In 2014, De Bethune unveiled its first Digitale, a DB28 that combined jumping hours, trailing minutes on a peripheral ring and a three dimensional moon. Twelve years later, De Bethune revisits this particular piece in a DB25 case, and reverses its proportions. The hours remain at twelve o’clock, but the minutes move to 6 o’clock. The dial, which dominates the space thanks to the absence of hands and the positioning of the indications around the periphery, also benefits from a reversal of proportions.
The 2014 model was dominated by grey and guilloché. The 2026 model reduces it to one ring among four concentric rings that follow one another at the heart of the 42 mm titanium case. The star motif increases its contribution to the whole, appearing in two different areas with its blued titanium background and its celestial bodies made of small mirror polished grey gold studs. The main addition consists of the introduction of the guilloché wave motif, the most recent of the collection. The whole thing forms a synthesis in the shape of a landscape, a summary of De Bethune’s expertise that combines its textures, shades and historical episodes.
The constant, meanwhile, comes from the watchmaking approach. The uninterrupted presence of founder and master watchmaker Denis Flageollet at the heart of the brand leaves an indelible mark. The most visible is the moon, which De Bethune was the first to create in the form of a sphere. Made half of blued steel and half of palladium, it sits right at the center of the DB25 Digitale.
On the back, all the brand’s specific refinements anchor this piece in a somewhat crazy continuity, given how different the brand’s technical solutions remain from the rest of the industry. Triple shock protection, gold and titanium balance wheel, hairspring with a flat terminal curve, five day movement with double barrel beneath a rounded delta shaped bridge, mirror polishing on domed components and other delights, De Bethune changes appearances but behind the scenes, it remains a benchmark for innovation.
FAQ
Who is Denis Flageollet, the founder of DeBethune?
Denis Flageollet is the master watchmaker and founder of DeBethune (also spelled De Bethune), and remains at the heart of the brand. He is notably the inventor of the two-material spherical moon, an iconic signature of the maison.
What is the DeBethune DB25 Digitale?
The DB25 Digitale is DeBethune’s new model (42 mm titanium case) that reinterprets the jumping hours and trailing minutes of the 2014 DB28, with a two-material spherical moon and a five-day, double-barrel movement.
What is a moon phase watch?
A moon phase watch displays the lunar cycle on the dial. DeBethune was the first watchmaking maison to create this complication in the form of a sphere rather than a disc, as seen on its DB25 Digitale.
What is a jumping-hours watch?
On a jumping-hours watch, the hour numeral changes instantaneously at each hour, rather than being displayed progressively. DeBethune combined this mechanism with trailing minutes on a peripheral ring as early as 2014, and then on its DB25 Digitale in 2026.
