De Bethune DB27 Titan Hawk Announced

Key Points from the Discussion

• The yellow titanium color on the hands and lug inserts is achieved through thermal oxidation, a process similar to bluing steel or titanium, where an oxide layer forms on the surface when heated to a specific temperature.
• The new ownership by WatchBox (WB) has instilled greater confidence in the brand's longevity and solvency, which, while leading to higher pre-owned prices, mitigates concerns about significant value depreciation or the brand's future existence.
• Michael Jordan and other NBA-connected investors participated in a significant funding round for De Bethune approximately a year prior, raising around $150 million.
• While De Bethune is recognized for its material technology leadership, the increased hype following the WatchBox acquisition has, for some collectors, diminished their enthusiasm for the brand.
• Despite initial concerns about hype, the market's frenzy has somewhat subsided, though the long-term management strategy under WatchBox remains a point of interest for collectors.
• There is a desire among some collectors for De Bethune to introduce smaller case sizes in future iterations of the Titan Hawk line.