Important Collectors’ Watches, Pocket...

Geneva, Oct 14, 2007

LOT 112

?DB 5? De Bethune ?DB 5? , Ref. DB5Y, case No. 5. Made in 2002. Fine and rare, self winding, water resistant, 18K yellow gold, center-second wristwatch with 18K yellow gold buckle. Accompanied by fitted box and certificate.

CHF 8,000 - 10,000

EUR 5,000 - 6,000 / USD 6,500 - 8,500

C. Three body, polished, case back with screws, ogival lugs, sapphire crystal. D. Silver ?guillochè? with painted Roman numerals, outer minute graduation. Blued steel hands. M. Cal. 2072, self-winding, decorated with ?Côtes de Genève? pattern, 20 jewels, monometallic balance, Swiss lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 42 mm. Thickness 10 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: A

Good

Case: 2

Very good

Movement: 2

Very good

Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

De Bethune

The company was established in 2002 in La Chaux L?Auberson in the Swiss Jura, by David Zanetta, a well-known consultant of some of the world?s most prestigious watch collections, and Denis Flageollet, a master watchmaker and professor at Le Locle, who has 20 years of experience in research, conception and the development of over 120 prestigious watches. Together they have equipped the De Bethune factory with the machinery and expertise to produce all of its calibres (manual and automatic) in-house, in addition to making their own cases, dials, and hands. All of which guarantees the highest level of excellence in production and quality control.
The design of each De Bethune calibre embodies simplicity, elegance and functionality. Each mechanism is designed to combine new technologies with the great watchmaking tradition.
De Bethune has developed new types of balance systems to improve amplitude and rate stability. After patenting the new titanium/platinum balance wheel in 2004, in 2006 De Bethune presented the world?s first balance-wheel made of pure crystalline silicon, a material that is lightweight and elastic. The silicon balance spring is fitted with the De Bethune plane terminal curve in order to achieve isochronic oscillations. The De Bethune IOS (Isochronic Oscillating System) is completed by a ?triple parachute Titanium Bridge? designed to fully protect the escapement from shocks.
Every timepiece created by De Bethune is the result of technical research, development, and many details which make all the difference: excellent mechanical reliability, meticulous attention to detail, the commitment, at each stage of production, to ensure the highest quality of the product, and the ability to create contemporary designs incorporating the know-how of the great watchmakers of the past.