After a first exclusive line released last year and dedicated to the 9^th Mayan infraworld, De Bethune introduces a generation of noble sets composed of 12 unique timepieces engraved in the centre with one of the 12 heads representing the animals in the Chinese zodiac. The Grand Feu enamel adorning the DB25 Imperial Fountain is applied using the meticulous technique of translucent enamelling on chased relief effects, thereby highlighting the central bas relief motif in hand-engraved solid white gold. The original imperial foundation consisted of an ingenious and beautiful clepsydra made by European and Chinese artisans for the Chinese emperor Qianlong in the Yuan Ming Yuan ‘garden of gardens’. This exceptional miniaturised expertise in artistic crafts now accompanies the perfect technical mastery repeatedly displayed over the past ten years by the Manufacture De Bethune – which notably won the supreme “Aiguille d’Or” award in the 2011 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix. In order to comply with the constraints of the circumferential display, its engineers and watchmakers have developed a new calibre fitted with subtly balanced micro ball bearings, as well as a dedicated toothing profile for the disc transmission supporting the peripheral hands. As always, the hand-crafted finishing and decoration on the movement features hand-bevelled and polished steel parts, as well as flame-blued and mirror-polished steel parts. De Bethune once again confirms its credentials as a perfect ambassador of the 12^th Art.