Buy
De Bethune

De Bethune

An Independent Swiss manufacturer that continues to make waves in the industry is De Bethune, who offers a refreshingly original take on traditional watchmaking. With Denis Flageollet and Pierre Jacques at the helm, the company’s ethos is not to do more but to do better. 

Established in 2002, De Bethune is currently located in L’Auberson, Switzerland. The Manufacture develops and produces everything in-house, a practice becoming increasingly rare.

De Bethune showcases its complex movements by housing them in unique, futuristic structures and forging all parts with high-quality craftsmanship. These elements culminate in a sophisticated, contemporary aesthetic that exudes subdued elegance. The brand has amassed a slew of accolades, including a multitude of GPHG awards.

The brand focuses its research and development on technical, aesthetic, and performance innovations. In just under two decades, they have developed over 27 different movements. De Bethune was the first brand to master titanium polishing and has made administering heat-blued treatment for the metal its trademark aesthetic, as seen in the DB28 Kind Of Blue Tourbillon.

Read More

About the brand

De Bethune

The Founder

Though the De Bethune moniker derives from the surname of a notable 18th century watchmaker, the brand itself was started by David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet. The duo met in the 1990s - a formative decade for many independents - whilst working alongside François-Paul Journe at THA. Tired of outsourcing their high-end movements to luxury brands, they went on to form De Bethune.

 

A revered name in the upper echelons of indie watchmaking, Flageollet had by the early 2000s already developed a wealth of expertise working for Michel Parmigiani and Charles Meylan (technical director at Audemars Piguet). His career at THA brought him into the orbit of Zanetta, the latter of whom shared Flageollet’s obsession with construing classic watchmaking in its most contemporary, functional light. 


History

Established in 2002 by David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet, De Bethune occupies a small yet incredibly vital corner of the already niche indie watchmaking space. The brand’s watches are made in a true vertically integrated facility located in the Jura Mountains - with annual production numbers totaling no more than 150 pieces.

 

Named after Chevalier De Bethune, an 18th-century French nobleman best known for his work on the mechanical escapement, the brand’s ethos is to “blur the lines between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design” - as evidenced in watches like the DB28 “Kind of Blue” and zodiac-themed DB25 tourbillon.

 

Watchbox, the pre-owned watches platform headquartered in the US, has owned a majority stake in De Bethune since 2021. 


Iconic Models and Watches

DB1, DB15 perpetual calendar, DB25 “Starry Varius,” DB28 “Starry Sky”


DB Founder.jpg

Frequently Asked Questions

Can’t find your question?

Don’t miss out on the latest.

Sign up to get first access to our sales, new arrivals, exclusive events, industry news – and so much more.

Wristcheck

The ultimate watch collector's companion