De Bethune DB27 Titan Hawk V2 Owner Review : Extravagant, exotic and futuristic

Today, it's time for me to tell you about my latest acquisition, an incredible and unique De Bethune DB27 Titan Hawk. Let's first go back to how this purchase took root in my mind, because those who read my reviews here know that with me, there's usually a story, a narrative, that leads me to consider a particular piece and build a relationship with it. With two collector friends whom I consider close, we have a small private discussion thread on Instagram. This passion is a wonderful addiction that keeps the three of us constantly scouring the market and regularly engaging in active hunting, even though we swear on our hearts that we won't fall into that trap again. And one of them (who is notably a Richard Mille client) started talking about De Bethune about a year and a half ago. “Did you know that a DB27 Titan Hawk is available at retail for a bit more than the Cubitus 5821 1A? That thing is a horological supercar!” And so, my good friend and I began to speculate about a possible joint purchase. However, we both abandoned the idea. My friend missed a great opportunity with a DB28 XS Starry Sky (but has since sold it). And I, because I had decided to finalize the purchase of a rare and stunning duo: a Parmigiani Ovale Pantographe and a Czapek Antarctique Rattrapante. Nevertheless, my friend's test drive of the DB28 XP Starry Sky had certainly made an impression on me, even though I had no idea that I would later manage to acquire this DB27 Titan Hawk, which another friend, a loyal Vacheron client, kept raving about. Fall 2025. I was starting to seriously eye an early Parmigiani Toric Rattrapante, one of those produced in very small, entirely handcrafted series, featuring a Venus 175 movement of breathtaking depth, similar to that of a Lange chronograph… I thought it was the perfect opportunity to complete my Parmigiani Toric Rattrapante collection (as I'm still missing a Toric) with a rare, rather extreme version, in keeping with all my recent acquisitions. The beauty was located in Phoenix, being sold by the friendly @meticulist, and I was beginning to consider a possible trip to the USA to pick it up. Such a long trip seemed as crazy as it was wonderful. Because even if it was unpleasant (I don't much like flying), I figured that once I got back with the watch… it would be another collector's story to tell. And I could already picture myself enjoying my usual simple after-mass pleasure (meaning a latte in a bar near the bank where I keep my collection) while thinking about the beautiful watches that sleep nearby, as I often post in my Instagram stories. I also often associate songs I discover and listen to on repeat with specific moments of a particular year. And in retrospect, these songs become real slices of life that tell me stories. This time, I had fallen in love with "Tropique" by Muriel Dacq. And I drifted far, far away into my own slightly whimsical inner world. Through the melody of "Tropique," I pictured the Duplex, that nightclub located at the beginning of Avenue Foch. I imagined the world of trendy Parisian nightlife and the gilded youth parking superb cars in the Foch parking garage just behind it before coming to dance… What does this have to do with watches?! Well, it's simply that Parmigiani reminds me of Bugatti (due to a past partnership that sparked my interest in the Fleury-based brand), and since I can't drive because of my anxiety, I do with watches what I can't do with cars… This Toric Rattrapante was extremely rare, radical, and a Parmigiani, so it made me think of a kind of large, collectible Bugatti and, by extension, of the Foch parking garage where I used to regularly photograph marvels when I was a teenager. And I was making the connection between this imaginary world and "Tropique"... This "crazy world that wants to be born and that flows in my head," as a certain red-haired Franco-Canadian diva, who is a kind of soulmate and companion to me, would say, also maintains a connection with the DB27, as you'll see later. A few days before I was ready to make my move following an imminent influx of cash, the coveted Toric was nevertheless sold to @doobooloo, a prominent, world-class Asian collector who, like me, owns an Ionica Hebdomadaire and an Ovale Pantographe. I was therefore saddened because it was a close call, and this Toric was a real rarity that I had been teasing many collector friends with. And it hadn't moved since July, leading me to believe I had a chance. So I set about searching for a new watch to buy. I wanted it, however, to be of the same caliber as all my previous acquisitions. And I saw that European Watch & Co. in Boston was offering a blue DB27 Titan Hawk V2. Since @meticulist's Toric was significantly cheaper directly than on Chrono24, I went to the European Watch & Co. website and discovered it was offered at the exact same price as the Parmigiani. And the idea started to take root in my mind… It was extreme, it was rare, it was halfway between a supercar and a spaceship (but for the wrist). Very few people own a De Bethune in Paris, or even in France (I only know @just_another_blue_dial who regularly posts