The BR-X5 Meteorite

From Bell & Ross -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

This is the latest iteration of the BR-X5 collection.

Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and power reserve.

The dial is made of Muonionalusta meteorite. For those of you aspiring geologists out there, may I share the following from Wikipedia:

The Muonionalusta meteorite (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈmuo̯nionˌɑlustɑ], Swedish pronunciation: [mʉˈǒːnɪɔnalːɵsta])^[1] is a meteorite classified as fine octahedrite, type IVA (Of) which impacted in northern Sweden, near the border to Finland, about one million years BCE.

The case measures 41 mm in diameter and is of stainless steel.

Limited to 250 pieces.

Price: $9,200 on strap / $9,700 on bracelet

The BR-05 GMT Green

From Bell & Ross -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

Priced at $5,800.

Here are the pertinents, straight from Bell & Ross -

Technical Specifications

Movement : Calibre BR-CAL.325-1. Automatic Mechanical Movement. 54-hour power reserve.

Functions : Hours, minutes, central seconds, date and second 24-hour time zone. Quick setting of the GMT hand, independently of the hour hand.

Case : 41 mm wide. 11 mm thick. Satin-finished and polished steel. Satin-finished rhodium-plated and green two-tone flange, with 24-hour scale. Screw-down crown. Crown guard. Sapphire case-back with 360° oscillating weight.

Dial : Green sunray. “Baignoire-style” polished, rhodium-plated applique indices and numerals filled with white Super-LumiNova® X1 (green glow). Skeletonised polished, rhodium-plated hour and minute hands and 24-hour hand, filled with white Super-LumiNova® X1 (green glow).

Crystal : Sapphire with anti-reflective coating.

Water resistance : 100 metres.

Strap : Green rubber or satin-finished and polished steel.

Buckle : Folding. Satin-finished and polished steel.

The BR-03 GMT Green Lum

From Bell & Ross -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

This is the latest from Bell & Ross, the BR-03 GMT Green Lum.

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

Based on the evergreen BR-03, a Bell & Ross staple (see what I did there?). 

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

This wrist-rocket is limited to 500 pieces, so if it is in your wheelhouse, I recommend you act sharpish ; )

Priced at an even $5,000 US. Here are the pertinents, straight from the source -

Movement : Calibre BR-CAL.303. Automatic Mechanical Movement. 54-hour power reserve.

Functions : Hours, minutes, central seconds, second 24-hour time zone and date. Quick setting of the GMT hand, independently of the hour hand.

Case : 42 mm wide. 11.3 mm thick. Satin-finished and polished steel. Bi-directional rotating bezel with 24-hour scale, with polished black ceramic ring and Super-LumiNova® C3 marking (green glow).

Dial : Green with a vertical black gradient. Transfer numerals and indices, coated in Super-LumiNova® C3 (green glow). Black gloss hour and minute hands and 24-hour hand, coated in Super-LumiNova® C3 (green glow). Black second hand with aeroplane-shaped tip, coated in Super-LumiNova® C3 (green glow).

Crystal : Sapphire with anti-reflective coating.

Water resistance : 100 metres.

Strap : Black rubber and ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric.

Buckle : Pin. Satin-finished and polished steel.

The BR-X3 Patrouille de France

From Bell & Ross -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

This is the latest from Bell & Ross. For the past several years they have partnered with the Patrouille de France aerobatic team for a special watch. This year's version is limited to 250 pieces.

The asking is $8,100.

Here are the pertinents, straight from Bell & Ross -

Movement : Manufacture. Automatic Mechanical Movement. Power reserve of approximately 70 hours.

Functions : Hours, minutes and seconds. Date window at 3 o'clock and power reserve indicator at 9 o'clock.

Case : 41 mm wide. 13.30 mm thick. Satin-finished and polished steel. Screw-down crown. Crown guard. Decorative side pillar and bezel in blue anodised aluminium with micro-blasted finish. Sapphire case-back featuring a custom metallised Patrouille de France logo.

