De Bethune Presents The DB25VxsL Silver Moon And The DB28xs Dark Sand

De Bethune has just announced two new models for its first introductions of the 2026 model year, and they’re both carefully thought-through new takes on a couple of De Bethune’s most popular models – the DB25L moonphase, and the DB28xs Steel Wheels. The new version of the DB25L is the DB25VxsL Silver Moon, and the new Steel Wheels version switches from the polished titanium of the previous model, to a case in oxidized zirconium, paired with blackened titanium movement components.

The DB25VxsL Silver Moon

The DB25VxsL Silver Moon is noticeably smaller than its predecessor, at 40.6mm vs. 44mm for the DB25L.

Where the DB25L had a full starry sky dial, the DB25VxsL has a guilloché pattern covering most of the surface of the dial, except for a section at the top which places the spherical moonphase in a curved frame. The spherical moon, as always, is made of two hemispheres; one is heat blued steel, and the other is palladium, with the entire sphere rotating once per lunar month; the moonphase has a precision of one day’s error in 144 years. The surrounding blue sky is heat blued titanium inlaid with white gold stars.

The minute hand is gently radiused to allow it to pass over the spherical moonphase and terminate close to the minutes track, to avoid parallax errors in reading off the time.

The DB25VxsL is powered by De Bethune’s caliber DB2105V5, which is a classic 30mm in diameter; despite the relatively compact dimensions, it still produces six days of power reserve from the two staggered mainspring barrels, located under De Bethune’s signature delta bridge. The movement includes a number of De Bethune’s innovations, including the triple pare-chute antishock system, a flat self-centering balance spring, a silicon escape wheel, and balance in blued titanium with white gold rim weights (the design results in optimized angular momentum for the balance, as well as improved aerodynamics).

While the DB25L presents a full vista of the night sky, the DB25VxsL produces a different visual effect; you feel as if you are traveling through a rolling landscape with the Moon rising between the crests of two hills in the distance.

The DB28xs Dark Sand

The DB28xs Steel Wheels is an exercise in high polish and reflective surfaces, but the Dark Sand presents a more nocturnal aesthetic.

The case features the hinged “floating” lugs characteristic of DB28 watches, although in a smaller than usual form factor, with the case measuring 38.7mm. Notably, the case is made of zirconium, a light, durable, and very strong metal which is also highly corrosion resistant. De Bethune’s given the case an oxide outer layer, and the resulting effect is a dark but lustrous finish with a very technical flavor.

The bridges and mainplate are in blackened titanium, with a barleycorn guilloché pattern on the open balance bridge, contrasting with the purple heat-tempered titanium hands and the blued titanium balance wheel. Caliber DB2115V13 also has the classic De Bethune technical features found in DB2105V5, including the triple pare-chute antishock system, self-centering balance spring, and silicon escape wheel. Power reserve is six days.

Since the movement is inverted, with the bridges, mainspring barrels, train wheels, and balance on the front, the back of the watch offers a less intricate view, although it’s also where you will find the power reserve indicator.

Although the basic design and architecture are identical to the DB28xs Steel Wheels, the difference in color scheme makes this feel like an almost entirely different watch. The almost Art Deco aesthetic of the DB28xs here takes on a coolly urban, post-modern feel – a stealth fighter, vs. the chrome and steel gleam of a classic 1950s era supersonic aircraft like the F-86 Sabre.

The DB25Vxs Silver Moon: case, polished grade 5 titanium, 40.6mm x 11.2mm; integrated hollow lugs, 30M water resistance; sapphire crystals front and back.  Polished gold hour and minute hands; spherical moonphase in palladium and flame-blued steel; accurate to one days’ error in 122 years. Movement, DB2105 V5, 30mm, running at 28,800 vph in 27 jewels; titanium balance with gold inserts; self-centering balance spring; triple pare-chute antishock system. 

The DB28xs Dark Sand: case, oxidized zirconium, anthracite, 38.7mm x 8mm; matte anthracite zirconium floating lugs, 30M water resistance, sapphire crystals front and back. Polished purple-tempered titanium hands, hour and minute ring in black circular satin-finished titanium with polished purple titanium hour markers. Anthracite barrel bridge cover with barleycorn guilloché; plate in black sandblasted titanium. Movement, caliber DB2115V13, 30mm diameter, running at 28,800 vph in 27 jewels; titanium balance with gold inserts; self-centering balance spring; triple pare-chute antishock system. 

The 1916 Company is proud to be an authorized retailer for De Bethune timepieces. Please contact us for current pricing and availability.