Article of the week
Louis Erard Unveils the Limited-Edition Gravée Main

Since 2021, Louis Erard has been redefining the boundaries of Métiers d’Art, from Grand Feu enamel and guilloché to wood marquetry, and soon, gold wire inlay. Now, Gravée Main opens a new chapter, paying tribute to one of the oldest crafts in watchmaking hand engraving.
Gravée Main represents a new milestone in Louis Erard’s Métiers d’Art series. This limited edition of 99 unique timepieces places hand engraving at center stage, with every metal element entirely engraved and finished by hand, a meticulous process that requires more than 50 hours of work. 

Introducing De Bethune Celebrates Its Favorite Color with the DB28xs Kind of Blue Tourbillon

The Swiss Maison Continues to Deliver Its Engineering Marvels in a Smaller Size

De Bethune once again celebrates its favorite color ‘’blue’’ at Geneva Watch Days 2025. The independent Manufacture, renowned for constantly reinventing itself and redefining its icons, now pushes the boundaries of creativity and technical expertise with a tourbillon version of the 39 mm DB28 Kind of Blue. Reducing the diameter for a better fit on slender wrists required resizing the entire case, but for the technical team in L’Auberson, it also meant rethinking the watch holistically from materials to finishes.

“It’s about rethinking the model’s entire aesthetic balance. By that, I mean the light it reflects on the wrist. It is composed of an infinite number of details that are defined by an extremely rigorous choice of materials, lines, surface finishes and volumes. Each material is chosen and crafted according to its intrinsic qualities and its propensity to absorb or reflect light to a greater or lesser extent.” — Denis Flageollet

Remaining true to the DB28 spirit, the DB28xs Kind of Blue Tourbillon astonishes with the lightweight design of its case, now in a smaller size: 38.7 mm in diameter and just 8 mm thick. Constructed entirely from polished blued grade 5 titanium, it features De Bethune’s signature floating lugs, which adjust to the wrist’s size and movements thanks to a patented system. The distinctive blue hue is achieved through the natural oxidation of titanium, making each piece unique. The trademark crown at 12 o’clock adds a signature touch, while the screwed caseback in blued polished titanium reveals an open linear power reserve indicator, offering connoisseurs a view into the technical beauty within.

The dial showcases a striking play of textures and finishes. A titanium hour ring with refined blued microlight decoration and polished markers ensures depth and legibility. Encircling it, a blued grade 5 titanium minutes and seconds ring with a circular satin finish adds contrast. At the center, a barrel bridge cover and triangular central bridge, both in blued polished grade 5 titanium with chamfered contours, underscore De Bethune’s technical artistry while providing bold visual impact.

Crafted entirely in Microlight, the dial also reveals the De Bethune tourbillon at 6 o’clock, equipped with an exceptionally lightweight cage weighing just 0.18 grams—the lightest ever created by the brand. Rotating once every 30 seconds, it is paired with a dedicated 30-second indicator that enhances both technical precision and visual dynamism. Polished titanium hands complete the composition.

At its heart beats the manual-winding DB2009v5 movement, also seen in the DB28XP Kind of Blue Tourbillon. This ultra-refined caliber features a titanium tourbillon frame composed of 63 components and weighing just 0.18 grams, operating at 36,000 vibrations per hour with a 30-second rotation. The balance wheel, modest in diameter, is crafted from titanium with small external white gold weights, ensuring optimal chronometric performance. A single barrel provides a robust five-day power reserve.

The DB28xs Kind of Blue Tourbillon is fitted with a supple double-lined blue alligator leather strap, secured by a blued grade 5 titanium pin buckle, priced at 190,000 CHF which is equivalent to 867,200 AED.

 

For more information visit the official website of De bethune. 

Technical specifications: DB28xs Kind of Blue Tourbillon
  1. Reference: DB28XSTB
  2. Case: Blued polished grade 5 titanium, floated lugs, sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating, Screwed case back in blued polished titanium and open on a linear power reserve indicator, crown at 12 o'clock
  3. Diameter: 38.7 mm 
  4. Height: 8 mm 
  5. Water resistance: 30 m
  6. Dial: Blue titanium, Blued grade 5 polished titanium hours ring with polished titanium spherical hour-markers, Blued circular satin-brushed grade 5 titanium minutes ring, Blued grade 5 polished titanium barrel bridge and blued triangular central bridge guards with straight-grained chamfered contours, 
  7. Movement: Caliber DB2009v5, Mechanical hand-wound movement, 30 mm Diameter, Titanium balance wheel with white gold inserts, "De Bethune" balance-spring with flat terminal curve, Silicon escape wheel, Triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system, 238 parts, 36 jewels, Hand-crafted finishing and decoration
  8. Power reserve: 5 days
  9. Frequency:    36,000 VPH 
  10. Functions:  Hours, minutes, 30 seconds indicator, power reserve on the back
  11. Bracelet / Strap: alligator leather strap with Blued grade 5 titanium buckle and pin
  12. Price: 190,000 CHF which is equivalent to 867,200 AED

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