Swiss watchmaker De Bethune has unveiled an absolute stunner: the Dream Watch 5, aptly described as “an authentic wrist sculpture.” Its delta-shaped case is crafted from mirror-polished titanium, with a crown at 3 o’clock adorned by a 1-carat cabochon-cut ruby. It features an AR-coated sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment, plus a solid caseback engraved with the signatures of David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet.
Inside beats the Swiss manual-wind De Bethune in-house caliber DB2144, with 32 jewels, a 28,800 vph beat rate, and a 5-day power reserve. This incredible piece includes an analog minutes indicator on a rotating disc and a tiny spherical moon-phase at the center. It’s finished with an extra-supple alligator strap and titanium pin buckle.
Priced at 150,000 Swiss Francs (approx. $164,000), the Dream Watch 5 is no ordinary timepiece. Check out this wrist shot by Hodinkee. For more, visit debethune.ch.
Independent watchmakers have been rethinking how time is shown too. Back in January 2013, Dutch watchmakers Tim and Bart Grönefeld introduced the One Hertz Techniek and its black DLC Nocturne twin, billed as the world’s only series watch with independent dead seconds. The seconds sit on a large dial at 7 o’clock inside a 43 mm titanium case, and only 30 pieces were made.
