De Bethune DB28 Skybridge MC for Only watch
De Bethune Skybridge MC and the Monaco stars
On the occasion of the Only Watch 5th edition, De Bethune has scattered its iconic «Skybridge» dial with stars. They specially reflect the night sky above Le Rocher on the night of 19 September 1857, historical year and a national day.
By Louis Nardin
Journalist
Joining the fight against the Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which is by the way the sole aim of the Only Watch auction bids created in 2005 and which will, in 2013, be hosted on the 28th of September in Monaco, De Bethune inaugurated a new collection this spring with the night sky dominating Le Rocher on a Skybridge dial.
This unique creation, named De Bethune DB28 Skybridge MC, is both disruptive and contemporary with its white gold and diamond stars. Equipped with a mechanical calibre and manufactured manual winding, the DB28 Skybridge MC displays hours and minutes as well as moon phases.
Deeply imbued in the philosophy and style of the Auberson brand, this tribute-watch offers a view on the universe within the reach of one’s wrist.
Celestial magic on the DB28 dial
The unique alchemy implemented by Denis Flageollet – watch master – and David Zanetta – watch and design expert – De Bethune cofounders cannot be found with any other brand. Interlaced with historical references, their watches’ design do not belong to any epoch, be it even a futuristic one, since their refinement and classicism are totally reinterpreted.
«For the Skybridge, we had in mind the reproduction of an astronomy inspired by 1700’s clocks. We had to rise up to the challenge of creating a maximal volume effect of on the dial to intensify the vastness and the density of the sky while stimulating as intense an emotion. Through our research, we were able to manufacture a concave dial, which was somewhat akin to illusionism given the effect we were looking for. Besides, on this model, even the flange is blued to extend this sky piece even more», states Denis Flageollet.
A spherical lune for equilibrium
However, the dial is not uniform since a three-dimensional spherical lune vertically crosses it to end up at the 6 o’clock position with the elegant sphere of the moon phase. «We are very careful about the workmanship of our watches’ centre. This zone is of fundamental importance for us.
In this context, the barrel in which the hands are pressed into has to remain imperceptible and we always find a way to highlight the 12h to 6h axis in order to give a seating to the watch. As for the Skybridge, we have created a spherical lune dividing the whole of the dial».
The blued titanium of the DB28 Skybridge MC dial exactly replicates the 19 November 1857 night sky, historical year and official Monaco national day. Still commemorated nowadays, it is considered as the Prince’s day and the people of Monaco have a particular attachment to it. Its glistening stars have been manufactured in white gold or in diamonds. «We have also been particularly careful about highlighting the microspheres to the maximum to ensure that one may observe the game of their reflections on the titanium surface. Ten of them, the biggest ones, are used as an hour-circle».
5 patents for the calibre of the De Bethune DB28 Skybridge
Limiting the watch’s indications to hours, minutes and moon phases, Denis Flageollet and David Zanetta made a statement with the De Bethune DB28 Skybridge MC: a theatrical watch which stages the contemplation of a touch of universe as protagonist. However, the calibre stemming from the firm’s workshops integrates several major technical inventions. With its 236 components, it concentrates 5 exclusive and patented innovations including an auto-regulating double barrel as well as a silicon and palladium balance coupled with a flat terminal curve balance-spring. Platinum has been used for both the bezel and the case and the latter displays grade 5 titanium rotating horn-arches.
