New Watch! • 30 Mar 2022
Buckle up: De Bethune DB28GS “JPS” Races in Black and Gold
De Bethune pays tribute to “JPS”: John Player Special with their latest DB28GS release. Donning the signature colours of black and gold, this is a homage to the spirit of the 1970s Formula 1 racing encased in De Bethune’s latest sports watch.
A Nod to the Bold Spirit of JPS Spirit of the 1970s
Mention JPS to anyone who has a rough understanding of Formula 1 racing history, and the colours black and gold instantly come to mind. The 1970s was a daring age for car racing, with its legendary drivers and bold spirit of innovation. This was the era of aerodynamics being used to improve performance. And the De Bethune DB28GS “JPS” is a contemporary embodiment of this bold spirit.
Uncompromising in their forward thinking and spirit of innovation, the JPS Lotus team achieved their championship successes by taking full advantage of technological advances and aerodynamics research available at the time. Denis Flageollet and his team pay homage to that spirit in the DB28GS JPS. The De Bethune blue, which has become the colour signature of the brand, is gone. In its place, the black zirconium case middle has De Bethune’s signature “Microlight” decoration, with black brushed, polished and hardened stainless steel case back and bezel. The golden accents on the lugs are brushed stainless steel with yellow polished grade 5 titanium inserts. The black floating lugs and bezel are finished with a DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) anti-friction coating. First used by F1 engineers to reduce the friction of metal parts and thus improve performance, the properties of DLC have been used by De Bethune here to improve overall quality.
Equal Measures of Dark and Bright
The DB28GS is powered by the calibre DB2080, that beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph and has a 5 day power reserve with a self-regulating twin barrel. The “Microlight” engraved black grade 5 titanium plate and barrel bridge covers are contrasted with the yellow mirror-polished grade 5 titanium motion-work bridge. Steel parts are hand-polished and chamfered.
On the display side, the hours and minutes hands are black titanium with polished steel and yellow steel inserts, with luminescent tips. The seconds hand is made of polished steel with a luminescent tip. Power reserve indicator sits between 9 and 10 o’clock. The golden hued pusher at 6 o’clock activates the mechanically powered dial lighting, a De Bethune innovation.
The De Bethune DB28GS JPS is a limited edition of 50 pieces.