Where De Bethune starts
By Marco Bellini, Zurich ·
Most De Bethune models are hand-wound, many are limited, and a fair number cost six figures. The DB27 Titan Hawk V2 is the exception: self-winding, made in series, and the one most people mean when they say they want 'a De Bethune one day'.
The case is 43 mm of polished grade 5 titanium, only 9 mm high, with the sprung lugs the brand is known for. They pivot slightly and follow the wrist, so the watch wears smaller than the diameter says. The AUTOV2 calibre gives 60 hours. This version has a brown dial with a guilloché centre and applied Roman numerals.
Two reservations. Water resistance is 30 m, which is low for a watch that looks this sporty, and polished titanium marks easily and is harder to refinish than steel. Also, De Bethune does not publish prices, and reported figures range from about $43,000 to $60,000 depending on version and year.
For that money you can buy a lot of watch from bigger houses. You buy this one for the case and the finishing, which are as good as anything at the price. I would.