De Bethune

Introduced in 2018, the DB25 Starry Varius embodies the quintessential essence of a De Bethune creation. Distinguished by the brand's iconic blued surfaces and a distinctive sci-fi allure, this timepiece captivates at first glance.

Its dial features an electric-blue titanium center adorned with a mesmerizing Milky Way pattern. Unlike a mere coat of paint, this vivid blue hue is achieved through a meticulous process of heating titanium to its characteristic blue tint. Traditionally, steel was the sole alloy subjected to such heat treatment in watchmaking, until De Bethune ventured into titanium experimentation. Given the material's formidable nature, the art of heat-bluing titanium demanded the development of an entirely new set of skills. De Bethune pioneered this technique in 2006, subsequently making it a hallmark of the brand. The blued titanium dial is further enhanced by tiny stars. Each star is a sphere of solid white gold pressed by hand into tiny holes punched into the dial. The stars are scattered across the Milky Way pattern, which is the result of a shallow laser engraving that is then covered in 24k gold leaf. The particulars of the night sky depicted could be customized according to the client’s location, with the default being the sky as seen from Geneva.

The featured lot is the DB25 Starry Varius Tourbillon, a limited edition of 10 pieces introduced in 2019. Concealed beneath the dial lies the extraordinary hand-wound DB2109V4 caliber. With the aid of patented "self-regulating" twin barrels, visible on either side of the delta-shaped barrel bridge, it boasts an impressive four-day power reserve. The standout feature of the movement is undeniably the skeletonized, blue titanium bridge dedicated to the deadbeat seconds complication. In essence, an additional escapement imparts one-second jumps to the seconds hand. This dead seconds mechanism comprises a pair of solid gold fourth wheels, coaxially aligned, along with a petite coiled spring and a jeweled pallet. The pallet swings back and forth, releasing the wheels incrementally, advancing the seconds hand in jumps. We are pleased to offer this in overall excellent condition, and accompanied by its original accessories.