De Bethune - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVII Geneva Saturday, May 13, 2023 | Phillips

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  • Manufacturer: De Bethune
    Year: 2005
    Reference No: DB15
    Model Name: Perpetual Calendar Minute Repeater Tourbillon "Piece Unique"
    Material: 18K pink gold
    Calibre: Manual, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold De Bethune pin buckle
    Dimensions: 43.4mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and pin buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by De Bethune Certificate of Origin dated 2005, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Horological maestro Denis Flageollet teamed up with collector extraordinaire David Zanetta in 2002 to create the independent watchmaking tour-de-force that is De Bethune, striving to implement avant-garde designs rooted in traditional watchmaking principals. In the almost two decades since they began to make watches together, they have developed over thirty in-house movements and a cavalcade of technical innovations.

    The present unique timepiece is somewhat of a transitional piece from 2005, and a model that enabled Denis Flageollet to define the aesthetics of the future DB17 with the typical "bullet" and the brand's signature spherical moonphase. The movement - based on a Claret ebauche but with a De Bethune balance - remains more traditional even though a breathtaking perpetual calendar, minute repeating, tourbillon movement exquisitly finished is far from being "traditional" and a feat of technical and watchmaking engineering.

    Denis Flageollet – the brand’s co-founder and master watchmaker – spent decades restoring pieces made by the great masters of the 18th-19th century and the movement of the present unique piece is a reflection of his abyssal knowledge and love of historical watchmaking.

    The calendar functions are perfectly clear and legible, the minute repeater slide is discreetly placed on the flank and the tourbillon is hidden from view in the back.

    The present masterpiece is not only a superb timepiece but its desirability is further enhanced by the fact that it is a unique piece as engraved on the caseback (only another example exists with the same functions but cased in white gold).

126

Ref. DB15
A captivating and impressive unique pink gold perpetual calendar minute repeater tourbillon wristwatch with spherical moonphase display, certificate of authenticity and box

2005
43.4mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and pin buckle signed

Estimate
CHF150,000 - 300,000 
€156,000-312,000
$171,000-343,000

Sold for CHF266,700

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XVII

Geneva Auction 13 - 14 May 2023