Assouline Publishers has revealed its newest title celebrating independent Swiss watch manufacturer De Berthune. Releasing on the 20th anniversary of the company, ‘De Bethune: The Art of Watchmaking‘ dives into the intricacies of the atelier led by legendary watchmaker and co-founder, Denis Flageollet. Blurring the lines between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, the brand specializes in crafting both impossibly modern and technically advanced timepieces.
Twenty years ago, the haute horological world welcomed De Bethune. Showcasing the technical ingenuity of master watchmaker and co-founder Denis Flageollet, De Bethune immediately established itself as an outlier with a unique ability to blur the lines between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, mining history to create a brand both impossibly modern and technically advanced.
Flageollet’s objective has always been the glorious and elusive goal of chronometric perfection and no watch brand has been as disruptive as De Bethune. In just two decades, the company has brought to life thirty in-house movements built upon the foundations of mechanical simplicity and the fundamentals of traditional watchmaking.
With annual production ranging between 150 and 250 watches per year, De Bethune is one of the rarest and most exclusive watch brands in the world. The limited production has allowed the brand to produce the most sophisticated and innovative timepieces possible featuring extendable designs and emerging materials while preserving an intimate link with its customers.
To own a De Bethune watch is to have a stewardship of an object with enduring totemic and historical significance.
Assouline
The book is penned by Arthur Tochot, senior European editor at Hodinkee and Academy member of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève with a foreword from Wei Koh, the founder of Revolution magazine. Additional contributions come from De Bethune CEO Pierre Jacques as well as watch industry titans and enthusiasts such as Jean Arnault, Aurel Bacs, Swizz Beatz, Jean-Claude Biver, Michael Strahan, and more.
When asked what watch collectors in the next century will take from this golden age of timekeeping, you can say with certainty that they will recognize Denis Flageollet as one of the greatest horological minds of all time. To own a De Bethune watch is to have a stewardship of an object with enduring totemic and historical significance.
Yakymour Men 