, and then there are the brands that only the right people know. One of those happens to be De Bethune, headquartered in L’Auberson, a mountain village deep in the Swiss Jura. Critically acclaimed, aesthetically unique and mechanically innovative, De Bethune was founded in 2002 on the horological prowess of Denis Flageollet, long acknowledged in the industry as one of the finest creative minds in complicated watchmaking today.
De Bethune is known for its use of heat-bluing as a technical and aesthetic finish, particularly in titanium. This technique is widely seen throughout the De Bethune catalogue, alongside other visual motifs such as the delta symbol (appearing in movement bridges, lug profiles and case designs) and the laterally symmetrical Côtes de Bethune.
Under the technical direction of Denis Flageollet, De Bethune has made some of the most specific and comprehensive explorations of horology of any modern brand. No other company today is as recognised for its continuous experimentation and advancement of balance-wheel technology, and its floating-lug strap attachment system remains at the top level of wristwatch wearability and comfort.
From the technically sophisticated DB21 Maxichrono to the audaciously designed Dream Watch 5, De Bethune watches are almost unanimously appreciated by connoisseurs worldwide. Most recently, they were awarded the prize for Chronometry for their DB25 Starry Varius Chronomètre Tourbillon at the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
