De Bethune · DB28XP Steel Wheels Tourbillon
The model in detail
The tourbillon in this De Bethune turns twice per minute. Its carriage provides a 30-second indication, making the regulating device a visible part of the display. It is a good example of engineering creating character without an additional dial or another hand.
Steel Wheels is distinctive for combining open construction, blue titanium and a thin profile. Its triangular central bridge, visible wheels and microlight decoration form a recognisable design. The openworking is interesting above all as a composition: empty space helps reveal the relationship between components.
The value of DB2009v6 comes from details that cannot be reduced to a single impressive number. The hand-wound movement has 275 components, twin barrels and a five-day reserve. The case's floating lugs are intended to adapt to the wrist. At 43 mm across and 9.1 mm thick, the model offers an unusual relationship between width and height.
This construction matters for bringing expressive design together with work on the regulator itself. The tourbillon determines the watch's appearance. That becomes convincing for a collector drawn to De Bethune's own language: bridge geometry, titanium and exposed mechanics. A tourbillon alone guarantees neither better accuracy nor an increase in value.
