If you are familiar with the brand De Bethune then you can easily spot it from across the room. The distinctive design and styling with the signature elements sets the brand apart from the other conservative watchmakers. This is the first time that De Bethune is participating in the prestigious SIHH event and they have kicked off 2016 with De Bethune DB25 World Traveller.
News Points
- De Bethune kicks off SIHH 2016 with DB25 World Traveller.
- De Bethune DB25 World Traveller features a second-time zone indicated by a 3-dimensional microsphere.
- Central disc of the De Bethune SIHH 2016 launch features names of 15 different cities for different timezones.
- Rear of the watch features an aerodynamic spaceship-shaped design to reduce air resistance.
- De Bethune World Traveller watch also sports a double-barrel shock absorbing caliber DB2547.
De Bethune DB25 World Traveller is an amazingly beautiful and technically intelligent watch. It is not only stylish but a useful functional tool for long distance travellers. The watch displays a second time zone in a rather simple but mysterious way. A watch featuring multiple time zones is not unusual at all. But, the way De Bethune has cleverly incorporated the second time zone using a microsphere makes it stand out from the pack.
As seen from the concentric arrangement of dial, the central disc features names of 15 different cities. A graduated channel surrounds the central disc through which a microsphere is seen moving. This microsphere indicates a second time zone or a reference time. This microsphere is one of the signature elements of De Bethune and it also acts as a day-night indicator. Three dimensional sphere is made of two halves of different colors. One half is blue and the other is pink and interestingly the half which is seen from the dial reverses every time the sphere crosses the 6’o clock mark. De Bethune World Timer’s exterior most circle displays the day while local time is shown with help of bright blue leaf shaped hands. This whole arrangement makes readability and setting of time zones on DB25 World Traveller super easy for anyone who has never used a world timer watch!
The rear side of De Bethune SIHH 2016 launch watch is as appealing as the front dial. Technical prowess of the mechanical caliber DB2547 that can be seen from transparent sapphire crystal case back is what makes this watch extra special. The manual winding caliber has 430 individual components. And, it is a result of 10 years of innovation and research by Denis Flageollet, co-founder of De Bethune and his team. World traveller 2016’s balance wheel is made of titanium and it carriers a special ability to neutralize the effect of temperature variations. The spaceship shaped aerodynamic design looks something straight out of the Star Trek movie. However, it is not just for show and it helps in reducing air resistance as claimed by De Bethune. Other feature of the innovative caliber movement includes an escapement wheel made up of Silicon and a shock-absorbing regulator system. The double-barrel system, which powers the watch is partially visible and provides approximately 5 days of power reserve.
De Bethune DB25 World Traveller comes in a 45 mm white gold case which is exquisitely finished. De Bethune pays a lot of attention to the finishing and hence, majority of the components of this watch is mirror-polished. Equipped with a brown alligator skin strap, DB25 World Traveller is a classy and intellectual timepiece that can be your perfect companion on those long tours.
*Words by Yogen Bobde
