Jewellery & Watch News
Building on the popularity of the integrated masterpiece that is the Bell & Ross BR 05, the Swiss watch manufacturer launches an entirely new collection featuring a technical dial setup and a manufacture movement inside. Here’s everything you need to know about the freshly released Bell & Ross BR-X5 watch collection…
When it was first launched in 2019, the Bell & Ross BR 05 series gave us an urban-inspired, toned-down interpretation of their circle-within-a-square design. Over the last three years, the BR 05 was evolved from a simple selection of time-only pieces to chronographs, skeletonised limited editions, GMT models and diamond bedazzled editions. For the line-up’s latest chapter, the brand unveils a whole new family with the Bell & Ross BR-X5. Enhancing the design and technical characteristics of its predecessors, we’re treated to an added power reserve indicator and large curved date aperture on the dial and more excitingly, a manufacture movement inside the integrated architecture.
“The BR‑X5 originates from the BR 05, which originates from the BR 01, which originates from the cockpit”, explains Bell & Ross. “This aeronautical heritage, a direct link between the past and the present, translates into the letter X, a symbol of secrecy, experimentation and the future. With the BR‑X5, this avant-garde piece makes its entry into the permanent collection.”
Since it’s one of the most defining features of the Bell & Ross BR-X5 watch, let’s start with the manufacture movement. The luxury brand signals fine watchmaking enthusiasts by harnessing the talents of Swiss movement specialist Kenissi who after several years of development completed the BR-CAL.323 calibre. The automatic winding movement boasts a variable-inertia balance wheel, a personalised oscillating rotor styled to evoke the shape of sports car rim and an impressive power reserve of 70 hours. The latter makes the Bell & Ross BR-X5 watches “weekend-proof”, meaning you can easily take your timepiece off on the Friday and pick it up again on the Monday knowing it will still be running perfectly. The BR-CAL.323 manufacture movement also impresses with a 4Hz frequency, rapid date correction and COSC certification.
The second novelty of the Bell & Ross BR-X5 is its dial. Available in classic black, ice blue or orange, the display stands out from any BR 05 model for its large curved date aperture at 3 o’clock and the round power reserve indicator highlighted in three sections at 9 o’clock. There’s also no Arabic numerals in sight with only baton indexes marking the hours and a sloped flange for the minutes. The hour, minutes and seconds hands are rhodium plated like the markers with much of the hardware treated to grade X1 Superluminova for optimal readability during both day and night
The rest of the Bell & Ross BR-X5 watch follows in the footsteps of the BR 05, boasting the elegant integrated bracelets, flat surfaces and square-within-a-circle layout. The cases measure to 41mm in diameter and are engineered from stainless steel, built around a watertight container for protection of the movement and a 100 metre water resistant rating. The crown protectors are built from the same block as the main case and safeguard the knurled, satin-finished crown at 3 o’clock. The iconic square bezel is set with 4 water tight screws which pass through the entirety of the case, joining up with another four screws set around the exhibition case back. While the black and ice blue dials are housed in steel, the Bell & Ross BR-X5 Carbon Orange watch is engineered from grade 2 microblasted titanium with a DLC carbon-like finish. Sapphire crystal glass is utilised on both the front and the back and a combination of polished, satin-brushed and micro-blasted finishes completes each Bell & Ross BR-X5 watch.
The Bell & Ross BR-X5 watches are finished by a choice of two straps. There’s the classic integrated stainless steel bracelet with a folding buckle or a newly launched rubber strap which cleverly evokes the silhouette of the bracelet’s link with open work detail. The black Bell & Ross BR-X5 elects a rubber band in the same colour as does the ice blue Bell & Ross BR-X5 watch. Both of these models are non-limited and so remain part of the core collection. Meanwhile, the Bell & Ross BR-X5 Carbon Orange watch is a limited edition and is joined by a sporty orange rubber band.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Bell & Ross BR-X5 watches and shop the full collection for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website or get in touch with our team of luxury watch specialists. You can call us on 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
