In 2019 De Bethune reinterpreted the DB21 Maxichrono from 2006 presenting the DB21 Maxichrono Réédition. Five hands on a single central axis with just one push button to operate the chronograph functions. A limited edition of just 10 pieces, the De Bethune DB21 Maxichrono Réédition has a price of Swiss Francs 155,000.
In 2006 De Bethune presented a revolutionary chronograph, the DB21 Maxichrono. Envisioned by Denis Flageollet, master watchmaker and co-founder of the manufacture, this watch had the peculiarity of mounting all its five hands on a single central axis with just one push button to operate the chronograph functions, a real technical feat.
13 years later, De Bethune reinterpreted the original model presenting the DB21 Maxichrono Réédition.
The three-dimensional dial was designed on different levels to enhance legibility. From the centre to the periphery: silver-toned central hours counter, hours ring in titanium with blued markers, silver-toned minutes ring with minutes counter transfer-printed red numerals, silver-toned 1/10th of second graduated outer ring for seconds counter.
For the hands, De Bethune used polished steel for hours and minutes, thermally-blued steel for chronograph hours and seconds, and a red indicator for the chronograph minutes.
Everything is controlled by a single pusher at 6 o'clock, easily accessible while the watch is on the wrist.
Thus eliminating multiple counters, the DB21 Maxichrono Réédition offers the possibility to measure longer times, up to 24 hours in a row (whereas the usual chronographs are limited to 9 to 12 hours, and 30 to 45 minutes) and with tenth-of-a-second accuracy.
Housed in a 44.4 mm case fitted with the famous patented De Bethune floating lugs and crafted from Grade 5 titanium, this new edition is powered by the 5 Hz (36,000 vibrations per hour) DB2030 calibre.
This groundbreaking hand-wound movement is equipped with the De Bethune absolute clutch, a patented system resulting from more than seven years of research and development. This mechanism makes the most of the advantages of the horizontal and vertical clutch systems while eliminating their faults. It thus benefits from a marked reduction in the friction that affects the movement both when the chronograph is running and when it is functioning without the chronograph engaged.
The absolute clutch operates in a system engaging the two traditional clutch methods to allow the different chronograph counters to function semi-autonomously:
- The chronograph seconds are governed by the new absolute clutch system;
- The minutes counter is controlled by a shifting pinion;
- The hours counter is engaged by a horizontal clutch.
Three different types of clutch behind three semi-independent systems controlled by three column-wheels thus govern the different chronograph elapsed-time counters.
A limited edition of just 10 pieces, the De Bethune DB21 Maxichrono Réédition has a price of Swiss Francs 155,000. debethune.com
13 years later, De Bethune reinterpreted the original model presenting the DB21 Maxichrono Réédition.
The three-dimensional dial was designed on different levels to enhance legibility. From the centre to the periphery: silver-toned central hours counter, hours ring in titanium with blued markers, silver-toned minutes ring with minutes counter transfer-printed red numerals, silver-toned 1/10th of second graduated outer ring for seconds counter.
For the hands, De Bethune used polished steel for hours and minutes, thermally-blued steel for chronograph hours and seconds, and a red indicator for the chronograph minutes.
Everything is controlled by a single pusher at 6 o'clock, easily accessible while the watch is on the wrist.
Thus eliminating multiple counters, the DB21 Maxichrono Réédition offers the possibility to measure longer times, up to 24 hours in a row (whereas the usual chronographs are limited to 9 to 12 hours, and 30 to 45 minutes) and with tenth-of-a-second accuracy.
Housed in a 44.4 mm case fitted with the famous patented De Bethune floating lugs and crafted from Grade 5 titanium, this new edition is powered by the 5 Hz (36,000 vibrations per hour) DB2030 calibre.
This groundbreaking hand-wound movement is equipped with the De Bethune absolute clutch, a patented system resulting from more than seven years of research and development. This mechanism makes the most of the advantages of the horizontal and vertical clutch systems while eliminating their faults. It thus benefits from a marked reduction in the friction that affects the movement both when the chronograph is running and when it is functioning without the chronograph engaged.
The absolute clutch operates in a system engaging the two traditional clutch methods to allow the different chronograph counters to function semi-autonomously:
- The chronograph seconds are governed by the new absolute clutch system;
- The minutes counter is controlled by a shifting pinion;
- The hours counter is engaged by a horizontal clutch.
Three different types of clutch behind three semi-independent systems controlled by three column-wheels thus govern the different chronograph elapsed-time counters.
A limited edition of just 10 pieces, the De Bethune DB21 Maxichrono Réédition has a price of Swiss Francs 155,000. debethune.com
It's an impressive watch but I am not so sure that it improves legibility.
ReplyDeleteI would have used the red hand for the chronograph seconds, not for the minutes. Hours and minutes go together.
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