In our countdown to the 2013 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève awards, we take a look at one of the competing watches (or rather collection in this instance) for the “Artistic Crafts Watch” award, the De Bethune DB25 Imperial Fountain collection.

Following on the success of their previous art and culture-oriented collection inspired by the Ninth Mayan Underworld, De Bethune have chosen to pay homage to a water clock, of all things. OK, that might be undermining it a little, as the water clock in question is none other than the water clock fountain from the Garden of Spring in Yuan Ming Yuan, alternatively known as the Old Summer Palace in China.

Estimated to have been built between 1749 and 1757, the Old Summer Palace housed an elaborate water clock, where twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac sculpted in bronze represented the twelve hours. The hour was indicated by Observing which animal had water sprouting out of its mouth.

The animal heads on the DB25 Imperial Fountain are modeled after these 12 bronze heads from the water clock. However, since the palace was looted during the Second Opium War in 1860, some of the heads had to be improvised as until today only seven of them have resurfaced.

The animal head takes center stage on the dial and is crafted from solid gold. Engraved using bas-relief technique by master engraver Michèle Rothen (the same man behind De Bethune’s Ninth Mayan Underworld), the head sits on a grand feu red translucent enamel base applied on a chased relief. The hour markers are represented by the 11 other zodiac animals, engraved onto the golden plate.

To allow the wearer to enjoy an unobstructed view of this work-of-art, De Bethune opted for a peripheral hand display system where the blued hour and minute hands come out from under the central partial of the dial and give the impression of orbiting around the animal’s head.

This technical feat called for a new movement, dubbed the DB2145. The completely in-house manufactured movement is manually wound to provide a maximum power reserve of 6 days (120 hours) and features De Bethune’s proprietary silicon/white gold balance wheel and balance spring with flat terminal curve and De Bethune’s patented triple pare-chute shock-absorbing system. The movement’s plates and bridges are finished in a mesmerizing mirror-polish.

While one might be used to seeing more futuristic aesthetics from De Bethune, the DB25 Imperial Fountain is a welcome departure as the brand explores its more artistic side; all while putting their manufacturing prowess to good use.

Made in collaboration with The Hour Glass, the Imperial Fountain is available in 4 different unique sets of 12 watches, plus 40 watches available for individual purchase. The price for an individual watch is around $150’000.

And yes, I shot the Tiger version because I was born in the year of the tiger.

More information on www.debethune.ch