De Bethune – DB Eight Chronograph Titanium Edition

 

De Bethune – CURRENT DB Eight Mono Pusher Chronograph Titanium Edition 2023

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

De Bethune announces its 31st in-house calibre with the release of the DB Eight. Dedication to the pursuit of perfection continues to produce excellence within the Manufacture.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Geneva, 26 March 2023 – De Bethune proudly announces the DB Eight. Its monopusher chronograph continues a long tradition of classic single-button chronographs, including the DB1 and DB8.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

In the early days of De Bethune, founders David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet were fond of saying that "to compose contemporary music, you have to have a perfect command of classical music." This is why De Bethune began by creating classical watches based on the fundamental principles of classical watchmaking and by mastering all its subtleties. This is how all technical and artistic innovations are born.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Twenty years later, Denis Flageollet decided to intensify his research and revisit his classics with Claire Wolf, his right-hand person to whom he has been passing on his knowledge and codes for over 14 years.

The DB Eight, an evolution

The DB Eight is an evolution in De Bethune's exploration of the single-pusher chronograph. While the DB28 Maxichrono is De Bethune's most technically unusual chronograph, the Maison’s very first watch featuring this function – the DB1 – was a classic two-counter monopusher chronograph in the purest tradition of stylish 20th century chronographs.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

In a quest to bring an idea launched 20 years ago to fruition, De Bethune has now poured all its technical and aesthetic expertise into releasing a chronograph on a par with its high demands.

Pared-down design

The DB Eight was born of a quest for elegance and a pure, subtly balanced design. Together, Denis Flageollet and Claire Wolf designed a supremely refined classic guilloché dial and developed a brand-new chronograph calibre by placing its counter at 6 o'clock so that it could be as large as possible in order to provide a highly readable 60-minute indication.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

When the chronograph is reset to zero, the tail of the chronograph hand subtly covers that of the minutes counter in such a way that the hands are overlaid.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

A very symmetrical and distinguished result for a watch housing one of watchmaking’s most demanding mechanisms.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

This perfectly designed maxi dial, framed by a slender bezel and a delicate railway-type outer seconds track endows this 42 mm watch with both undeniable elegance and perfect legibility.

DB3000, 31st in-house calibre

Beating inside is a new chronograph calibre: the 31st produced by De Bethune and its fourth monopusher chronograph base calibre after the DB1, DB8 and Maxichrono.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Denis Flageollet and Claire Wolf chose to develop a classic column-wheel mechanism equipped with an instantaneous minutes counter, which is quite a technical feat for a single-pusher calibre with a 60-minute counter. The extreme thinness of the wheel’s teeth makes it a veritable technical challenge.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Although the calibre remains traditional, the technology of the functions is on the cutting edge of the knowledge acquired by the Manufacture. All the elements of the escapement and balance are based on the finest elements featured in De Bethune calibres, notably its patented balance-spring with flat terminal curve, titanium balance with white gold inertia-blocks, along with the silicon escape-wheel.

Grade 5 titanium case

Demonstrating the greatest respect for the traditions of Manufacture De Bethune as well as the history of classical watchmaking, the DB Eight perfectly combines technical progress, state-of-the-art materials, refined design and a harmonious movement.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Its pure design features all-titanium exterior elements including the case middle, case-back, bezel and hands. This results in an extremely pleasant light feel for the wearer and is highly unusual for a traditional watch.

Back to roots

It should be noted that this return to roots 20 years on was in some ways predictable, given that Denis Flageollet often wears an original platinum DB8. The aim was to perfect performance and intensify the experience for passionate owners.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

The new DB Eight is both an update of a beloved classic and a versatile new timepiece well suited to everyday wear: an expression of the pursuit of performance and beauty inherent in all De Bethune watchmaking.

 ----------------------------------------------
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Collection  CURRENT

Name:  DB 8 Edition

 Limited edition of 10 numbered pieces

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

Reference:  DB8RETIS1

Movement : DB3000
Type : Mechanical manual-winding caliber
Adjustement : Winding and setting the time by means of the crown (2 positions)
Monopusher button integrated in the crown for chronograph
functions
Technical features of caliber DB3000
Number of parts : 281
Jewelling : 31 jewels
Diameter : 30 mm
Power reserve : 60 hours
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
Frequency : 28'800 vibrations per hour
Adornment : All steels are hand-beveled and polished
Chromium-plated steel chronograph bridges with drawn lines
Hand-snailed barrels
Handmade finishing decorations 
Functions : Hours, Minutes, chronograph mono pusher button with 60 s seconds
counter and 60 min instantaneous minute counter
Display
Display : Hour hands, minutes, polished titanium seconds and minutes counters
Dial
Silver, radiating guilloche 12 sectors. 
Blue arabic numbers. 
Indication of the 60-minute counter by a silvered barley grain engine-turned sub-dial at 6 o'clock.
Case
Case material : Polished grade 5 titanium
Diameter : 42.4 mm
Thickness : 9,2 mm
Lugs : Ogival lugs
Crystal : Saphir crystal (1 800 Vickers hardness), with double anti-reflective coating
Case back : Open back
Saphir crystal (1 800 Vickers hardness), with double anti-reflective coating
Water-resistance : 3 ATM
Strap
Extra-supple alligator leather, alligator lining
Buckle :  Pin buckle in grade 5 titanium

🔰 Edition of ✅only 10 pieces
🔴Price: 85,680 EUR 💰

--------------------------------------
Press release -- Geneva 2023
--------------------------------------
De Bethune Geneva Office 
25 Grand-Rue 1204 Geneva
Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 310 22 71
Fax: +41 22 310 33 40
-----------------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - DeBethune
-------------------------------------------------------------
www.DeBethune.ch