Launching in 2002, De Bethune has burst onto the watchmaking scene with hi-tech materials, innovative movements and stunning avant-garde designs that have enabled them to quickly become one of the most distinctive watchmakers in the industry. Founded by THA founders Denis Flageollet and David Zanetta, the idea for De Bethune was that it would be a true watch manufacture, something De Bethune has undoubtedly achieved with their models that encompass almost every facet of horology. Offered here, we have the DB9W, a stunning watch that blends its age-old eponymous complication with De Bethune’s unique design DNA and offers it in a stunning package. First offered in 2003 and with just 9 pieces produced since then, the DB9W is a 42mm 18kt white gold timepiece that maintains De Bethune’s aesthetic through its spaceship-shaped ‘Ogival’ lugs, as De Bethune calls them, and their signature winding crown. Along with those details, the DB9W also features a silver dial that omits the second time zone that was on its predecessor, the DB3, and replaces it with De Bethune’s logo. Additionally, at 12 o’clock the DB9W features what appears to be moon phase indicator, but is instead a power reserve indicator that displays how wound the manual-wind movement is. With large and legible Arabic numerals along its chapter ring that doesn’t feature the same guilloche pattern as its center, the DB9W’s dial is clean and understated. With its thin 18kt white gold case housing a large 7-day power reserve, the DB9W is as technically impressive as it is beautiful and thoughtfully designed.

Intensely rare and entirely captivating, De Bethune's timepieces have skyrocketed in popularity over the last number of years and upon further examination, it is only a surprise that it took this long for them to garner the attention they deserve. The DB9W is one of the original foundation pieces for the brand, and its a rare treat for us to be able to offer one for auction .