De Bethune Maestri’Art DW5 Armilia

Denis Flageollet, the mastermind behind De Bethune is, without doubt, one of the most talented watchmakers of the industry. His creations have placed the brand outside mainstream watchmaking, in a class of its own. De Bethune watches stand out with their technological singularity as well as their space-age design. And the new De Bethune Maestri’Art DW5 Armilia won’t change this.

With their latest creation, a unique-piece DW5 from the Maestri’Art collection, the brand takes us into a parallel universe: that of artist and cartoonist Francois Schuiten – more particularly to the enigmatic world of the Obscure Cities, the graphic novel series Schuiten started with his friend Benoit Peeters. 

Passionate about the Obscure Cities, Denis Flageollet has reproduced Armilia, a submerged underground city from this comic book masterpiece, on the case of a unique piece DW5. The retro-futuristic curves of the watch, therefore, create a captivating reflection of Armilia’s imaginary world. To masterfully reproduce the sharp lines of Schuiten‘s drawing on this wrist-sized sculpture, De Bethune has solicited the talents of Michele Rothen, one of the top artist-engravers in Switzerland. 

DW5 (Or Dream Watch 5) is a horological UFO combining mechanical innovations with futuristic aesthetics. With taut lines and distinctive curves, its 58mm x 47mm has a distinctive presence of the wrist. A hand-cut sapphire window reveals the time pictured in an unusual way: jumping hours and analogue minutes. The original spherical moon indication is composed of two blued steel and palladium half spheres. Turning the watch over, the black titanium case back features an opening on the balance wheel.

The watch is powered by the hand-wound calibre DB2144V2 incorporating several of the brand’s innovations. It boasts a five-day power reserve supplied by a self-regulating twin-barrel. The regulator incorporates a silicon balance encircled by a gold rim, a De Bethune balance spring and a silicon escape wheel. The precision moon-phase mechanism is accurate to one lunar day every 1,112 years.

The De Bethune Maestri’Art DW5 Armilia is worn on an alligator strap with alligator lining. It is closed by a titanium buckle with a pink gold pin. The price for this unique piece is set at CHF 190,000. For more information, please visit www.debethune.com