Prime Highlights
- Mark Zuckerberg flaunted the extremely rare De Bethune DB28xs Purple Rain watch that costs close to $100,000.
- The vibrant purple watch swiped the limelight at Meta’s Oakley Smart Glasses unveiling.
Key Facts
- The DB28xs Purple Rain has a mere 25-piece production and boasts a striking heat-treated titanium case.
- It’s driven by an upscale manual-winding movement with six-day power reserve.
- Zuckerberg’s increasing collection of luxury timepieces now features top-tier brands such as F.P. Journe, Patek Philippe, and De Bethune.
Key Background
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hit the news wires recently not only for launching new smart glasses with Oakley but also for wearing his wrist accessory—a unusual and richly hued luxury watch dubbed the De Bethune DB28xs Purple Rain. This $100,000 watch is one of only 25 made and automatically attracted attention for its stunning beauty and technical sophistication.
The DB28xs Purple Rain is unique because of its dark purple color, which is the result of a thermal oxidation process treating grade-5 titanium at very high temperatures to form a natural oxide coat. This produces an ever-changing iridescence that picks up on hues of violet, amethyst, and lavender based upon the lighting. The end result is wearable art with an otherworldly feel, consistent with De Bethune’s tradition of using futuristic design paired with horological ingenuity.
The DB2005 manual movement powers the watch. It has double self-regulating barrels ensuring uniform energy distribution, a six-day power reserve, and an in-house white gold inset titanium balance wheel for accuracy. The watch also comes with a silicon escape wheel and De Bethune’s triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system.
Aesthetically, the dial is a starry night sky with a guilloché wave pattern and small gold spheres as stars. Floating lugs contribute to the futuristic look without compromising comfort and fit on the wrist.
What made Zuckerberg’s decision all the more dramatic is the timing. At a high-tech product unveiling, he stole the scene by sporting a watch that represents tradition, craftsmanship, and exclusivity. This act shines a light on his changing taste as a serious aficionado of luxury watches.
From Patek Philippe to F.P. Journe and now De Bethune, Zuckerberg is aligning himself with haute horology, marking that his love for innovation goes far beyond Silicon Valley.
