Dubois et Fils DBF009 Pilot Watch Bidynator 2

Quick specs Dubois et Fils DBF009 Pilot Watch Bidynator 2
Price: starting at approx. $ 9,200 | approx. € 8.700 | approx. £ 7,300 | CHF 8’250
Size: 44 mm
Reference: DBF009-XX (from 01 to 08) – limited to 22 pieces each

The Dubois et Fils DBF009 Pilot Watch Bidynator 2 is the second series of watches by the Swiss brand containing a Bidynator movement. The first was in the DBF006 that has a Felsa caliber 4007 N from the 1950s. This new DBF009 has an even older Felsa inside, from the 1940s. But first, let’s look at the outside of this new pilot.

It’s a pilot-perfect size model, 44 millimeters, and available with a case of grade 5 titanium. Either with or without black diamond like coating (DLC). The latter ads about 500 to the price. The watch combines a round and cushion-shaped silhouette, and has large hands with high-grade super-luminova. The counterweight of the seconds hand shows the Dubois logo, and there is a small date windows next to the 3 o’clock position.

There are eight references. Two for the black DLC models, six for the regular titanium models. All with different dial colors, gradient or with a sunray effect for the DLC’s. The crown is something special: push it and a propeller pops out with which you can adjust the hours, minutes and date. Time for the movement.

The holy grail inside is the Felsa caliber 692 from 1948. The producer is called Felsa S.A. (est. 1918), and between 1942 and the 1960s they named their movements Bidynator. These models were the first successful movements with bidirectional winding, that’s why it is called the Bidynator. Which is probably a portmanteau of Bidirectional, Dynamic and Rotor.

The Dubois et Fils DBF009 Pilot Watch Bidynator 2 has a power reserve of 44 hours

Because of the quality of the movements Felsa was allowed by the cartel of Swiss movement makers to specialize in automatic movements. Together with brands like Ebauches SA, the well-known ETA and A. Schild. From which Dubois et Fils also have movements that they use in new watches. Like in the Dubois et Fils DBF008 series.

The caliber 692 ticks 5 times per second, where most modern movements do 8 (at 4 Hertz or 28,800 vibrations per hour). Thus, in theory this slow beater could time events up to 1/5^th of a second, where a 4 Hz can do 1/8^th of a second. More thicks is more precision. However, beating slower means consuming less energy, resulting in a 44-hour power reserve. Which is pretty good for a 76-year old movement.

The 1948 movement runs as new

Dubois et Fils acquired a large stock of new old stock movements, from different movement makers. Including 176 copies of the Felsa 692 from 1948. Dubois completely revises and services them before building them into their modern cases. And the Swiss brand has an interactive blockchained watch chronicle, an NFT diary, for each movement. Which is unique for watch movements, but the USP here is the 1948 motor itself. NFT’s are more of a 2021 hype though it can be fun to have a digital trace of your caliber.

The Dubois et Fils DBF009 Pilot Watch Bidynator 2 comes on a rubber strap with the upper side in a dial color matching textile polyester. It is secured with a polished and brushed grade 5 titanium buckle, which has black DLC for the models with a black DLC case. All DBF009’s are limited to 22 pieces and numbered, you can even pick your favorite number.