Swipe photos
DB28GS DB28GS DB28GS DB28GS DB28GS DB28GS DB28GS DB28GS DB28GS DB28GS
lot 20

De Bethune

DB28GS

Estimate CHF 30 000 / CHF 40 000
Starting bid CHF 30 000
Hammer price CHF 82 000
Total bids 30
Buyer’s premium will not be charged

Specification

CaseBlue hand-polished grade 5 titanium case with floating lugs
StrapBlue rubber strap with original blue titanium pin buckle
DialVisible movement in microlight titanium, power reserve at 3 o'clock
MovementHand-wound movement with 2 mainspring barrels, 6 day power reserve indication
Cal.DB2115
Ref.DB28GSBV1AN
Movement No.DB..B.006.014
Case No.003
D=44 mm

Condition report

Case:Very good, small signs of wear
Strap:Very good, small signs of wear
Dial:Mint condition
Movement:Working properly
Amplitude (Dial on top/Lift angle 52):Approx 250 degrees
Accuracy (Dial on top):Approx + 10 sec/day
Box:Yes
Papers:Yes

Details 

An extremely rare, fine, unusual and attractive wristwatch of the Swiss watch brand De Bethune, founded in 2002 by the Italian vintage watch dealer David Zanetta and French watchmaker Denis Flageollet. Present reference launched in 2017. Estimated production period: 2017–2019. Case in blued titanium, diameter 44mm, 11.2mm thick, mobile (‘floating’) lugs in blued titanium with pivoting system, open dial, solid blued caseback. Thin hand-wound caliber DB2115V2 with balance and spiral on the dial side, double barrel and 6-day power reserve. Functions – hours, minutes, and performance indicator (a kind of power reserve indicator) between 2 and 3 o’clock. Blue De Bethune rubber strap with De Bethune pin buckle in blued titanium. Numbered edition. De Bethune reports only 5 pieces made since 2017.

Lot essay 

The present example is the 2018 blue version of the DB28 Grand Sport model launched in 2015. The core DB28 collection, introduced in 2010, was one which definitely opened a new era in the development of the brand. Several innovations have contributed to both raising the brand’s image as a pioneer, and to the practicality and convenience of the watch. In particular, the ‘floating’ spring-loaded lugs of the strap allow the watch to adjust to the wrist when you put it on, giving a very special feeling. Despite having two barrels for a 6-day winding, caliber DB2115 is remarkably thin, coming in at just 4.5mm. The reversed structure of the movement, which was later perceived as one of the brand’s trademarks, allowed the highlighting of other inventions from Denis Flageollet, the horological mastermind behind the brand. In the present example these include a titanium balance wheel with white gold weights, a De Bethune hairspring with flat terminal curve, and a unique triple shock resistance system with blued polished steel flat fixing springs and a carefully finished blued steel horizontal bridge. The high technical characteristics of the caliber are accompanied by attractive aesthetics with fine artisanal finishing of all components, and fine grooves following the shape of the movement’s blued bridges on the dial side. High-end finishes are also characteristic of the case and dial parts, enhancing the perceived value of the watch. 

The high technical characteristics of the caliber are accompanied by attractive aesthetics with fine artisanal finishing of all components, and fine grooves following the shape of the movement’s blued bridges on the dial side.

On the caseback, along with the engraved inscriptions “300 ft water resistant”, “De Bethune”, the early serial number “BV1 No.003”, and the emblems of the brand and Grand Sport collection, there is an inscription indicating “DB28”, which is made with the flags of the international maritime signal system. That is why this model is sometimes called the ‘Grand Sailor’. 

Reasons to bid 

The DB28 Grand Sport ‘Grand Sailor’ Ref. DB28GSBV1AN is an extremely attractive purchase for the collector and De Bethune watchmaking expertise aficionado, with an opportunity to obtain an extremely rare, beautiful, and unusual mechanical sports watch from this famous independent watch brand, one of the undoubted leaders in the haute horlogerie watch market. The combination of impeccable technical workmanship, an important and unusual complicated caliber with a visible balance and power reserve indicator complication, exquisite artisanal finishing of the movement, a special and very rare design of case in blued titanium with ‘floating’ lugs and a charismatic dial with opened movement featuring fine finishing, undoubtedly adds to the appeal of this lot. 

The keen collector should note that also offered for purchase in this sale is another extremely rare ‘all blue’ De Bethune watch – the DB28 Kind of Blue ‘Golden Hands’ Ref. DB28BTIBN. It is definitely an excellent chance to add a De Bethune blue double to a collection.