The Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Green (Live Pics & Price)

For many years, Paris-based brand Bell & Ross has been known for mostly its activity in the field of military and pilot’s watches, a concept perfectly illustrated by its emblematic square-shaped watches, the BR 01 and BR 03. However, the brand had to evolve and offer something more urban and more contemporary without losing its roots. This complex task took form in 2019 when the brand decided to enter the ultra-competitive market of sports watches with integrated bracelets. The collection: the BR 05. The concept: a luxury take on the brand’s design. And since then, the collection has expanded dramatically and continues to do so today with the new Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Green.

While the BR 05 collection comprises a traveller’s GMT model and a chronograph alongside the classic time-and-date model, there’s a fourth member – the BR 05 Skeleton – that was released in limited production as part of the inaugural collection of 2019. An architectural, modern take on the concept of an openworked watch, it has been released since its launch in silver, but also with coloured sapphire plates, resulting in a blue edition and in dark Night Lum version, but also in a highly luxurious gold model. This year, it’s time for the still-trendy green colour to be added to this sub-collection.

The new Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Green takes advantage of the previous editions’ specifications and changes the colour, yet keeps the rest intact. As such, we have the same nicely shaped and finely executed stainless steel case. The design is rather clever, merging classic elements of watches with an integrated design with the brand’s classic codes, meaning a squarish case with a circular dial opening and four screws. The case, measuring 40mm in width and a relatively thin height of 10.33mm, is mostly brushed and features large, contrasting polished bevels for a dynamic look. It has sporty credentials too, with a screw-down crown protected by lateral guards, a screwed caseback and a 100m water-resistance.

What changes this year with this new BR 05 Skeleton Green is the colour seen through the top sapphire crystal. As with the blue edition of this watch, the movement isn’t coated with colour. It sits under an intermediate sapphire plate that replaces the dial and that is partially tinted in a vivid olive green tone. The dial is framed by an angled matte inner flange in the same green colour. Both the logo and the metallic hour markers are applied to its surface, and all elements are covered in Super-LumiNova.

As with other models from the collection, this BR 05 Skeleton Green can be ordered either on an integrated stainless steel bracelet, with brushed and polished surfaces and a three-fold clasp or a green rubber strap. As photographed here, you can have a tone-on-tone structured rubber strap closed by a folding clasp – this strap is supple and smooth to the skin. Either way, you’ll have the same integrated effect with lines following the angles of the case.

Visible on both sides of the watch is the calibre BR-CAL.322. This movement, an SW300-1 architecture, is produced by Sellita according to Bell & Ross’ requirements with a design of the openworked bridges that is unique to the Parisian brand. It has been conceived in a modern almost industrial way and is finished in a monochromatic and matte fashion. This automatic movement, with a 4Hz frequency and a 38h power reserve, features a stylised  360-degree openworked rotor.

Availability & price

The Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Green will be a limited edition of 500 pieces in total. It is priced at EUR 6,200 on the green rubber strap and EUR 6,700 on the stainless steel bracelet. It is now available from retailers and from the brand’s website here.

For more details, please visit www.bellross.com.