A Closer Look at the De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius Aérolite
De Bethune has an established history of creating seriously uncommon timepieces, using rich jewel tones and avant-garde shapes as key design signatures. In-line with this, the Swiss watchmaker is a proponent of super-limited releases, with the new DB25 Starry Varius Aérolite being its latest.
Opting for the DB25 as its base silhouette, the brand's latest celestial-inspired release distinguishes itself via a thoughtful integration of nickel and iron into its dial, the materials mined from a Muonionalusta meteorite, more details from the brand, below:
The minerals taken from the meteorite are acid-etched and heat treated to form a flat dial surface. Visually, the result is a wash of crystalline textured indigo and purple hues. Gold pins emulate the radiance and natural pattern of stars against the rich background. Bringing in the metallic sheen of the case, a silver-toned hours and minutes ring lines the outside edge of the otherwise starry dial. The precious nature of the materials used in this model results in each night sky-like pattern being entirely unique from all others.
While the colorful dial design is a model in storytelling, De Bethune does not compromise mechanical complexity for aesthetics. Instead, a large part of its aesthetic program is concerned with a general emphasis on geometry, which is fulfilled here by the movement of the watch, the caliber DB2109V4. Visible via an exhibition caseback, blued titanium is the visual centerpiece of the mechanics, the color drawing from the palette established on the dial. With function matching form, the hand-wound movement is capable of a 4-day power reserve.
Housing the movement is a 42mm polished titanium case enclosed by a sapphire crystal. The cool metallic titanium balances the vivid colors of the dial and the blue accents of the movement, creating cohesion throughout the watch. The case notably features hollowed, tapered lugs characteristic of the De Bethune brand.
The production of De Bethune's DB25 Starry Varius Aérolite will be limited to five pieces per year, with price available upon request.
To learn more, visit De Bethune, here.