Dial : Three-plate construction – matt black base, blue and white skeletonised applique, matt black insert – with polished and rhodium-plated “Baignoire-style” applique indices, filled with white Super-LumiNova® BGW9 Grade X1 (blue glow). Patrouille de France logo at 6 o'clock. Power reserve window featuring the colours of the French flag (blue, white and red). Skeletonised rhodium-plated hour and minutes hands filled with Super-LumiNova® BGW9 Grade X1 (blue glow).

Crystal : Sapphire with anti-reflective coating.

Water resistance : 100 metres.

Strap : Openworked black rubber and blue ultra-resilient synthetic fabric.

Buckle : Pin. Satin-finished and polished steel.

The BR-03 Green Steel

From Bell & Ross -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

This is the latest in the BR-03 family. A three-hand automatic with date - in green.

The case is of stainless steel and measures 41 mm in diameter. The movement is self-winding with a power reserve of 54 hours.

Here are all the pertinents -

Movement : Calibre BR-CAL.302-1. Automatic Mechanical Movement. 54-hour power reserve.

Functions : Hours, minutes, seconds and date.

Case : 41 mm wide. 9.65 mm thick. Satin-finished and polished steel.

Dial : Green sunray with black gradient, coated with glossy lacquer. “Baignoire-style” applique indices and numerals filled with white Super-LumiNova® X1 (green glow). Skeletonised rhodium-plated hour and minute hands filled with white Super-LumiNova® X1 (green glow).

Crystal : Sapphire with anti-reflective coating.

Water resistance : 100 metres.

Strap : Black-coloured box calfskin leather and black ultra-resilient synthetic fabric.

Buckle : Pin. Satin-finished and polished steel.

Priced at $4,100.

The BR-03 Skeleton Steel

From Bell & Ross -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

This is the latest in the BR-03 range.

Priced at $5,900.00, this is a preorder item scheduled to start shipping at the end of this month.

The case is of stainless steel and measures 41 mm in each direction. 

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

Here are the pertinents -

Movement: Automatic mechanical movement. 54-hour power reserve.

Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds.

Case: 41 mm wide. 9.65 mm thick. Satin-finished and polished steel.

Dial: Skeletonised with transparent panel. “Baignoire-style” applique indexes and numerals filled with white Super-LumiNova® X1 (green glow). Skeletonised hour and minute hands filled with white Super-LumiNova® X1 (green glow).

Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire.

Water resistance: 100 metres.

Strap: Black rubber and ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric.

Buckle: Pin. Satin-finished and polished steel.

The BR-X3 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor

From Bell & Ross -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

Limited to 25 pieces, and priced at €89,000.

Here are the pertinents -

Movement:
BR-CAL.389. Automatic in-house mechanical. 52-hour power reserve.

Functions:
Hours and minutes, off-center at 2 o'clock. Flying tourbillon cage, at 5:30.

Case:
Width 40 mm. Thickness 9 mm. Polished and satin-finished steel. Custom polished and satin-finished bridges.

Dial:
Skeleton. Small smoked sapphire dial. Rhodium-plated hour and minute hands.

Glass:
Sapphire with anti-reflective coating.

Waterproof rating:
50 meters.

Bracelet:
Grey alligator leather.

Buckle:
Folding. Polished and satin-finished steel.

The BR-05 Blue Diamond Eagle

From Bell & Ross -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

This is the latest addition to the BR-05 family, the BR-05 Blue Diamond Eagle.

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

This is a pre-order item. Price is 4900€

Here are the pertinents, straight from Bell & Ross -

Movement: Automatic mechanical. 54-hour power reserve.

Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds.

Case: Width 36 mm. Thickness 8.7 mm. Polished and satin-finished steel. Screw-down crown. Crown guard. Case back with laser-engraved representation of the constellation Aquila.

Dial: Blue aventurine plaque representing space. The hour markers are replaced by diamonds. The constellation Aquila is reproduced by seven diamonds.

Glass: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating.

Waterproof rating: 100 meters.

Bracelet: Polished and satin-finished steel.

Buckle: Folding. Polished and satin-finished steel.

The BR-03 Diver Black Bronze

From Bell & Ross -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

This is the latest member of the BR-03 family - the Diver Black Bronze.

