Everybody knows Bell & Ross for its prominent BR01 and BR03 square watches with round dials and supersized numerals and hands. This young and vibrant watch company is popular among the stylish set because of its highly original military design and bold personality.
With the new BR05 collection, that same bold personality remains but the style is decidedly less military. It’s a little more urban contemporary—although if you think about it, aren’t we all corporate warriors fighting our own daily battles?
The Collection
Analogies aside, Bell & Ross has always been strong on design, so the BR05 collection offers a wide selection of references. Three different colourways—a silvery grey, one in navy blue, and a piece in classic deep black—form the pack, while a fourth model brandishes a skeletonised dial and completely new movement. More on that in a bit.
Where the BR05 differs most obviously from its other square cased siblings is the integrated case and bracelet combination. This is the first Bell & Ross watch delivered on a metal bracelet. Look at the watch up close and you’ll see a distinctive 70s vibe.
It’s almost as if the BR05 came from that era of luxury sports watches that gave us such inimitable icons like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the Patek Philippe Nautilus, the Vacheron Constantin Overseas, and the IWC Ingenieur, among many others.
The Specs
Unlike the sportier BR01 and BR03, which are 45mm and 42mm respectively, BR05 is sized very comfortably at 40mm. And its rounded edges also lend a crisp, immaculate elegance. Those applied hour markers and numerals enhance the luxe factor, and its baton hands are slimmer, too.
Something you’d notice immediately about the BR05 is how smooth and well finished the case is. Brushed and polished surfaces are found all over the watch.
On the inside, Calibre BR-CAL.321 is Bell & Ross designed while the skeletonised model runs on Calibre BR-CAL.322. The latter, limited to 500 pieces, boasts a very modern finish that brings to mind a miniature metropolis or cityscape.
The Damage
Bell & Ross BR05 is priced from $6,500 for steel on rubber, and $7,300 for steel on steel, to $8,800 and $9,600 for the skeletonised version.
And if you’re interested in something a little more posh and sophisticated, there are rose gold models in $33,000 on rubber and $49,000 on bracelet.
The full collection is available at the Bell & Ross boutique at #01-15 Mandarin Gallery, or shop online here.
