Hands-On: The De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius

March 23, 2018

As part of a refresh of their well-known DB25 lineup, De Bethune's new DB25 Starry Varius sports a new case size, new lug shape, and a dial that can be customized to show a personally-selected view of the night sky.?It's quintessential De Bethune through and through.? Initial Thoughts With a longstanding aesthetic connection with space, classic science fiction, and the universal imagery of a sparkling night sky, De Bethune offers a unique, romantic, and rather compelling spin on watchmaking. Following these inspirations, the newly-updated DB25 Starry Varius is a subtle update on one of the brand's most longstanding models. The DB25 Starry Varius can be customized with a personally-selected view of the night sky. Opting for the comfort and wearability of titanium, the Starry Varius is 42mm wide and features a new lug design for improved comfort and wrist position. Previous DB25's had lugs that extended from the lower (back side) of the case, forming a sort of buttress that matched the profile of the case back. With this new design, the lugs now exit from the center of the 8.8mm-thick case and the DB25 Starry Varius is much more comfortable, especially if you have a smaller or more boney wrist shape (like me).? The dark blue dial center is made of highly polished blued titanium (a signature De Bethune style) and the night sky motif can be customized based on a specific date and location. For the model seen in these photographs, De Bethune opted for a rather lovely view of the Milky Way.? The DB25 Starry Varius' DB2005 hand-wound movement offers 6-days of power reserve and a unique view via the display case back. The DB25 Starry Varius' center dial is made of highly polished blued titanium. With revised lugs and a titanium case, the DB25 Starry Varius is comfortable and very easy to wear. With a starting price of CHF 60,000 (add a bit extra for night sky customization), the hand-wound DB25 Starry Varius sports a wild in-house hand-wound movement with six days of power reserve, offering an easy-wearing and almost casual take on De Bethune's unique charm.? The Basics Brand: De BethuneModel: DB25 Starry VariusReference Number: DB25VTIS3Diameter: 42mmThickness: 8.8mmCase Material: Titanium (grade 5)Dial: Polished and blued titanium and silver-toned hour ring. Indexes: Painted with applied polished rose gold markersWater Resistance: 30 metersStrap/Bracelet: Alligator leather with matching titanium ping buckle All the usual DeBethune technology is present. The Movement Caliber: De Bethune DB2005Functions: Hours, minutesDiameter: 30mmPower Reserve: 6 daysWinding: ManualFrequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph)Jewels: 27 Additional Details: Titanium balance wheel, silicon escape wheel, and Triple pare-chute shock absorbing system.? It's hard to ignore the combination of poetry and technicality that De Bethune brings to the table. Pricing & Availability Price: CHF 60,000Availability: Coming soonFor more click here.