De Bethune DB28: A Collector's Transcendental Watch

Bernard Cheong's acquisition of the De Bethune DB28 is more than just a watch purchase; it's a reflection of his unique philosophy on collecting and life. This post, part of a larger series, offers readers a rare glimpse into the personal environment and mindset of a collector who champions independent watchmaking as a search for artistic interpretation and engineering elegance. Cheong's narrative challenges conventional notions of luxury, emphasizing genuine appreciation over status.

It is often very trying to write and entertain.

But the arrival after 5 months of saving for the DB28 is important to deserve a special "entrance" into the forums of this respected forum.

First...for those who don't know me...some pictorial history into my psyche, I am not a "challenger" or a conformist, I pretty well live in a world I created with the grace of GOD for myself.

This was once a hall of the 23 year old house I built with my pen and paper, and a handful of architects and engineers.

 Now it serves as a part of my office.

This is an example of how I don't keep up with anyone.

I am certainly the ONLY house here in my street of 6 homes, that has not been renovated to some mega monster house.

You can see my main office in the glass area.

It over looks NO buildings, but a mile or so of undisturbed and preserved rainforest.

My dad is asleep in the afternoon, unaware that the DB28 is here.

This is my office.

These pictures are relevant to why i buy and support indepedent work, and I hope that watchmaking will loose some degree of one upmanship status, but become a more genuine search for artistic interpretations and of elegance in engineering.

I still have a deep love for well made cameras. Flawed machines? Yes.

Charm? YES.

Tech? Nah.

The DB has a small leather case which resembles an expensive handphone.

Here it lies with objects that are related to it by blood.

This is ONLY the first part of a post, which in 18 of 33, will be a series of close up macros of the DB28.

I wish to expand a bit of WHY I like the DB28 beyond the fact that it is exceptionally finished and has an extreme philosophy of making a relevant object that will contribute to the owner's well being, mentally and in the soul.

Which is why, as I begin to unbox the damned thing, I wish to relate a part of my likings for certain objects.

The mini box for carrying the DB28 as a watch for use, maybe after a game or a swim, is of great quality and construct.

It is not a small after thought, and it comes across as an object of great quality...it is very pleasing and totally calming to the senses.

I like Britto. He is brash, commercial, and makes no pretense about being just that.

I began to buy his work late, and I regret not looking much earlier at his efforts.

In that way, I have lost a chance to understand his work in any depth.

I am a furniture freak.

This 3 ton, yes..3 tons of 316 steel was cast and polished from solid 316 wristwatch steel! It is my writting desk!

The chair is a classic Walter Knoll, in leather.

The Wink chair by the Japanese designer, Toshiyuki Kita (1983) is my favorite reading and meditation space.

This one is a limited edition leather one covered in hermes Clemence quality leather...cool?

This is a 1966 Hermes Birkin that is 60cm size, the largest and most practical ever made, and also the most rare today.

It is VERY heavy.

It serves as a piece of furniture in my office, for magazines and books.

The Birkin, from the age of 1966 was not yet as commercial, and the stitch and cut is exemplery. There is NO modern Birkin that will withstand any macro photogrpahy when compared to this bag. The corners and edges and cut are super sharp.

This bag is VERY rare.

It is a blood relative of watches like the Dufour and the DB28.

It is funny.

This picture shows that I have the LEAST expensive car in my street!

Yes.

I bought and drive a basic PDK and fully equipped carerra 2, bought new in 2010.

I plan to keep this car like a watch.

In Singapore, this car is 4 times as costly as the DB28.

I realised that in the real world outside of singapore, the DB28 is the same price as a new 911 Carerra 2.

Crazy yah? But then...

Think of whether the wife will agree to the watch rather than the car..same price!

THIS is why the DB28 is expensive, but well worth every cent.

And I hope I have given a glimpse into my own bipolar like philosopy.

The next post is a display of the DB28, and watches like it...the pursuit for many of us.

Money is hard to come by, yes, even for me...

But life is certainly to be well lived and to be of some contribution to a better world for all...not a reality, but a hope.