The case is true to the BR-03 DNA. It is of bronze and measures 42 mm wide and is 12.3 mm thick.

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

The movement is noted as Calibre BR-CAL.302-1. Self-winding, automatic.

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

Water resistant to 300 meters, and a lume to light up the night.

Limited to 999 pieces, and priced at $5,500.

Here are the pertinents -

Technical Specifications

Movement : Calibre BR-CAL.302-1. Automatic mechanical movement. 54-hour power reserve.

Functions : Hours, minutes, seconds and date.

Case : 42 mm wide. 12.3 mm thick. Satin-finished and polished CuSn8 bronze. Unidirectional rotating bezel with 60-minute scale in bronze, with white SuperLumiNova® X1 marking (green glow) and polished black ceramic ring. Screw-down crown with crown guard. Steel case-back.

Dial : Black, coated with glossy lacquer. “Baignoire-style” applique indexes filled with white Super-LumiNova® (green glow). Skeletonised hour and minute hands filled with white Super-LumiNova® (green glow).

Crystal : Anti-reflective sapphire.

Water resistance : 300 metres.

Strap : Black rubber and ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric.

Buckle : Pin. Satin-finished and polished bronze.

Shop Your Watch Box!

Sometimes, you need a change. The old routine feels, well, routine ; )

So about this watch - it's a Bell & Ross that is no longer in production. It was a gift received a few years back that I will always treasure.

So the point being - I wasn't wanting a new watch, but rather thinking about giving my trusted companion a new look.

And I do have one peculiar quirk - if available, I always prefer OEM ; )

Now the other factor contributing to my decision making paradigm, particularly as it pertains to straps, is looks and comfort. And Bell & Ross's straps and clasps more than fit the bill. Many folks out there prefer exotic leathers, but my choices these days tend towards calfskin, but I do love a shiny patent-leather look. So I opted for blue leather, and a fairly straight forward deployant buckle.


So let's talk about the one thing that watch brands almost never pay sufficient attention to - the comfort of the strap itself. And once again, Bell & Ross has surpassed my expectations. It's great that a strap looks good. But if it isn't comfortable? You'll never wear it! No worries there!

Now I realize at this time of year encouraging you, the potential watch buying customer not to purchase a new watch is somewhat anathema. But that is, in fact, what I am encouraging you to do. Sometimes all it takes is a different outfit to make you see an old companion in a whole new light ; )

So shop your watch box!

And enjoy your watches!

The BR-05 Grey Mirror Steel

From Bell & Ross -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

This is the latest addition to the BR-05 collection. The case and integral bracelet are of stainless steel, with a water resistance rating of 100 meters. The case measures 40 mm in diameter and is 10.5 mm thick. The display case back is sapphire crystal.

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

The movement is the BR-CAL.321-1, which is  self-winding (automatic) mechanical. It boasts 54-hour power reserve.

The BR-05 Grey Mirror Steel can also be had with a rubber strap -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

Limited to 250 pieces, it is priced at $6,300 with stainless steel bracelet, and $5,800 on the rubber strap.

The BR-X3 TOURBILLON MICRO-ROTOR

From Bell & Ross -

Courtesy of Bell & Ross

This is the latest take on the BR - X3 , a skeletonized tourbillon with micro rotor.

Limited to 25 pieces only, it is a pre-order item. It is available for pre-order only, and deliveries will begin in December. Priced at $ 99,000

Here are the pertinents -

• MOVEMENT

  BR-CAL.389. Proprietary automatic mechanical movement. 58-hour power reserve.

• FUNCTIONS

  Hours and minutes offset at 2 o’clock. Flying tourbillon cage at 5:30.

• CASE

  40 mm wide. 9 mm thick. Satin-finished and polished steel. Customised polished and satin-finished bridges.

• DIAL

  Skeletonised. Small sapphire fumé dial. Rhodium-plated hour and minute hands.

• CRYSTAL

  Sapphire with anti-reflective coating.

• WATER-RESISTANCE

  resistance: 50 metres.

• STRAP

  Grey alligator skin.

• BUCKLE

  Folding. Satin-finished and polished steel.