De Bethune DB28xs Yellow Tones

Led by master watchmaker Denis Flageollet, De Bethune has built its reputation for crafting ultra-modern timepieces, both in mechanics and design. For years now, it seems like every new release adds more and more to the brand’s vast catalog of heavy-hitters. Back again with yet another, De Bethune launches a new version of the beloved DB28xs – this is the all-new DB28xs Yellow Tones. 

Front and center is the color, one of the signatures of De Bethune. To achieve the fiery yellow with natural, intense and vibrant hues, the artisans at L’Auberson treated the case and movement components individually – a challenging process that led to a spectacular outcome. Evoking a fall color palette, the thermal-treated yellow is a meticulous craft that defines one of the core competencies of the brand. 

True to De Bethune’s pioneering spirit, the DB28xs Yellow Tones embodies the brand’s ongoing quest to push the boundaries of modern watchmaking. By reducing the yellow polished grade 5 titanium case diameter to 38.7 mm, De Bethune didn’t simply miniaturize the original, iconic DB28, the Manufacture created a new watch that preserves all the architectural and technical richness of its predecessor, while adapting it to a more intimate size. Behind the scenes, Flageollet is continuously revisiting and rethinking his work, finding ways to improve and modernize timepieces that may be more than a decade old. 

When a watch is miniaturized, it often comes with sacrifice. A thinner, smaller movement is usually not a movement that has a larger power reserve. In the case of caliber DB2115V14 in the DB28xs Yellow Tones, things have been meticulously refined to deliver exceptional chronometric performance. The movement boasts a 20% increase in power reserve, now lasting a full six days. Alongside the titanium balance wheel, equipped with white gold weights, ensures perfect inertia and regulation while the De Bethune balance spring, with its unique flat terminal curve, guarantees unparalleled precision. The movement is a testament to the craftsmanship and technical capabilities of De Bethune. 

The openworked dial as well as movement are a masterclass in all of the finest finishing techniques. Mirror polishing, chamfering, satin-finishing, thermal bluing, sandblasting, the DB28xs Yellow Tones is another example of De Bethune’s uncanny ability to create beautiful timepieces with novel mechanics, materials, and textures.