Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New Bell & Ross BR-03 Skeleton Collection
Three novel ways of interpreting skeletonisation to view the X-shaped movement.
One of the most recognisable models of Bell & Ross, the French brand that finds inspiration in the dashboard instruments of military aeroplanes, is the BR-03. Debuting in 2006 as a smaller version of the whopping 46mm BR 01, the BR-03 was updated two years ago and revisited in smaller 41mm cases. Benefitting from the design upgrades, the trilogy released today plays with skeletonisation, transparency and luminescence.
For this new BR-03 Skeleton collection, a new proprietary automatic movement without date and a 54-hour power reserve, calibre BR-CAL.328, has been developed by Sellita for the brand. Forming an X, the upper bridges with four double arms of the movement are connected to one of the four bezel screws. While each version explores different creative avenues, they are all designed around the same X structure.
The BR-03 Skeleton Black Ceramic fuses skeletonisation and transparency, making the dial and movement form a cohesive whole. Crafted in matte black ceramic, the case frames a smoked sapphire crystal dial offering a stealthy peek at the X-shaped movement. Legibility is always a top priority at Bell & Ross, and the black applied bathtub-shaped indices and the hands are treated with green-emission Super-LumiNova.
Up next, the BR-03 Skeleton Grey Steel, is the most sculptural member of the trilogy, verging on Brutalism. With polished and satin finishes, the steel case extends to the pronounced steel flange with indents to house the thick luminescent baton indices. Like stealth aircraft and their medley of angles to avoid radar detection, the openworked dial has faceted areas. Unlike a stealth plane, however, the faceted areas are treated with ruthenium for extra brilliance. This more sculptural edition is limited to 100 pieces. It comes with a black rubber strap with a steel pin buckle and a complimentary black Velcro strap.
With its powerful, green, luminescent presence, the BR-03 Skeleton Lum Ceramic is the most daring and futuristic model in the lineup. Cut to follow the contours of the movement’s bridges, the skeletonised dial exposes blackened gears through its tinted sapphire crystal. Using luminescence as a decorative element, the cut-out areas on the dial are traced in green Super-LumiNova, matching the hands and bathtub-style indices. The case is microblasted black ceramic. The Lum Ceramic is limited to 250 pieces.
All three BR-03s come with two straps: a black rubber strap and an aviation-inspired black Velcro strap. The Black Ceramic model retails for EUR 6,400. The Grey Steel edition of 250 pieces retails for EUR 5,900 and the 250-piece edition of Lum Ceramic retails for EUR 6,900. More information at bellross.com.
