Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The De Bethune Mystery Box: Forget Time, created by Fiona Krüger & Denis Flageollet
Inspired by the writings of physicist Carlo Rovelli, who explores time as a relative and elusive dimension, this creation is an object of horology with a philosophical edge.
The “Mystery Box: Forget Time” results from the collaboration between Fiona Krüger and master watchmaker Denis Flageollet, founder of De Bethune. Known for her original approach to watch design, Fiona Krüger has built a reputation within the independent watchmaking world for her artistic yet technically demanding creations. Her past work, like the Skull and Chaos collections, established her as a designer capable of pairing visual storytelling with watch mechanics. With the Mystery Box project, she creates her first mechanical desk clock.
The heart of the Mystery Box is the calibre FK:DF:MBT, a manually wound movement developed with Flageollet. The movement features a constant force system, approximately seven-day power reserve, and operates at a frequency of 18,000 vibrations/hour. Time is indicated via rotating, engraved sapphire glass tubes for hours and minutes, suspended within a multi-layered mechanical structure. The display is visually abstract but functional, although the primary intention is to create an interesting object rather than a conventional dial layout.
The clock mechanism measures 142mm in height, 121mm in width, and 94mm in depth. The mainplate is made from nickel silver with rhodium and ruthenium finishes, decorated with satin brushing and sunburst polishing. The bridges are crafted from stainless steel and finished with a “scratched” surface texture for contrast. The movement is built with 13 jewels, has a large balance wheel with inertia blocks, a hairspring with a terminal curve, and uses mother-of-pearl discs for optical layering within the mechanism. The movement is wound using a fixed key at the rear of the case, and time is set by rotating the glass tubes directly.
The outer structure (192mm x 192mm x 192mm) is designed as a mechanical cabinet made from wood marquetry with mother-of-pearl inclusions, produced in collaboration with UK-based Hawthorne Fine Boxes. The cabinet opens via a central push-button mechanism, revealing the movement inside, and includes a secure base with a screw-in stand to stabilise the structure.
The Mystery Box is produced in a limited edition of 20 pieces, with a price to be confirmed.
For more information, please visit DeBethune.ch.
