FEATURED: The De Bethune DB25GMT Starry Varius

This new adaptation of the De Bethune DB25 World Traveller has  all the inherent codes of the DB25 Starry Varius collection, a polished grade 5 titanium case with a 42 mm diameter, a starry sky accompanied by its Milky Way, the integrated openworked lugs and a screw-down sapphire caseback that gives you a glimpse of the movement.

We'll get to this incredibly complicated and slim movement eventually, but can we just take a moment and appreciate that gorgeous face on this dreamy watch. With the help of its flamed blue jumping date hand, which can be adjusted via a corrector at 6 o'clock, the first disc here indicates the date. But here's what caught my attention. The iconic De Bethune 3D revolving moon ! No one does the sphere's quite like De Bethune. The hours of the first 24-hour time zone (home or reference time) are marked by this mysterious microsphere that appears to be floating weightless in its corridor. This function can be set both clockwise & counter-clockwise.

Now to replace a regular GMT hand, this patented & iconic three- dimensional moon-phase display, indicates day and night with its two halves: one blue and the other pink, well rose gold. During the day, it reveals more of the rose gold, and gradually turns blue post 6.00pm.

The Local time, i.e. the second time zone, is indicated by the blued hands whose curvature follows the relief of the dial. The minutes hand naturally remains coordinated with the reference time, while the hours hand indicates the local time thanks to the second time zone. Local time can also be set by the crown, in both directions. So despite its complex construction, this mechanical GMT movement is quite simple to use.