DB28XP Starry Sky

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.