Today we bring you the DB28 Skybridge from De Bethune.
De Bethune
De Bethune was founded in 2002 by David Zanetta, a collector with a passion for art, history and timepieces and Denis Flageollet, the son, grandson and great-grandson of watchmakers. Both shared a vision of the future of watchmaking and in the decade to follow, have gained a reputation as laying the foundations of where this century of watchmaking will lead.By adhering to the line "not doing more, but doing better", they have pushed the boundaries in their efforts to blend time-honoured skills and the latest scientific breakthroughs into a seamless quest for precision and craftsmanship. The technical and the aesthetic meld together in the pursuit of perfection.
The methodology of De Bethune's workshop lies in it's determination to be a cutting-edge research and development laboratory. Implementing the spirit and procedures of master watchmakers of the last 200 years and utilising vast scientific knowledge, insatiable curiosity, artistic and historical erudition and mixing in a passion for beauty and aesthetic flair. This dedication has led to the company owning nine patents, thirteen calibres and fifteen innovations all within a time span of eleven years.
De Bethune isn't beholden to the standard materials in the world of horology. Gold, titanium and steel are all par for the course but, as though picturing themselves as modern alchemists, the Manufacture will use platinum, silicon, palladium amongst others. If they cannot achieve the desired effect with one then they will create an alloy of two in order to achieve the desired effects such as balance or reducing friction.
With a mindset on one side, steeped in the oldest of watchmaking traditions, while on the other is striving and pushing forward to the future, De Bethune proudly present a couple hundred pieces each year to a growing following of connoisseurs. The possibilities are limitless as limitations are only seen as a wall that needs to be broken down. While some other companies are proudly carrying on complications and traditions they have used for many years, the young guns of the industry seem to pushing the boundaries and taking horology into the 21st century and beyond.
The following video from Baselworld 2012, shows the DB28 upon which the Skybridge is based.
De Bethune star-studded sky in blued mirror-polished grade 5 titanium encrusted with white gold and diamond stars representing the sky of November 19, 1857, the establishment of the National Monegasque Feast Day by Prince Charles III. Upon coming to the throne in 2005, Prince Albert decided to maintain the November 19th national holiday date, Saint Rainier's Feast Day, in memory of his father.
Catalogue description:
| De Bethune DB28 Skybridge MC for Only Watch De Bethune, “DB28 SKybridge MC”. Fine and unique, platinum, white gold and diamond-set wristwatch with the dial depicting the sky as seen from Monaco on November 19, 1857, the establishment of The National Monegasque Feast Day by Prince Charles III, twin self-regulating barrel, De Bethune silicon-palladium annular balance and a titanium De Bethune buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box and Certificate. | |
| C. Three-body, round drum shape, with bezel in polished platinum, titanium floating lugs, screw-down crown, transparent back, anti-reflective sapphire crystals to 1800 Vickers D. Flame-blued titanium dial depicting the sky as seen from Monaco on November 19, 1857, the establishment of The National Monegasque Feast Day by Prince Charles III, picked out by 7 invisibly set white diamonds, further stars in applied white gold. Blued and mirror-polished steel hands. M. Cal. DB2105, mainplate and bridges in beveled and hand-polished steel, 27 jewels, twin self-regulating barrel, silicon-palladium annular balance, balance spring with flat terminal curve, silicon escape wheel, triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system, spherical moon phase indication. Dial, case and movement signed. | |
| Estimate: 100,000 EUR - 130,000 EUR |
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