De Bethune DB28xs Sea Tourbillon: when blued titanium meets the excellence of the high-frequency tourbillon

Some watches do more than simply tell the time. They tell a story, convey an emotion and give shape to the vision of their creator. With the new DB28xs Sea Tourbillon, De Bethune delivers a fascinating interpretation of the sea, of light and of movement, bringing together in a timepiece of just 39 mm everything that today defines the identity of the independent manufacture founded by Denis Flageollet.

Through this new creation, the Swiss house continues its exploration of a watchmaking in which technical innovation never overshadows aesthetic emotion. On the contrary, the two advance together to give birth to a piece that captivates the eye as much as it impresses with its mechanical substance.

A poetic interpretation of the ocean depths

From its very beginnings, De Bethune has forged an immediately recognisable identity. Shades of blue, the working of titanium, plays of light and airy architectures are so many signatures that set its creations apart in the landscape of contemporary haute horlogerie.

With the DB28xs Sea Tourbillon, this identity reaches a new maturity. Inspired by the infinite chromatic variations of the ocean, the dial evokes the shifting surface of the sea, where every reflection alters the perception of time. Far from a mere aesthetic evocation, this composition expresses Denis Flageollet’s wish to bring watchmaking closer to the great phenomena of nature.

The result is striking. Depending on the angle of the wrist, the blued titanium reveals an almost liquid depth that seems to be constantly evolving under the effects of the light.

Random guilloché, a signature that has become emblematic

Introduced recently by the manufacture, random guilloché has already become one of De Bethune’s most recognisable finishes.

Unlike traditional geometric patterns, this technique creates an organic relief whose ripples recall the vibrations of water stirred by the wind. Worked directly on the blued titanium, this decoration graces the bridge covers as well as the celebrated deltoid central bridge, a true emblem of the DB28 collection.

The whole produces a sensation of perpetual movement. Polished surfaces answer satin-finished areas, while the different shades of blue overlay one another with remarkable subtlety.

The polished titanium hands and the blanched indexes further reinforce this impression of lightness while ensuring excellent legibility.

The unique comfort of the DB28 case

If the DB28 collection is immediately identifiable, it owes this in part to an innovation that has become essential at De Bethune: its famous patented floating lugs.

This particular architecture allows the case to follow the movements of the wrist naturally. On this new version, the contained 39 mm diameter further heightens this sensation of comfort, making the watch remarkably discreet despite its strong character.

Entirely crafted in mirror-polished titanium, the case also illustrates one of the manufacture’s most complex forms of expertise.

Polishing titanium until it achieves a perfectly uniform reflection is a genuine challenge. Harder to work than steel or gold, this material demands exceptional mastery in order to obtain a perfect continuity of surfaces without altering the characteristic lines of the DB28.

This artisanal work, invisible to the layperson, nonetheless contributes greatly to the magic that emanates from the watch when it catches the light.

The calibre DB2009V7: five days of autonomy and an extraordinary tourbillon

Behind this particularly accomplished aesthetic lies a movement that perfectly sums up De Bethune’s technical philosophy.

The manufacture calibre DB2009V7 is driven by a self-regulating twin barrel offering more than five days of power reserve while ensuring a steady transmission of energy.

Like all the movements developed by the house, it incorporates solutions designed to meet contemporary constraints: a silicon escapement wheel, an optimised hairspring, and enhanced resistance to magnetic fields, accelerations and shocks.

But it is naturally its tourbillon that draws every eye.

A high-frequency tourbillon among the most spectacular in haute horlogerie

At De Bethune, the tourbillon is not a mere exercise in style intended to enrich a technical specification.

For many years, Denis Flageollet has been working to entirely rethink this complication in order to improve its efficiency while limiting its energy consumption.

The result is spectacular.

The tourbillon cage, made up of 63 components, is crafted entirely in titanium and weighs only 0.18 grams. This exoskeleton-shaped structure serves a dual function: to considerably reduce inertia while absorbing part of the shocks endured by the movement.

Thanks to this extremely light construction, the tourbillon runs at a high frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour and completes a full rotation in just thirty seconds, twice as fast as the majority of traditional tourbillons.

This combination of speed, precision and lightness is today one of De Bethune’s most impressive mechanical signatures.

A new demonstration of De Bethune’s expertise

With the DB28xs Sea Tourbillon, De Bethune does not seek to follow trends. The manufacture pursues its own path, faithful to a vision in which innovation is expressed in the service of emotion.

Every detail, from the mirror-polished titanium to the random guilloché, by way of this exceptionally sophisticated high-frequency tourbillon, bears witness to an approach in which the pursuit of beauty constantly accompanies mechanical performance.

More than a new reference in the DB28 collection, this creation confirms De Bethune’s ability to push back the frontiers of contemporary haute horlogerie without ever losing sight of what makes a watch exceptional: the power to inspire wonder.

The DB28xs Sea Tourbillon thus reminds us that, when craftsmanship, engineering and poetry come together, time becomes far more than a measure. It becomes an emotion.

Frequently asked questions