De Bethune presents the limited edition DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon Milky Way, the first timepiece from the brand to render the magnificent Milky Way on the emblematic central delta-shaped bridge on the dial side. The colour blue of the watch evokes water, sky and space at the same time.
The DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon Milky Way features a polished grade 5 titanium case. Measuring 43 mm diameter, it is mounted on two revisited medium-sized floating lugs, complemented by redesigned, prominent and more contemporary bullets for superior user comfort.
Fully visible on the dial side, the mechanical hand-wound calibre features the signature domed “De Bethune Delta” minute bridge in mirror-polished titanium. This is the first piece to depict the Milky Way, rendered here using delicate laser surface texturing enhanced by 24-carat gold micro inlays across the minute bridge.
The DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon Milky Way houses a high-frequency, ultra-fast tourbillon developed by De Bethune. The lightest in the world with its tiny 0.20 grams for 63 components, it beats to a tenth of a second and completes a full rotation in 30 seconds.
The mechanical hand-wound calibre DB2019 incorporates latest-generation titanium/white gold balance wheel, the spiral with the exclusive De Bethune flat terminal curve and a silicon escapement wheel vibrating at 28,800 vibrations per hour. The two self-regulating barrels, also developed in-house, ensure constant torque. This system increases the power reserve by more than 20%.
A torque indicator is located between 2 and 3 o’clock. The power reserve can be read on the back of the specially beaded plate. The hours are indicated by skeletonized hands on polished steel arrowhead hour markers.
All finishes are by hand. The hand-decorated components feature several types of fine watchmaking finishes, with spiral barrel ratchets and, on the back, a plate with “De Bethune” type beading. The hours are marked by pink gold arrow indices and, “luxeoblige,” indicated by skeleton hands fashioned from the same precious metal.
The DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon Milky Way is limited to 5 pieces.
Technical details
Model: De Bethune DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon Milky Way
Reference: DB28TBMW
Functions
Hours, minutes, 30″ indicator through the ultra-light silicon and titanium De Bethune tourbillon cage at 6 o’clock, Power reserve on case back
Movement
De Bethune Calibre DB2019
Mechanical hand-wound movement
Adjustment: Using the crown (2 positions) for winding, and setting the time
Number of parts: 298
Jewelling: 39 jewels
Diameter: 30 mm
Power reserve: 5 days, ensured by a self-regulating twin barrel De Bethune Innovation (2004)
Silicon balance wheel encircled with a white gold ring – De Bethune Patent (2010)
De Bethune balance-spring with flat terminal curve – De Bethune Patent (2006)
Silicon escape wheel
Ultra-light 30 second De Bethune Tourbillon in silicon and titanium – De Bethune Innovation (2008)
Frequency: 36,000 vibrations per hour
Motion works bridge and cover-plate in grade 5 titanium, mirror-polished and blued by hand
Bridge cover on the barrel decorated in grade 5 mirror-polished and blued titanium, encrusted by hand with stars in white gold
Rose-work grinding by hand on the barrels
Decoration on power reserve indicator in grade 5 titanium “De Bethune” concentric graining and blued by hand
Steel parts bevelled and flame-blued by hand
Display
Hand-polished rose gold hands
De Bethune 30″ ultra-light tourbillon in silicone and titanium at 6 o’clock –De Bethune Innovation (2008)
Dial
Blued grade 5 polished titanium hours ring with rose gold hour-markers
Blued grade 5 satin-polished titanium minutes ring
Milky Way patterns produced by laser beam micro milling, gilded with 24-carat gold leaf
Case
Material: Blued grade 5 mirror-polished titanium
Diameter: 42.60mm
Thickness: 9.20mm
Lugs: Short or long floating lugs in grade 5 polished and blued titanium –De Bethune Patent (2006)
Crystal: Sapphire (1800 Vickers hardness), with double anti-reflective coating
Case back: Screwed case back in polished pink 5N gold and open on a linear power reserve indicator in pink 5N gold; Sapphire crystal (1800 Vickers hardness), with double anti-reflective coating
Water resistance:3 ATM
Strap
Extra-supple alligator leather, alligator lining
Buckle: Folding clasp in blued titanium and rose gold
Edition
Limited edition of 5 pieces
