Horological Meandering

This watch was photographed together with the DB22 I reported earlier (2 other watches - the DB MaxiChrono and DBS) and finally managed to complete the post processing.

This watch is special because it is a handless perpetual calendar  - and a moonphase on the back! Not a watch that I would say that one falls in love with on first sight. However, I know some are finding that the design can grow on them. This one is for you Jack!

Hope you enjoy these images. If you want to see more as well as the beautiful moonphase back, click on the link below and follow through.






















To see other images of this wonderful timepiece, check out the link below.

DE BETHUNE DIGITALLE

of course just IMVHO but the proportions of the cutouts for the digital indications relative to the size of the watch are beautifully handled- the use of positive and negative space recalls the best of Breguet, and I'm talking Abraham Louis here.  Font choices, finish of the dial, and dimensions overall are wonderfully harmonious, the lugs which seem incongruous on DB's more traditionally styled watches (to my eye) are PERFECT on the Digitale, and to cap it all off, the 'stealth' moonphase on the back- how cool is that?  It's a conversation piece, a wonderful display of the kind of convergence of mechanical interest and aesthetics that comes along once in a blue moon, and like the most successful avante-garde watches it is both classical and extremely fresh and innovative.

Love it, love it, love it.

Thank you Prof. Tan, for posting these pictures; I would sure love to have a look at one of these in the metal but as they're rarer than hen's teeth perhaps I shall simply shrink one of your pics and tape a photo onto the dial of one of my other watches ;-) .

Jack

NT

The Digitale is stunning in the metal. I was very surprised when I first saw it, pictures truly do not do it justice. Each of the design elements - the oddly placed crown, the tiny windows, the Cotes de Geneve dial decoration - are hardly attractive, when considered in isolation. But together they are beautiful. This is easily my favourite watch of the De Bethune range.

- SJX

would normally leave me cold. For example, Urwerk is something that I have been trying to like, and yet, cannot. I simply see no value added in a digital form of read out for a mechanical watch. However, there is something very appealing about this piece that appeals. Cannot quite figure it out. It has a calmness about it that is alluring in the best sense, and your photos are to be commended for bringing this to light. Great photos of a very understated and appealing watch.

Thank you

Andrew H

. . .it's got the self confidence to work with a lot of negative space that you find in very, very few other contemporary watches. 

Incidentally, Andrew, that's an intriguing avatar you have yourself there ;-) .

Jack

No photo will do them justice. I had the pleasure of wearing the Urwerk for a day and it was magical on my wrist. I must say that the finish work on the Debethune doesn't look as good as it should be. Is it the photo or my eyes...the day date appear to be out of alignment, and the aperature looks unfinished, is it me?

Unlike the URWERKS which is out and out design where there is no question that its a designed with that intent, somehow, the Digitale almost looks like an old world watch designed with the hands left out.

Afterall, your eyes will be drawn firstly to the three rubies situated in a triangular fashion (almost to a point where it could be seen as the eyes and mouth position on a face). I am not sure if I would like the watch as much if the rubies were missing on the dial.

The other aspect is the Geneva Stripes that subconsiously makes me wonder if this is the front or back of the watch but behold, the symmetrical location of the windows reflecting the day date and month as well as time. All in a perfect isoceles triangle pointing down. I think its symmetry that is the key here.

I know I will get hit for this but for some reason, I am also reminded of the old 70's alarm clocks where the digital windows flip little cards down. Do not get me wrong, this for me is a positive romantic thing.

Cheers!
Harry

mixed feelings for the watch.

Like Jack, I admre the balance of the dial design, even though I don't generally think much of looking through holes in the dial to read the time; I think the digital displays must be very challenging, and the odd lugs look quite good at the bottom...but the adaptation at the top I don't much care for.  The moonphase on the back is spectacular!