Our Take

Denis Flageollet, the watchmaking mastermind behind De Bethune, has an uncanny ability to push the limits of the brand without ever losing touch with its essence. Experimental with materials, innovative with mechanisms, and forward with design, we knew that the brand’s first sports watch was sure to become a hit. And a hit, it became. The second time that we present a DB28GS “Grand Bleu,” it’s as spectacular as the first time.

The DB28GS “Grand Bleu” bears all the emblems of a traditional sports watch with a thoroughly De Bethune twist. Featuring a screw-down crown, 100m water resistance, and a unidirectional rotating bezel, the sportiness of the Grand Bleu is paired with a finely crafted openworked dial as well as De Bethune’s characteristic floating lugs and futuristic design language. It may not register with many collectors, but it’s a significant understatement to simply say that the lugs are comfortable. Form-fitting to wrists both small and large, the floating lugs are one of De Bethune’s major, ergonomic innovations and a core reason that DB28’s should be considered an icon in modern independent watchmaking.

On this timepiece, the most innovative aspect is a fully mechanical LED lighting system. A pusher at 6 o’clock activates LED lights on the dial developed in collaboration with Black Badger’s James Thompson .The light is exclusively derived from the energy stored in the movement’s twin barrels. Fittingly, this is an uncommon innovation for the unusual crossover of ultra high-end watchmaking with sports watch durability. Overall, the Grand Bleu is everything a collector could want in a fine timepiece without any of the worry over everyday wear and tear...and yes even for those recreational deep (or shallow) water excursions!

The Details

DB28 GS GRAND BLEU

Case: Black Zirconium case middle with "microlight"decoration, brushed and polished grade 5 titanium caseback and bezel.

Dimensions: Diameter 44mm - Thickness 12.8mm

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

Water resistance: 10ATM

Strap: Natural Rubber Strap with folding clasp in brushed grade 5 titanium.

Movement: Mechanical Hand Wound

Power reserve: 5 Days

Features:

• Self-regulating twin barrel De Bethune Innovation (2004)
• Titanium balance wheel with white gold inserts
• "De Bethune" Balance-spring with flat terminal curve
• Silicon Escape wheel
• Triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system.
• Dial lighting produced by an entirely mechanical means working on the dynamo principle powered by a twin barrel and manually controlled via a pusher.

Condition & Warranty

This timepiece is pre-loved. It features a two-year warranty from EsperLuxe. It is delivered with original box and original documents.