Back in 2021 De Bethune launched the DB25GMT Starry Varius. It was a piece whose genesis was the worldwide COVID lockdowns, with Denis Flagollet saying – “What on earth was I thinking of in working on a new GMT travel watch while all the countries of the world were entering lockdown? I am pleased that it is now finished and that all the nomads of the planet can finally resume their journey, doubtless with a different view of our world.”
A watch that is a combination of the World Traveller and the Starry Varius, and featuring their 29th calibre, the titanium DB25GMT Starry Varius took the DB 25 World Traveller’s use of concentric circles, but with the complication redesigned.
Now we have a new variant which is in 5N rose gold (11.8mm thick) but otherwise like its predecessor.
Starting from the centre of the dial is the star-filled sky dual-time zone with a micro sphere, surrounded by three concentric rings. The central dial has two parts, with blue polished titanium with white gold pins/ radiant silver microlight decoration with a sunburst insert in polished rose gold. The date is shown on the first ring/ disc via a jumping blued and silver-tipped date hand which can be adjusted via a corrector at 6 o’clock. The hours of the first 24-hour time zone (home/ reference time) are indicated by the micro sphere. This function can be set in both directions (clockwise/ counter-clockwise) via the crown.
The local time, i.e. the second time zone, is indicated by blued hands whose curvature follows the relief of the dial. The minutes is synced with the reference time and the local (second) time can also be set by the crown, in both directions. The curved hour ring is silver, the minute ring is rose gold.
Winding and setting the local and travel time (GMT) is via the crown, but the date hand is adjusted using a corrector at 6 o’clock.
Powering it is again the manually-wound DB2507 which beats at 28,800 VPH and has a power reserve of 120 hours. It features the usual attributes of a De Bethune movement – an in-house balance spring, silicon escape wheel, a triple para-chute shock absorbing system, balance spring with the “De Bethune” flat terminal curve, and a titanium balance wheel with white gold inlays.
Coming on a blue alligator strap, the new De Bethune DB25GMT Starry Varius Rose Gold has an RRP of EUR 115,000 but as it is a Starry Varius, for an additional amount you can have a personalised star pattern on the sky.
[Photo credit: De Bethune]
Categories: De Bethune, GMT/ dual/ worldtimer, Watch Profile, watches