De Bethune Watches

Swiss independent watch brand De Bethune was first founded in 2002 in Switzerland. The brand looked to create avant-garde designs with chronometric precision. De Bethune’s most popular collections include the DB series of watches that feature lugs that enable the case to move so it is more ergonomically appealing on the wrist. It is known for its use of bold blue color in its cutting-edge timepieces.

The Watch Pages

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History of De Bethune

De Bethune is a relatively new player in the luxury watch industry, having been founded in 2002 by David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet. Despite its young age, the brand has quickly gained recognition for its innovative designs, impressive technical capabilities, and high-quality craftsmanship.

One of the defining features of De Bethune watches is their distinctive appearance. The brand’s timepieces often feature a blend of traditional and avant-garde elements, with clean lines, unique shapes, and intricate details that make them stand out from other luxury watches. Many De Bethune watches also feature a distinctive blue hue, which has become something of a signature for the brand.

Another key element of De Bethune’s watchmaking philosophy is its commitment to innovation. The brand has developed a number of groundbreaking technologies and materials, such as the use of titanium and silicon in their watches, as well as unique movements that incorporate elements like tourbillons and perpetual calendars. De Bethune has also developed a number of world-firsts in watchmaking.

Highest Standards

Each watch is hand-assembled by skilled artisans, who take great care to ensure that every component is fitted and finished to the highest standards. De Bethune watches have gained a dedicated following among collectors and enthusiasts, and the brand has won numerous awards for its designs and technical innovations. In recent years, De Bethune has continued to push the boundaries of watchmaking with new materials, movements, and designs. The brand has also expanded its offerings to include accessories such as cufflinks, writing instruments, and a limited-edition line of luxury bicycles.

Who Owns De Bethune?

In 2021 majority ownership of the high-end independent watchmaker De Bethune, based in Geneva, was acquired by WatchBox, an e-commerce platform for pre-owned watches that was co-founded in 2017 by Danny Govberg, Justin Reis, and Tay Liam Wee. The company’s current leadership, consisting of COO and master watchmaker Denis Flageollet, who founded the brand in 2002, and CEO Pierre Jacques, will remain in place.

Fun Fact

In 2011, the brand created a unique one-of-a-kind watch called the “Dream Watch 5 Meteorite”. This watch featured a case made entirely out of a 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite that had fallen to earth in Sweden. The meteorite, known as the Gibeon meteorite, is made up of an iron-nickel alloy and is believed to have originated from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The watch also featured a blue titanium dial and a movement with a tourbillon and a moon phase display. The Dream Watch 5 Meteorite was auctioned off for over $200,000.

De Bethune Collections

DB Kind of Two Jumping GMT

This collection features a unique reversible case design, with one side displaying a traditional time-only dial and the other side featuring a jumping hours and minutes display with a GMT function.

DB25 collection

This collection features classic round case designs with a modern twist, often incorporating intricate dial designs and complications such as tourbillons and perpetual calendars.

DB27 collection

This collection features tonneau-shaped cases with a distinctive “floating lugs” design, which allows the watch to sit comfortably on the wrist. The dials often feature a minimalist design with bold numerals and markers.

DB28 collection

This collection features a distinctive “floating lugs” design similar to the DB27 but with a more angular case shape. The dials often feature a highly technical look with visible movements and intricate finishing.

DB29 collection

This collection features highly technical designs with skeletonized dials and innovative complications, such as a moon phase display that accurately depicts the phases of the moon over a 1,112-year cycle. The case designs are often highly asymmetrical and feature a unique “articulated” lug system for maximum comfort on the wrist.