Introducing the De Bethune "DB25 Starry Various Aerolite," a limited edition of five watches made with rare meteorites

De Bethune has announced the new DB25 Starry Various Aerolite. Its most distinctive feature is the blue meteorite dial, made of white gold and depicting a starry sky with the Milky Way. It also boasts a full range of functions, including a power reserve of approximately four days, step-moving hands, and a transparent case back that allows you to see the tourbillon in action. Here are the details of this model, of which only five will be made in the world.

Adopting the "Muonionalusta meteorite", it also features a tourbillon and step hand movement function

　One of the features of De Bethune's new DB25 Starry Various Aerolite is its meteorite dial. Denis Flageolet, a watchmaker and co-founder of the brand, said at the launch, "When people want to see the passage of time but don't have the equipment, they look up at the sky. This is a recurring theme in watchmaking."

　De Bethune watches often feature themes of space and the sky, which are related to time. Previous models, such as the DB28 Kind of Blue Meteorite and DB28XP Meteorite, have also featured meteorite dials.

　It is worth noting that Denis Flageolet has a particular interest in meteorites. He has been researching and developing his passion for using meteorites in watches. He has obtained meteorites found in Russia, Egypt, and other parts of the world, and has gone through numerous trials and errors. This time, the DB25 Starry Various Aerolite uses the Muonionalusta meteorite.

　The Muonionalusta meteorite fell over a million years ago along the Muonio River between Finland and Sweden. It is currently the oldest known meteorite on Earth, and fragments of it were first discovered in Sweden in 1906. It is composed primarily of iron and nickel, and when etched, a geometric pattern of 60-degree angles (Widmanstätten structures) emerges.

　De Bethune, a master of thermal oxidation of metals, adds complexity by depicting a starry sky with the Milky Way on a heat-treated meteorite dial, which has been blued by the heat treatment. White gold beads of various shapes and sizes glitter against the blue dial, sparkling like tiny suspended beads, adding depth to the celestial sky.

　Purchasers can also refer to a detailed sky map to choose a sky design that corresponds to their preferred date, time, and location.

　The classic round 42mm case is crafted from polished grade 5 titanium, with openwork lugs for added lightness.

　The dial details also adhere to De Bethune's design codes, including Roman indices, a minute scale with Arabic numerals on a silver disc, and hand-polished stainless steel apple-shaped hands.

　The watch's manual-wound caliber, DB2109V4, is equipped with a tourbillon. "To fully utilize its power, a tourbillon requires a higher vibration frequency and rotation speed than normal," according to a de Bethune press release. The frequency is 36,000 vibrations per hour. The tourbillon carriage, which rotates once every 30 seconds, weighs 0.18 grams, making it one of the lightest in the industry to date. The components are primarily made of titanium and silicon, with the smallest weighing just 0.0001 grams, making assembly far more challenging than designing it.

　The watch is designed, developed, and manufactured entirely at the De Bethune workshop in Obersen, Switzerland. It also features a deadbeat seconds (step movement) function for accurate readings. The case back is transparent. The balance wheel is made of titanium with a small white gold eccentric weight on the periphery, ensuring a stable moment of inertia.

　The balance spring, which is the lifeblood of a mechanical watch, has a flat curve on the outside to keep the center of gravity precisely in the center. This has the advantage of reducing thickness, allowing for more precise adjustment of the regulator, and its curved shape also functions as a shock absorber.

　The watch boasts a power reserve of approximately four days thanks to its double barrels, and the design is complemented by a flexible alligator strap with a polished grade 5 titanium pin buckle.