Space-Age Marvel: Introducing the New De Bethune DB28XP ‘Kind of Blue’ Watch

At the ongoing Geneva Watch Days, De Bethune has introduced a new timepiece, which manages to strike all the right notes that make the brand what it is today. Limited to only 25 pieces, the novelty is derived from a combination of two iconic models from the Maison: the DB28XP and the DB28 ‘Kind of Blue’. Denis Flageollet, the watchmaking mastermind behind De Bethune, has successfully met the precision and aesthetics challenges while creating the new DB28XP ‘Kind of Blue’ variant.  

The colour, blue, has often been regarded as a popular alternative to black, white, and silver. The calming colour signifies reliability, stability, inspiration, and wisdom  — attributes that you want in a watch as well. Based on the same case design as that of its predecessors, the newly launched 43 mm timepiece is crafted from polished grade 5 titanium; it has a “microlight” case middle. Signature features like the floating lugs, the delta-shaped bridge, and the crown at 12 o’clock are all maintained. The dial is all about layering. With a triangular central bridge and two barrels for the regulating organ, the movement is visible through a balance wheel that can be viewed through the dial, thanks to its opening at 6 o'clock. Time is indicated by the polished rose gold hands, pointing at the polished rose gold spherical hour markers and the blued circular satin-brushed grade 5 titanium minutes ring.

Equally visible and geometrically positioned relative to the calibre's mainplate, the assembly is protected by the exclusive triple shock-absorbing system. Here a bridge is held from both sides in a symmetrical manner not only to keep the balance wheel perfectly in place, but also to add two shock absorbers at each end, in addition to the balance wheel's own shock absorber. Hence, the name, 'triple shock absorber', which, with its springs, instead of screws, mounted on perfectly polished axes, effectively absorbs and dampens violent impacts.

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Powering the watch is the calibre DB2115v12, featuring a titanium balance with white gold inserts and a silicone escape wheel with a six-day power reserve, ensured by a self-regulating twin barrel. It is visible through the sapphire glass caseback, in blued grade 5 polished titanium, opening on a linear power reserve indicator. The timepiece is finished on an extra-supple alligator leather strap with alligator lining, with a blued grade 5 polished titanium buckle and pin.