De Bethune’s latest version of their DBD timepiece takes on the colour green, a hue rich with meaning in the extensive history and culture of the Middle East.
The first day of Dubai Watch Week 2023 for De Bethune sees the brand unveil a brand new DBD timepiece, this time in the colour evergreen. At face value, the DBD is a very simplistic timepiece. This, however, just speaks to the intricacy of the craftsmanship that lay underneath.
The first DBD was launched back in 2006 as the DBS Digitale, and the timepiece came with a manual wound triple linear calendar with a digital time display. This marked a memorable moment in the history of horology with this unique interpretation on the dial that De Bethune offered with the DBD. De Bethune produced this first DBD in a limited series run of just 39 timepieces, with the models being available in both rose gold or white gold.
De Bethune are known for creating exceptional and unique timepieces, and with just one look at the lineup of the brand’s timepieces and you can see why. They are no strangers to creating masterpieces within the world of horology. The avante-garde timepieces the brand creates is not for everyone, with the design and functionality of the watches being pushed to the limit.
“De Bethune has developed no fewer than 31 calibres, presented some 30 world premieres and registered a large number of patents as well as producing 230 one-off pieces. De Bethune has received the highest distinctions awarded by the watch industry all over the world, including the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève “Aiguille d’Or” Grand Prix for the best watch of the year.”
De Bethune
Following the release of DBS Digitale in 2006, De bethune released the DBD Season 2, which retained the unique design and changed the aesthetics by giving the timepiece a burgundy color scheme. The DBD Season 2 was created in collaboration with artist Swiss Beatz. The only notable change between the original DBS Digitale and the DBD Season 2 was that the moon phase indicator with the starry sky display on the case back was removed to now show the titanium balance wheel with white gold inserts, which itself is a De Bethune patent (2016).
Now, the latest edition takes the DBD Season 2 timepiece and gives it a shade of evergreen. At first glance what immediately stands out (besides the dial of-course) is the lug design. The unorthodox 42.6mm polished grade 5 titanium case comes with two different sets of lug design, and that is mainly due to the crown being placed at 12 o’clock. The lugs at 6 o’clock have “ogive-shaped” lugs.
The dial design takes on the same unique characteristics that set the DBS Digitale apart from the rest. Firstly we have the Côtes de Genève stripes on the dial, now finished in the colour evergreen. An interesting fact about these stripes is that for the 2006 DBS Digitale model, this was the first time a brand has put the Côtes de Genève stripes on the dial itself.
Decorated with Côtes de Genève on it’s green dial, it reveals a subtle interplay of light in perfect harmony with the wrist movements of its owner.
De Bethune on this new Evergreen dial.
The functions of the dial are lay out in a simple to read manner. Firstly, below the 12 o’clock position, is the triple calendar feature, reading from left to right as day, date and month. Then below that we see the digitally displayed minute scale, which is shown in 5 -minute increments and rotates clockwise. Underneath this is the jumping hours.
The complex engine powering this simplistic dial is the brand’s in-house mechanical calibre DB2044 movement. This manual wound movement is able to operate at a high-frequency of 28,800 VpH (4Hz) while also pushing out an incredible 5-day power reserve. It’s certainly no easy feat to have both a high frequency operation and high-power reserve in the same movement, let alone on a manual wound timepiece (read our piece on the importance of frequency to understand why here!). The DBD Evergreen also comes equipped with the latest titanium balance wheel with gray gold inserts, as well as the triple parachute system.
De Bethune is presenting the DBD Evergreen in a two-tone beige and green textile strap, with matches the green of the dial nicely. A second strap is also offered, this time as a black alligator leather strap, which contrasts against the evergreen dial and lets it stand out. The DBD Evergreen is offered as a limited run of just 20 models, with the limited edition number being engraved on the case back. The timepeice can be purchased from De Bethune Authorised Distributors.
Reference: DBDRE
Specification:
- Case: 42.6 mm and thickness 9.4 mm
- Case Material: Polished grade 5 titanium with “ogivale” shaped lugs
- Dial: Evergreen with Côtes de Genève stripes.
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating
- Water resistance: 30 meters / 3 ATM
- Movement: Manual wound in-house calibre DB2044 with triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system.
- Movement Frequency: 4 Hz / 28, 800 VpH
- Movement Power reserve: 120 hours (5 days)
- Bracelet/Strap: Two-tone beige and green textile or extra-supple black alligator leather strap, both with grade 5 titanium pin buckle.
