De Bethune DB25

DB25 is a line from the independent manufacture De Bethune in L'Auberson: a classic round drum-type case and the brand's signature skeletonised lugs. The brand's neighbouring line is DB28.

The DB25 collection includes men's watches in white and rose gold and in titanium. The DB25 Ball Moonphase and the anniversary DB25 Ball Moonphase 50th Anniversary are in white gold with a 44 mm case. Both have a blue dial in blued titanium with gold inlays depicting a starry sky and a spherical moon-phase indicator at the top. The Perpetual Calendar Rose Gold DB25 is in rose gold, 45 mm: a perpetual calendar with day, month and date, a spherical moon and a brown guilloché dial with Roman numerals. The Starry Varius DB25 and GMT Starry Varius are in titanium, 42 mm. The first has a starry sky on blued titanium; in the second a three-dimensional sphere shows the second time zone, together with a 24-hour display and date.

All models in the collection use De Bethune's own calibres; the DB25 Ball Moonphase and Perpetual Calendar Rose Gold DB25 have twin barrels. The DB25 Ball Moonphase has a titanium balance, and the Starry Varius DB25 a titanium balance with gold inserts and the patented Triple Pare-Chute shock-absorbing system. The crystal is sapphire, the caseback transparent and the strap leather, with a buckle in the same metal as the case.

Within DB25 the choice is first of all by metal and complication. Titanium cases — the Starry Varius DB25 and GMT Starry Varius — are lighter than gold. White and rose gold suit those who like to feel the weight of a watch on the wrist. Then comes the complication: spherical moon phase, perpetual calendar or second time zone.