Description

To fully comprehend the history of De Bethune the De Bethune DB28 must be looked at. This watch really launched the brand into what it is today. After years of experimenting with dial-side escapements and extravagant case backs, De Bethune put all the mechanical magic at the center of the DB28’s dial. A twin-barrel bridge blazes with mirrored polish and “côtes De Bethune.” Similar to côtes de Genève, De Bethune’s stripes are laid down by abrasive wheels, but the wheel is reversed halfway through so that these unique waves point outward from each side.
The mainspring barrels broach the edges of their seemingly Star Trek-inspired bridge and form prominent features of the dial; less prominent is the case back power reserve indicator. For good measure, this manual-wind machine employs a slipping mainspring to eliminate the threat of excessive winding.
Thanks to double self-adjusting mainspring barrels (patented), the DB28 boasts a still-impressive six-day power reserve. And unlike many watch brands of all sizes, De Bethune employs no compromised beat-rate tricks to achieve the 144-hour autonomy; this watch retains the industry-standard 28,800 vibrations per hour.