Bell & Ross threw its hat into the highly competitive integrated steel sports watch ring last year with the new BR 05 model line. Clearly inspired by the success of luxury steel sports watches but sticking to their characteristic round dial in a square case shape, the BR 05 opened up a new segment of the French watch brand. It now welcomes two new models – one with a two-tone case and the other with a skeletonized blue dial.
Let’s start with the two-tone model – the BR 05 Black Steel & Gold (BR05A-BL-STPG) is meant to be a sports chic model that combines a satin-brushed and polished steel case with 18K rose gold. The 40 mm case is water-resistant to 100 meters and is fitted with an exhibition caseback. The watch has a black sunray finish dial with matching gilt hour markers and hands coated with Super-Luminova.
The Black Steel & Gold model is paired with an integrated brushed steel bracelet with 18K rose gold links (CHF10,500 +VAT) or alternately with a black rubber strap (CHF6,200 + VAT). The watch runs the BR Caliber 321, which is based on Sellita’s SW300 movement. It is a 4 Hz movement with a power reserve of 38 hours.
The BR 05 Skeleton Blue (Ref. BR05A-BLU-SKST) is a follow up to the BR 05 Skeleton limited edition that was unveiled during the launch last year. Bell & Ross usually reserves skeletonized dials for its more high-end timepieces like the BR X-2 Tourbillon. The new Skeleton Blue uses a 40 mm stainless steel case with flat satin-finished surfaces and polished bevels that play off the light well. A blue tinted sapphire crystal dial reveals the skeletonized BR Cal. 322 movement underneath. The blue transparent dial houses the applique indices and hands coated with Super-Luminova for optimum visibility.
Bell & Ross has shaved off all excess material from the base Sellita SW300 movement to create the skeletonized movement it calls the BR Cal. 322. It is fitted with an open-worked blue tone rotor to showcase the transparency of the movement. The brand’s logo is metallized on the sapphire caseback. It is paired with an integrated steel bracelet (CHF6,800 + VAT)) or a blue rubber strap (CHF6,200 + VAT). This watch is a limited edition of 500 pieces.
