De Bethune - The Geneva Watch Auction: XX Geneva Saturday, November 9, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: De Bethune
    Year: Circa 2023
    Reference No: DBK2V1
    Movement No: DB.Q.416500.003
    Case No: 05
    Model Name: DB Kind of Two Jumping GMT
    Material: Titanium
    Calibre: Manual, cal. DB2517, 58 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Titanium De Bethune pin buckle
    Dimensions: 43.3mm Diameter
    Signed: Dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by De Bethune Certificate of Origin and Warranty, instruction manual, fitted box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    De Bethune is know for its surprising timepieces - both from a technical standpoint and an aesthetic one too - thus it would stand to logic that collectors would be somewhat used to their overachieving extravagance. And yet, with every release the brand manages to leave collectors in a state of baffled bliss. The spectacular “DB Kind of Two Jumping GMT” is a particularly appropriate example of this concept. Revealed in 2022 - the year of De Bethune’s 20th Anniversary - and mounting the 30th calibre developed by the company, the model is a horological tour-de-force under all possible aspect.

    It is a GMT, dual display reversible timepiece with jumping seconds and floating lugs. One side features what the brand calls a “classic” display dedicated to the “Away” time display. It presents relatively old school aesthetics with a guilloché center disk and Arabic-style numerals. Yet, the brand manages to imbue even the classic side with modernity, thanks to the convex tracks dedicated to the hours and minutes. The other side - the “Home” time dial - is a whirlwind of horological whimsy and modernity in pure De Bethune style. Fully skeletonized, it prominently features the iconic De Bethune “Star Trek” bridge enveloping nearly the entirety of the dial. At the very center, the deadbeat second wheel (operating the center seconds on the “Away” dial) is on full display and a subdial at six frames the escapement and tells the hours, indicated with a large hand superimposed to the balance wheel. An inclined outer white track with blue five-minute Arabic combined with baton minute numerals would be the only concession to tradition, if not for the minute hand - a “mystery-style”” tiny arrow seemingly suspended above the movement but in fact linked at its tip to the tiny track which drives it.

    Incredibly enough, to render the timepiece surprisingly lightweight might be the least astonishing detail for this titanium case which - similarly to the Contemporary dial - takes tradition and throws it out of the window with a fresh gust of post-modernity. Originally debuting in 2021 (with the DB Kind of Two Tourbillon), it features floating lugs - another De Bethune creation - and a fully reversible construction thanks to a mechanism consisting of 28 parts. Its operation is as smooth, precise and satisfying as the mechanical dance of the components of the movement.

    Please not that De Bethune offers a complimentary servicing of the watch within 6 months of the sale.

Σ160

Ref. DBK2V1
An unusual, inventive and very rare reversible titanium dual time wristwatch with deadbeat seconds, double dial, floating lugs, certificate and box

Circa 2023
43.3mm Diameter
Dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF80,000 - 160,000 
€85,400-171,000
$92,400-185,000

Sold for CHF190,500

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Europe, and Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
aghotbi@phillips.com

 

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88

tto@phillips.com

 

 

The Geneva Watch Auction: XX

Geneva Auction 9 - 10 November 2024