De Bethune – DB28 Steel Wheels Tourbillon Titanium Edition

De Bethune – DB28 Steel Wheels Tourbillon Titanium 42.6 mm Limited Edition

SIHH 2018

2018 marks the start of a new era in the rich history of the Manufacture De Bethune. The new DB28 Steel Wheels is all about transparency and light, thanks to a dial providing stunning views of the mesmerising movement architecture. In keeping with the design codes of its predecessors, it perpetuates the heritage of the Maison: an ideal blend of daring aesthetics and exceptional mechanics.

“Hold on to your watch”

Over the years, the DB28 has become a Manufacture De Bethune classic. Interpreted in various contemporary iterations, from the “Skybridge” to “Kind of Blue”, it notably won the “Aiguille d’or” Grand Prix in 2011, the most prestigious distinction awarded by the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

At the SIHH 2018, De Bethune takes centre-stage by highlighting the original architecture of its movement with an exceptional timepiece: the DB28 Steel Wheels, issued in a limited edition of 25.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

In unveiling the very heart of its horological expertise, De Bethune is revealing cutting-edge technology dedicated to serving art: a double self-regulating barrel ensuring a six-day power reserve, a signature De Bethune balance-spring with flat terminal curve, a silicon escape-wheel, a triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system, as well as a new even more high-performance titanium balance-wheel with white gold inserts.

The distinctive architecture of Calibre 2115V4 is beautifully highlighted by the decision to trim down the mechanism, notably by openworking the barrels and ratchet wheels, as well as cutting out the heart of the central delta-shaped bridge. The latter is adorned with a “Côtes De Bethune” decoration, produced using the Microlight micrometric engraving technique developed by De Bethune. The entire movement thus creates the impression of levitating.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The ratcheted chapter ring inspired by gear-wheel toothing surrounds 12 polished spheres marking the hours and adding to the overall volume of the mechanism. The new hours hand, made of sapphire rimmed by blued steel, reveals the heart of the movement. Each detail of the anatomy of this new creation is thus open to view. The Manufacture’s signature spherical moon composed of palladium and blued steel sets the perfect finishing touch to this magnificent vision. Appearing against its night-sky backdrop at 6 o’clock, it spins on its axis with such precision that it will take 122 years to accumulate a one-day discrepancy.

Like all the models in this collection, the DB28 Steel Wheels surprises observers by the light feel of its case, entirely crafted in titanium, and by the presence of De Bethune’s patented floating-lug system adjusting to wrist size and movements.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Powerfully mingling the graceful charm of daring beauty with the power of an exceptional mechanism, this horological work of art reflects the constant evolution of De Bethune creations in their most contemporary expression.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Name: DB28 Steel Wheels

Reference: DB28SWTIS1PN/S

Functions:
Hours, Minutes, Spherical moon-phase indication at 6 o’clock,
Power reserve situated on the back
Movement:
Caliber DB2115V4
Type: Mechanical calibre with manual winding
Adjustment:
Winding and setting the time by means of the crown (2 positions)
Spherical moon-phase adjustment via a corrector

Technical features of calibre DB2115V4

Number of parts: 275
Jewelling: 35 jewels
Diameter: 30 mm
Power reserve: 6 days, ensured by a self-regulating twin barrel
De Bethune Innovation (2004)

Specificities:
Titanium balance wheel with white gold inserts, optimized for temperature differences and air penetration De Bethune Patent (2016)
"De Bethune" balance-spring with flat terminal curve De Bethune Patent (2006)
Silicon escape wheel
Spherical moon-phase indication accurate to a degree of one lunar day every 122 years – De Bethune Patent (2004)
Triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system De Bethune Patent (2005)
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour
Adornment:
Concave polished grade 5 titanium plate cover
Hand made mirror-polished grade 5 titanium motion works bridge
Barrels bridge decorated with De Bethune stripes and “microlight” engraving
Open worked and hand sailed barrels
Rhodium power reserve indicator background decorated with “De Bethune” circular graining Blued and engraved ring
Steel parts beveled and polished by hand
Display:

• Sapphire Hour hand
• Chamfered and blued hour hand frame
• Minute hand in hand-polished and flame blued steel
• Spherical moon-phase indication in palladium and flamed-blued steel with an accuracy of one lunar dayevery 122 years at 6 o’clock – De Bethune Patent (2004)
• Performance indicator between 2 and 3 o’clock

Dial:
Hour ring in circular-grained titanium
Moon-phase bezel in polished blued titanium
Spherical polished titanium hours markers set on a blued polished titanium circle
Case
Case material: Polished grade 5 titanium
Case diameter: 42.6 mm
Case thickness: 9.30 mm
Lugs: Short or long floating lugs in polished grade 5 titanium
De Bethune Patent (2006)
Crystal: In sapphire crystal (hardness of 1800 Vickers) with double anti-reflective coating
Case back: Screwed case back in grade 5 polished titanium that opens on a linear power reserve indicator in blued steel
Sapphire crystal (1800 Vickers hardness) with double anti-reflective coating
Sapphire crystal (hardness of 1800 Vickers) with double anti-reflective coating
Water resistance: 3 ATM
Strap:
Extra-supple alligator skin, lining in alligator
Buckle: Pin buckle in mirror-polished grade 5 titanium

Limited Edition  to only 25 pieces

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Press release -- Geneva 2018
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De Bethune Geneva Office 
25 Grand-Rue 1204 Geneva
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 310 22 71
Fax: +41 22 310 33 40
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