17 years into De Bethune’s existence I took the plunge into their Independent and beautiful world, a world of “Not doing more, but instead doing better” and where apparent simplicity belies complexities in every aspect of a watch. Say hello to the De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius, without a doubt the prettiest watch in my collection.

The strong aesthetic of the De Bethune brand snared me early on with their use of new shapes and materials for movements and cases; unique mirror polishing and the 3-dimensional details of dials, movements and articulated lugs.

Everything on this watch has been designed to grace all three dimensions. The polished rose gold hands curve lusciously over the dial, itself adorned with a curved outer silver-ring embellished with rose gold hour markers and dark blue printed roman numerals. The fabulously classy blued titanium centerpiece is set with 100 hand polished white gold pins for stars and 24-carat leaf depicting the background of the Milky Way galaxy. It looks and is high art.

The lightness on the wrist of the hand-polished grade 5 titanium case seems only to add to the joy in the perfection to be found in every detail of the watch and, at 42mm, makes this model more wearable even if the delicious hollowed lugs aren’t articulated. The roman numerals also hint at a more traditional looking piece. Both of these aspects, married with the fine craftsmanship and artistic bent of the brand, made for a watch that I literally obsessed about and couldn’t resist. I snapped with the breaking strain of a Kit Kat. The wimpy ones. Having been warmed by the sun.

Powering the De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius, is the DB2005 calibre with 160 parts, 27 jewels and double barrels providing 60 hr power reserve is flawlessly executed and contains several patented and award winning innovations and material combinations (apparently), but I can’t help wishing I could see more of it.