Our Take

As soon as it arrived in 2011, De Bethune’s DB28 made a huge splash by winning the “Aiguille d’Or” at the GPHG Awards for the best timepiece of the year. Over the last 12 years, we’ve witnessed the timepiece evolve with new editions from the DB28 GS Grand Bleu to the DB28 XP Tourbillon to the DB28 XS Starry Seas – each more spectacular than the last. We’re pleased to offer another extraordinary timepiece in the DB28 collection – the DB28 Digitale.

One of the earlier examples of De Bethune playing with horological possibilities on the DB28, the Digitale was released nearly a decade ago in 2014. Named after the digital jumping hour indicator directly above the moon phase, the Digitale displays minutes by way of a fixed indicator at 12 o’clock while the minutes track rotates from 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock. One of the more stunning dials in the brand’s catalog, the combination of barleycorn guilloché, abundant bluing, jumping hour, and rotating minutes track leave a lasting impression on anyone lucky enough to see this timepiece in the metal.

The DB28 Digitale’s movement meets the high standards set by the dial. Utilizing a twin barrel to maintain an impressive 5-day power reserve, manual-wind caliber DB2144 features 329 components, 32 jewels with all of the finishing and technical innovations expected from master watchmaker Denis Flageollet. With abundant polishing and the brand’s own “Côtes de Bethune,” the in-house caliber also features De Bethune’s patented para-chute shock-absorbing system as well as white gold and silicon balance wheel. Both technical innovations ensure the chronometric performance of the timepiece through everyday wear and tear. Housed in a 45mm, grade 5 titanium case, the articulated (or floating) lugs solidify the DB28 Digitale as a favorite amongst collectors.

With the DB28 as a baseline canvas, this DB28 Digitale is yet another example of how the brand introduces novelty through design, further technical innovation, new materials, and finishing techniques.

The Details

DB285 Digitale

Functions: Hours, Minutes

Dial: Silver-toned hand-guiloche barleycorn motif

• De Bethune Star-Studded Sky in polished blued grade 5 titanium set with white gold stars at the peripheral segment from 9 to 3 o'clock and at the central disc
• sSpherical moon-phase indication at the centre
• jJumping-hour aperture at 12 o'clock analogue minutes indicator on a silver-toned rorating disc

Case: Polished Grade 5 Titanium

Dimensions: Diameter 425mm - Thickness 11.6 mm

Attachments: Short or long floating lugs in mirror-polished grade 5 titanium, De Bethune Patent (2006)

Glass: Sapphire crystal, 1800 Vickers hardness with double anti-reflective treatment.

Back: Open case back in polished grade 5 titanium

Movement: Mechanical Hand Wound

Power reserve: 5 Days