Geneva Watch Days 2025: Mark Zuckerberg’s Favourite De Bethune DB25xs Starry Varius Explodes With Volcanic Effervescence
3 min read
When you see tech titan Mark Zuckerberg sporting a De Bethune DB25 Starry Varius you know its not just any watch. A modern icon, the Starry Varius has pushed the boundaries of technology giving De Bethune a fresh chapter in its journey. Kicking off Geneva Watch Days 2025 the new De Bethune DB25xs Starry Varius is a profound expression of the brand's unique artistic vision, offering a poetic and mesmerizing vision of time itself.
From its very first impression, the DB25xs captivates with an understated grace. Encased in polished 5N rose gold, its 40.6mm diameter and slender 8.8mm thickness create a profile of sheer elegance. This is a watch that embraces classic proportions while showcasing a forward-thinking design. The integrated, hollowed lugs, a De Bethune signature, are a triumph of ergonomic and visual design, ensuring a comfortable fit while adding a subtle touch of modernity to the traditional round case. Every detail of the case, from the brilliant polish of the gold to the durability of the sapphire crystal with its double anti-reflective coating, speaks to a commitment to flawless execution.
The true heart of this timepiece is its dial, a work of art that captures the boundless beauty of the night sky. De Bethune has long been renowned for its celestial dials, and this new piece pushes the boundaries of that artistry. The rich burgundy and polished titanium canvas serves as a cosmic backdrop, brought to life with hand-fitted white gold pins that meticulously depict a constellation of stars. Each pin is a tiny, brilliant point, creating a three-dimensional effect that gives the dial an extraordinary sense of depth and realism.
What sets this particular Starry Varius apart is its depiction of the Milky Way. Using a technique of laser beam micro milling, the intricate, swirling patterns of our home galaxy are rendered with stunning precision before being gilded with 24-carat gold leaf. This is a sublime example of combining advanced technology with traditional hand craftsmanship. It transforms the dial into a dynamic, living landscape, where the golden river of the Milky Way seems to flow across the starry expanse. The hand-polished rose gold hands and silver-toned hours and minutes ring provide a clear and elegant contrast, ensuring legibility without detracting from the celestial spectacle.
Beneath this cosmic artistry lies the De Bethune Calibre DB2005, a mechanical marvel that powers the timepiece with remarkable efficiency and precision. As a manual-winding movement, it offers an impressive six-day power reserve, a testament to its highly efficient self-regulating twin barrel—a patented innovation from 2004 that ensures a constant and reliable energy flow.
The movement itself is a showcase of De Bethune’s patented technologies. The titanium balance wheel with its white gold inserts is designed to optimize performance by resisting temperature variations and air friction. The “De Bethune” balance-spring, with its unique flat terminal curve, further enhances concentricity, a crucial factor for accuracy. A silicon escape wheel and the triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system provide enhanced durability and protection. The open case back, crafted from polished grade 5 titanium and fitted with a sapphire crystal, allows for a full appreciation of this expertly finished and technically advanced engine.
The DB25xs Starry Varius is a timepiece that perfectly marries technical innovation with artistic passion. It is a harmonious blend of classic horology and modern ingenuity, a watch that celebrates the romanticism of the cosmos while embodying the pinnacle of mechanical craftsmanship. It is a stunning piece for any collector who appreciates that the most beautiful creations are those that inspire wonder and remind us of the vast and elegant universe that unfolds above us.
