America’s luxury watch extravaganza, WatchTime New York, is less than two weeks away! Returning for its fifth consecutive year at Manhattan’s Gotham Hall on October 25 – 26, the event is shaping up to be the biggest yet, with 37 participating watch brands displaying their latest and greatest timepieces. Among them is longtime WTNY exhibitor Bell & Ross, which will be showcasing the BR 05 Black Steel from its recently launched sport-luxury collection.
Dubbed by Bell & Ross president and CEO Carlos Rosillo as the brand’s “urban explorer,” the BR 05 is the first Bell & Ross model in which the angular case is integrated into a metal bracelet. The case, with its softly angled corners, satin-finished flat surfaces and polished bevels, measures a relatively modest 40 mm — downsized from the hulking 46 mm of the BR 01 and the still stately 42 mm of the BR 03 (the two models in Bell & Ross’s Instrument collection from which the BR 05 is a direct descendant), and only slightly larger than the smallest Instrument model, the 39-mm BR S. The subtle elegance of the finishing is also evident on the newly designed bracelet, which sports a polished surface on its soft rectangular center links and a satin-brushed one on its H-shaped outer links. The bracelet has been designed to curve easily and flexibly to accommodate a variety of wrist sizes, and fastens to the wrist with a double-folding steel buckle. The latter element, with its two quick-release push-buttons, has also been finished in decidedly luxurious fashion, with a combination of polishing and satin brushing and a subtle Bell & Ross ampersand-in-a-circle serving as the locking mechanism.
The Black Steel model has a black sunray-motif dial, with a 3 o’clock date window and applied, luminous-coated indices. It is powered by a self-winding mechanical movement that Bell & Ross has dubbed BR-CAL.321 (BR-CAL.322 in its skeletonized version), which uses a Sellita SW300 as its base and is enhanced with an all-new, wheel-shaped, openworked rotor that spans the breadth of the movement; the rotor, designed by Bell & Ross co-founder and Creative Director Bruno Belamich, was inspired by the wheel rims of Range Rover vehicles, emphasizing the watch’s mission of taking Bell & Ross’s military-oriented designs “from the countryside to the city.” The movement beats at 28,800 vph and stores a power reserve of 38 hours; it is also visible behind a sapphire caseback, a relatively rare feature in a Bell & Ross watch family. Each BR 05 model is also available on an integrated rubber strap for a sportier look.
If you’re curious to check out the new Bell & Ross BR 05 collection in person, along with hundreds of other new, rare, and interesting timepieces, reserve your tickets now for WatchTime New York 2019!
