To mark the event, the brand were present in Shanghai with an exhibit of its timepieces, including the famous DB25 Starry Varius Chronomètre Tourbillon, which just recently was awarded Best Chronometer at this year’s Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève.

Each passing month is synonymous with international expansion for De Bethune. After reinforcing its presence in the US with new partners in September and bringing the brand to Mexico in October, De Bethune today proudly announces it is strengthening its presence in mainland China to better address the demand from collectors in this country.

It is on the occasion of the Shanghai Watch Festival, that was held on 8 and 9 December 2018, that De Bethune engaged Chinese collectors and aficionados of contemporary high watchmaking with an important exhibit of its iconic timekeepers.

The Shanghai Watch Festival is a new must-attend event initiated by collectors for collectors in the spirit of promoting High Horology, in particular the independent “maisons,” by creating a special space at the heart of the city for those who share a passion for high watchmaking to meet and exchange views.

Heading the event’s organization is a friend and client of De Bethune, Kelvin Sa, who conceived the event foremost with Chinese connoisseurs in mind who can now come together and discover the latest innovations in a venue that is more like a club than a salon: the 5th floor of the Shanghai History Museum, formerly the Shanghai Jockey Club.

Pierre Jacques, CEO of De Bethune said: “There is no more fitting event or better venue to set the stage for De Bethune’s first steps into China. It’s thanks to our friend Kelvin Sa, a discerning collector, client of De Bethune and main initiator of the Shanghai Watch Festival, that we had the idea of organizing this exhibit of key timepieces with him at the heart of Shanghai. This event coincides perfectly with the strengthening of our presence in the country to better respond to the interest of collectors here.”

All of this year’s new models, such as the DB28 Steel Wheels, the DB28 Kind of Blue, and the famous DB25 Starry Varius Chronomètre Tourbillon, which has a more classic vibe with its firmament of blued titanium and milky way of 24-carat gold dust – and was just recently awarded Best Chronometer at the 2018 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève – were exhibited for the occasion.

De Bethune is also present in Hong Kong with longstanding partners MELB Asia at the prestigious Lavish Attic boutique.