Independents

Over the years, I have been blessed and privileged to own a number of extraordinary watches including a Roger Smith Series 1, a Gronefeld Remontoire, a Daniel Roth Tourbillon and a Patek Phillipe skeleton to name a few. None however have made me tinge wit...  

For me buying a watch is not just about the watch but the pre and post sale experience. I will always treasure this one!

I got to meet Pierre at an event and he was great too, fun and very down to earth. This chrono was a hit, I hope we see this line with the old school lug design grow.

People in the watch industry tend to generally be friendly and humble but meeting an illustrious member is always an occasion for me. I do like the floating lugs on the futuristic watches but these lugs are also definitely well thought of.

...half the fun is chasing it, and the other half is getting it : )

To receive an allocation this year was plain lucky since the order books for this year and next were full.

Congratulations! Here’s mine that I recently acquired: ...  

Yours is not too shabby either! Congratulations!

This DB28 & the DB8 really represent the two opposite poles of the same DB horological planet: tradition grounded vs futuristic design.

So basically there is something for everyone at De Bethune. Not many brands can say that

I love it too! In fact, after wearing it, I actually asked myself how many of my other watches do I actually really need or want to keep!

the Patek 7200 London Edition and the Murakumo by Kikuchi Nakagawa. Both to me are my definition of watchmaking perfection. The Patek 7200 London Edition The Murakumo ...  

but that is right down my alley! Thank you!!

You wear that exceptional watch very well and your joy and excitement clearly show in your photographs - thanks for sharing and please add (at least) another: of the movement. Cheers Marc

Here goes ...  

I had no idea what we had coming. Outstanding.

For as long as I can remember, I have tried to focus on simple two or three handed watches as the simpler a movement is, the less likely anything will go wrong with it. This watch is somewhat an exception in that the movement is anything but simple so I h... 

I had to cancel my order for the Bugatti Baby ll to finance this purchase but something tells me that it was a no brainer

Amazing.

I feel no different.

'old school pocket watch beauty'. I never saw it in that context but thank you very much for your feedback.

I love the centre guilloche ...  

I tend to forget about the back. And I am still referring to the watch!! ...  

but it just shows that they can do both minimalist and the futuristic with great style!

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And to get the watch hand delivered from the master watchmaker him self is a big bonus imho . A simple DB10 says hi ...  

Less is more and the classical De Bethunes click all the boxes in my opinion.

These ogival lugs are to-die-for and the models which feature them have always been my favorite in the DB catalogue (the DB2 & DB5 make me dream). ...  

I could not tell the difference of the dial of the DB2 and DB5 in your photos. The hands are a different colour but perhaps the movement is different too.

I think the DB2 was a 2 hands only manual watch, whereas the DB5 was self-winding and had a center seconds hand. On the same Watchbox page I also found this: DB1 – Monopusher chronograph with center chronograph seconds register and 30 minute register DB2 ...  

If I remember correctly, DB2 had no second hand at all and it was added later for DB5. As such, we have DB5 pictured here twice and there is no pic of DB2. They look the same with the exception of the second hand.

And as I thought although the dials appear similar, it is the movement that differs. The DB2 is a manual winding watch while the the DB5 is an automatic!

It also says the following: DB2 is manual with functions: HOURS, MINUTES, SIMPLE SPINDLE DB5 is automatic with functions: HOURS, MINUTES, CENTRE SECOND-HAND Not sure what SIMPLE SPINDLE stands for.

Photos of classic DBs are a refreshing change from the more common futuristic ones!

This is exactly what I was also talking about.

Hope to have a chance to see this watch in person in Singapore. In the meantime, wear your grail in great health!

I hope you get to see one in the flesh too because it is truly mesmerising to look at.

I can see how this fits perfectly your desires for simple (mostly two hand) watches. It’s the stealth chronograph, both in dial appearance and as you say case thickness (or lack of thickness). Also it seems the monopusher crown is not overbearing, sometim... 

Rarely does one watch fulfils all my requirements, and I mean all

It looks so clean and easy to read. Fits you well. Enjoy!

Considering I have watches as small as 31mm, it is quite amazing that a 42.4mm is wearable on my puny wrist!

For people like us, these are THE moments we live for. Meeting the creators, the minds behind those wheels and dials it's the icing on the top, or perhaps it's the culmination of this passion. I can feel your emotions by your words Thank you for sharing f... 

Indeed it is these rare moments that make the purchasing experience that more memorable. Denis Fageollet does not speak English and I don't speak French but when we met, I felt we spoke a common language

The watch and the experience. I hope and wish your feelings towards this beauty will never change. Actually I had the exact same sensation when I finally held my DB28 in my hands, 10 years after seeing the DBS for the first time. Enjoy your DB8 with a big...  

I just feel so blessed to be able to own a DB8. I have no idea how any other watch will be able to top this!

Congratulations!

I am actually quite touched by the number of responses to this post.

It’s unmistakably DB yet classical. A fantastic creation. I’m very happy for you! Enjoy this under the radar piece of mastery in the greatest of health.

When I am not wearing the watch, I find myself sneaking into my bedroom to have a glimpse of it!

Plus, the real treat, we finally get to see your handsome face! Enjoy! Sounds like having Denis himself present the watch is a memory to treasure. The watch looks like it fits you very well, lugs really do make a huge difference.

even my allegedly handsome face! Thank you very much! Collecting the watch was indeed a memorable occasion, arguably the pinnacle of my watch collecting journey and how appropriate that it was for my grail.

Congratulations and wear in good health.

the understatedness of the dial is what won me over.

I am so happy for you ! The watch looks really great and Denis is an amazing artist and a gentleman !

I hope you are keeping well.

Thank you! l only wish my French was ten percent as good as yours so that we could have conversed a little more!

The Frodsham is due to arrive in 2027. Sounds like a long time but a lot shorter than the current wait list of 2033!!

to be an amazingly good value Smith with its more complicated movement and arguably even rarer. Whereas Roger produces about 15 watches annually admittedly over five different models, Frodsham produce 12. I think I can safely say that the height of 10.5 m... 

They are not just watches! They are both a work of art!!

with the Frodsham, one might have to travel to London and visit their small shop there as the watch is not exhibited anywhere else unless of course you are able to see one owned by a collector. Saying that Richard Stenning of Frodsham is a wonderful host ... 

And if you do make it to London, do let me know as visits to Frodsham is only via appointment and I shall inform Richard Stenning before hand.

Very neat delivery too.

Thank you for your feedback.