pictures of her two). This supercar-like, exotic object aspect reminded me of my fantasies about "Tropique" and the Parking Foch… It was in Boston, so it was easier to get there than to Phoenix, for which I couldn't find any direct flights… The idea was really starting to take hold in my mind, and my acquisition narrative was beginning to unfold. Christmas 2025 and a memorable visit to the Jura region to see my godfather, whose father has a fantastic car collection (he's a bit of a car substitute for me, as, like me, mainstream cars bore him to tears). I briefly showed him the DB27 Titan Hawk, and his reaction was immediate: "But that's a real Pagani of a watch!" That was it. I started looking at tickets, hotels, applying for my ESTA, and began discussions with European Watch & Co. and the friendly Amy Reddy, whom I thank for her very professional follow-up. We agreed on an unbeatable price, taking advantage of the geopolitical turmoil that had caused a rather unprecedented drop in the dollar, and I booked a round-trip flight and hotel room, right near the retailer's offices. I flew out on February 20th and rushed straight to European Watch & Co. as soon as I arrived. Amy gave me a lovely welcome, a small Coke to help me recover from the flight, and I discovered the watch (I had tried several variations of the DB28 but never the DB27 Titan Hawk)... It made a very strong impression in person. The royal blue dial has impressive reflections. It's slightly recessed, with a Micro-Light finish, which consists of very fine striations in the center of the dial, itself topped by a rocket-like motif reminiscent of a Star Trek spaceship. The Roman numerals are very delicately painted in a silver hue that plays subtly with the light. The 43mm case has this impressive and extravagant shape, reminiscent of both a supercar and a spaceship. It's made of polished Grade 5 titanium, so it's extremely light on the wrist. It has a Micro-Light finish on its edges. The wide, patented, articulated lugs, known as "Floating Lugs," guarantee optimal comfort and ergonomics despite the DB27 Titan Hawk being a fairly large watch. Combined with its slim profile (the piece is 9mm thick), they give it a striking ability to literally hug the wrist. I was worried the watch might look quite thick in photos, but this isn't the case in reality. While it is indeed slightly thicker than my friend's former DB28 XP Starry Sky, this gives it a slightly sportier look. The hands are made of superbly flame-blued steel, with mirror-polished tips, allowing them to play beautifully with the light. The seconds hand is also mirror-polished steel. The movement is equally impressive, offering approximately 60 hours of power reserve. The decorations are more understated than, for example, those on my Romain Gauthier C Bracelet. Nevertheless, this finish is top-notch, perhaps even more minimalist and futuristic. The rotor is made of tungsten and titanium, with a blued section and a Micro-Light treatment. The balance wheel is titanium with white gold weights, which helps to withstand temperature variations. The watch features a silicon escapement wheel, thus requiring less lubrication. And the balance spring has a patented design that optimizes its amplitude (which is over 300° in all positions). My watch, however, runs slightly fast on average, gaining approximately 7 seconds per day. But coupled with the fact that it's a 2023 model, that its power reserve is excellent, and that I also alternate watches every week, I'm quite happy with it and don't plan to have it serviced in the immediate future, especially since my watch isn't COSC-certified or a chronometer… All this to say that this De Bethune is truly impressive, with its presence on the wrist, its design, its reflections, its slimness, and its comfort. De Bethune also offers a wide range of straps. You can wear the watches on a vast selection of canvas, rubber, and leather in various colors. Since the watch was delivered to me on a blue canvas strap, I plan to buy a midnight blue rubber strap or possibly an orange one to add a touch of flair during my next trip to Geneva (the combination of orange and blue gives very beautiful results on the Vacheron Overseas 4500V). So I was over the moon, even though my trip wasn't exactly smooth sailing (I had to contend with a major blizzard that caught me by surprise during a walk in the city after my arrival, getting lost in Boston and struggling to find my way back to my hotel. I also nearly had my return flight seriously disrupted due to another impending snowstorm hitting a large part of the US East Coast). I've lost count of the enthusiastic reactions from my friends who ask to see it, some of whom have practically never even worn a De Bethune. And that trip is now ancient history; these few mishaps are part of the story of acquiring my DB27 Titan Hawk—in other words, how a consuming passion drove me to seek out a true icon on the other side of the world, which is ultimately quite beautiful, almost moving! This DB27, which blends perfectly with those two other extreme icons, the Oval Pantograph and the Antarctic Catching, could ultimately symbolize pushing one's limits to achieve one's dreams!