De Bethune DB Kind of Grande Complication

Denis Flageollet’s latest creation epitomizes the culmination of 22 years of technical and aesthetic innovation—De Bethune DB Kind of Grande Complication, showcasing eight complex features across two uniquely designed dials. The watch represents the pinnacle of Flageollet’s vision, incorporating patented technical and decorative features. It features a reversible case with a dual-sided design that allows it to rotate around its central axis smoothly—similar to the mechanics seen in its predecessors, the DB Kind of Two Tourbillon in 2021 and the Kind of Two Jumping GMT in 2022. This concept of a double-faced watch, which reveals different functionalities on each side, is reminiscent of the two-faced Roman deity Janus, with one face looking backward in time and the other forward.

The case is meticulously crafted from polished grade 5 titanium and measures 43.3mm in diameter and 13.85mm in thickness, which is impressively slim given the complexity inside. It features strategically placed crowns and signature floating lugs with a pivoting mechanism that adapts to the wrist’s shape for optimal comfort.

On its contemporary side, the DB Kind of Grande Complication houses several advanced mechanisms, including a high-speed 30-second De Bethune tourbillon, a retrograde Moon age display, and an end-of-power reserve indicator, all centered around a striking deltoid bridge. This polished titanium bridge supports asymmetric gear trains and is topped with a smaller blued-titanium bridge for the minutes and jumping seconds. The hands are co-axially mounted, blued, and polished, following the Breguet style for hours and minutes, with a central jumping seconds hand.

The tourbillon at 6 o’clock, notable for its rapid rotation and lightweight construction, consists of 63 components, primarily in titanium, weighing just 0.18g. This feature not only advances the aesthetic but also enhances the watch’s precision. Below the bridge, the age of the Moon is displayed on a silver-toned track with a blue indicator that jumps back to the start of its cycle at month’s end, while a small aperture at 9 o’clock marks the power reserve status.

Turning the case reveals a more traditional dial, which integrates a perpetual calendar and a 3D moon phase display. This side blends elements from the DB25 Starry Varius—featuring a hand-decorated, blued titanium night sky studded with white gold pins representing stars—and the DB25 Perpetual Calendar. The Milky Way is artistically rendered with micro-milled titanium and gilded with 24k gold leaf.

The 3D moon phase display, positioned at 3 o’clock, combines one hemisphere in flame-blued steel and another in mirror-polished palladium. This high-accuracy mechanism requires adjustment only once every 122 years. The leap year is indicated by a small adjacent window. Days and months are shown in rectangular apertures with blue backgrounds and gold lettering, and the date is presented on a raised blued ring with gold numerals, indicated by a yellow gold hand. The hour and minute hands, designed to accommodate the dial’s three-dimensional features, are slightly bent at the tips.

The De Bethune DB Kind of Grande Complication is powered by the manually-wound calibre DB2529, containing 552 parts. This calibre features a self-regulating twin barrel that maintains a steady 4-day power reserve and supports the sophisticated functionalities of the watch, including the ultra-light titanium tourbillon which operates at a frequency of 5Hz. The crown controls winding and time setting, while side correctors adjust the month, day, and moon phase.

Both faces of the watch are protected by sapphire crystal with a double anti-reflective coating to enhance visibility. It is presented on a highly flexible alligator leather strap with a matching alligator lining and a polished titanium pin buckle. Given its intricate design and the complexity of its features, the DB Kind of Grande Complication will be produced in limited quantities and is priced at CHF 400,000 (excluding taxes).