De Bethune and Swizz Beatz have once again joined forces to create the DB Kind of Two GMT Season 3, a limited-edition timepiece. This collaboration builds upon a relationship that began in 2020, when Swizz Beatz, the renowned American artist, rapper, and music producer, approached
De Bethune with a concept that emphasized transparency and light. The initial collaboration utilized the distinctive DW5 model, and progressed to the DBD model for Season 2, each watch pushing the boundaries of design and technical execution. Season 3 elevates this partnership further with the introduction of the reversible DB Kind of Two GMT.
The DB Kind of Two GMT Season 3 is a watch that literally offers two distinct experiences. It’s not merely a cosmetic difference; this timepiece features two fully functional dials, each capable of displaying a different time zone. This duality is achieved through an impressively complex movement, wholly designed and manufactured in-house at De Bethune’s facilities in l’Auberson, Switzerland. The engineering challenge was to create a movement that could drive hands on both sides of the watch, ensuring they always moved in the correct direction, regardless of which dial was facing up. This intricate system of gears and pinions works in perfect harmony, providing the wearer with the freedom to choose their preferred display based on either practicality or style.
Courtesy of De Bethune
The case, 43.3 mm in diameter and 11.4 mm thick, is a blend of zirconium and satin-finished Grade 5 titanium. The black color gives the watch a very modern look. This combination of materials offers a balance of strength and comfort. De Bethune’s signature floating lugs have been redesigned for this model, ensuring the watch sits comfortably on the wrist, adapting smoothly to its natural contours. The transition between the two dials is handled by a meticulously engineered micro-mechanical system consisting of 42 components. These parts, crafted from materials like surgical steel and titanium, are built to withstand the rigors of daily wear, including exposure to water, humidity, and temperature variations. The operation is designed to be smooth and precise, adding to the overall feel of high-end engineering.
One side of the watch presents a contemporary aesthetic. The design of this dial is intentionally streamlined, drawing the eye towards the movement, particularly the balance wheel prominently positioned at 6 o’clock. Minute markers are placed along the periphery, ensuring clear readability. The dial’s surfaces feature a mix of polished, domed, microlight, and satin finishes. These various textures create a play of light and shadow, adding depth and visual interest to the movement's black coating. Despite its compact size, the watch achieves a sense of volume. A symmetrical deltoid bridge, shaped like an isosceles triangle, sits at the center, contributing to the dial's balanced composition. Self-regulating twin barrels provide a touch of silver, while golden accents on the hour and minute markers, as well as the dual central gold wheels of the jumping seconds mechanism, add a subtle, elegant touch. The polished, blued steel hands, with a satin-finished steel insert, offer a discreet splash of color.
Courtesy of De Bethune
The technical specifications of the DB Kind of Two GMT Season 3 are as impressive as its design. The watch is powered by the Calibre DB2517, a mechanical hand-wound movement. This movement is a showcase of De Bethune’s horological innovations, comprising 394 parts and 58 jewels. It boasts a diameter of 30 mm and a substantial 4-day power reserve, thanks to the self-regulating twin barrels. The movement incorporates several patented De Bethune technologies, including a titanium balance wheel with white gold inserts (optimized for temperature variations and air penetration), a "De Bethune" balance-spring with a flat terminal curve, and a silicon escape wheel. It also features a Dead Beat Second and a GMT function, allowing for the independent adjustment of two time zones, one on each side of the watch. The movement operates at a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour. The adornment of the movement includes a motion works bridge and concave cover plate in black Grade 5 titanium, with a mirror-polished finish. The black Grade 5 titanium bridge cover features micro-blasted stages, and the barrels are hand-snailed. Steel parts are meticulously polished and chamfered by hand.
The contemporary display of the watch features blued polished titanium hands for hours and minutes. The minute indication is located on the periphery of the dial, while the hour indication is centered around the balance wheel at 6 o’clock. The hour ring and minute ring are black with golden transfers, providing a clear contrast and enhancing legibility.
Courtesy of De Bethune
Flipping the watch reveals the classic GMT face, which is a clear homage to De Bethune's heritage, specifically referencing historical models like the DB8 and DB10. This side features a traditional hour and minute track. The central area of the dial is decorated with a hand-guilloché pattern. Subtle hints of blue are integrated into the design. This dial presents a refined and fluid motion of the polished mirror-finished steel jumping seconds hand.
The hands on this classic display are hand-polished and blued titanium for hours and minutes, with a polished titanium jumping seconds hand. The dial is primarily black with silvered transfers, and it features convex levels and a bi-color guilloché central part that combines black and blue.
Courtesy of De Bethune
Despite the complexity of the underlying mechanics, the DB Kind of Two GMT is designed to be user-friendly. The dual-sided display is straightforward to operate. To set the time, the wearer first sets their home time on the contemporary face, using the crown in its third position. The second time zone is then adjusted by pulling the crown to its second position while using the GMT face. This intuitive system allows for quick and easy adjustments.
The strap is black Nubuck velcro. The velcro is a unique choice, adding to the different feel of the piece. The Buckle is Zirconium and features a matte black grade 5 titanium pin.
Courtesy of De Bethune
The DB Kind of Two GMT Season 3, like Swizz Beatz’s multi-faceted career, blends various elements to create something unique. This dual-faced timepiece, with its distinct personalities, showcases De Bethune’s ability to combine technical innovation with design. The watch presents a balance between tradition and modernity. This new release is more than a watch; it is a limited-edition work of art with only 10 pieces made, resulting from a collaboration between a master watchmaker and a visionary artist.
The DB Kind of Two GMT Season 3 will be available in a limited edition of 10 pieces. Pricing is available upon request.
Case: Grade 5 titanium / Matte black zirconium, 43.3 mm diameter, 11.4 mm thickness. Features redesigned floating lugs in matte black zirconium. Crown at noon on the front side, at 6 o'clock on the reverse side, integrated into the case. Water resistance 3 ATM. Sapphire crystal (1800 Vickers hardness) with double anti-reflective coating on both sides. Case turning mechanism.
Movement: Mechanical hand-wound Calibre DB2517. 394 parts, 58 jewels, 30 mm diameter. Power reserve of 4 days, ensured by a self-regulating twin barrel. Titanium balance wheel with white gold inserts, "De Bethune" balance-spring with flat terminal curve, silicon escape wheel. GMT function, Dead Beat Second. Frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour.
Dial: Contemporary side: Blued polished titanium hours and minutes, minute indication on the periphery, hour indication centered around the balance wheel at 6 o'clock. Hour ring and black color minute ring with golden transfer. Classic side: Hand-polished and blued titanium hands for hours and minutes, polished titanium jumping seconds hand. Black dial with silvered transfer, convex levels, black and blue bi-color guilloché central part.
Strap: Nubuck velcro. Zirconium buckle and matte black grade 5 titanium pin.
Price: Upon Request
Reference Number: DBK2V1SB
Notes: A collaboration with Swizz Beatz. Limited edition of 10 pieces. Features a unique dual-dial design with a GMT function, allowing for two different time zones to be displayed on separate dials.