Tag Archives: Bell & Ross

Bell & Ross’ newest BR 03-94 Blacktrack chronograph is a design-forward instrument

Look no further than Bell & Ross when you train your sight on contemporary design in the arena of watchmaking. The emblematic “square within a circle” is a hallmark comparable to some of the legendary aesthetics within the industry. Its endeavours are laudable because despite its recency, having founded in 1992, Bell & Ross has already firmly established itself as a major player and successfully blazed a trail with a design language wholly its own. The BR 03-94 Blacktrack chronograph is very much an epitome of this daring approach.

Inspired by the avant-garde Blacktrack BT-06 motorcycle, the new chronograph is an extension of this machine, from sharing the iconoclastic looks and down to the enigmatic soul. A collaboration between prolific designer Sacha Lakic and Bell & Ross, the basis to the chronograph is drawn from the aerodynamic lines of stealth aircraft and bolstered by the genius of Lakic. The man has won accolades for his endeavours, inter alia, responsible for the style of Venturi, an exceptional electric sports carmaker. In 2016, spurred on by his success, Lakic instituted Blacktrack, his own motorcycle brand as proof that his love of speed is genuine.

The passion is shared by Bell & Ross. In 2011, Bell & Ross hopped on a partnership with Shaw Harley-Davidson to create the Nascafe Racer Bell & Ross. It gave rise to the unique BR 01 Carbon watch, which could be embedded into the bike’s central console. The favourable reception furthered their partnership in 2014, in the form of the BR 01 chronograph, and its twin, the BR 03 B-Rocket. Both were heavily influenced by Shaw Harley- Davidson’s B-Rocket, as well as an obsession of Bell & Ross’ creative director and co-founder Bruno Belamich, the jet plane.

The BR 03-94 Blacktrack chronograph thoroughly echoes both of these supremely engineered bikes and jets from the design perspective. Water resistant to 100 metres, the chronograph features a 42mm matt black ceramic case. It highlights faceted angles borrowed from stealth fighters, while the black calfskin strap, hemmed with a red edge and lined with high-resistance technical material, is a reference to the Blacktrack motorcycle, which serves as the muse. The quilting on the strap is an ode to the bike’s saddle cover and rider’s protective suit.

Bell & Ross debuts the redesigned subdials for the new chronograph, which have adopted the shape of the dials on motorcycle handlebars. Furthermore, the superposition of the off-centre chronograph seconds hand over the minute hand to create the Blacktrack “B” is a subtle detail not to be overlooked. Despite the monochromatic combination of grey and black, information presented on the chronograph is designed for legibility while balancing the cool factor. Boasting 42 hours of power reserve, the BR-CAL.301 self-winding mechanical movement is exceptionally finished. More importantly, the BR 03-94 Blacktrack chronograph can be inserted in the bike’s centre console, proving that it is not only a wristwatch but an instrument.

Re-Invention Of Flight: Bell & Ross Improves Its Core BR 03 Collection With A New Case Size

The success of a watch collection is its own conundrum. What we mean by that is, if a watch is selling particularly well, do you mess around with the collection to update it for the future, risking changing something that maybe may not sit well with the fans? Or do you leave it be, risking getting left behind by the industry’s progress? Thankfully, for Bell & Ross, this is not a hard question to answer.

Over the course of the last 15-plus years, their Bell & Ross BR 03 has grown to become one of the staples of the brand, even inspiring the design for newer collections within their watch family. However, whether or not to update such an icon is not even a deliberation for the brand because the fundamental value upon which the BR 03 was built, is functionality. Thus, if there is an opportunity to improve on an existing design, they are definitely going to do it. Hence, we introduce the classic, but newly updated BR 03.

CLASSIC, REDEFINED

When the BR 01 made its debut, it was massive. 46mm wide to be exact and this was predominantly to facilitate its function as a tool watch. For those with a bigger wrist circumference, a 46mm watch sits well on the wrist but for the smaller wrist sizes, it was entirely too large and would sometimes wear quite uncomfortably as well. To fix this, Bell & Ross then launched the much more wearable BR 03 a year after the BR 01 first made its debut. And so, in 2006, the BR 03 and its smaller 42mm case was launched.

42mm was and still remains a sweet spot for sporty watches which is why for more than 15 years, the BR 03 maintained its sizing. It is not too large that it rattles around the wrist when strapped on, and yet it is not too small and still maintains its presence on the wrist. Since its launching in 2006, countless versions of this BR 03 watch have been made. In the early days, most of it revolved around aeronautical themes but then in recent years, the BR 03 has gone from the skies to race on land through their collaboration with Renault, and subsequently the Alpine Formula 1 team, and to the depths of the ocean as the world’s first square dive watch. It has been made with steel, titanium, bronze, carbon and ceramic cases and has seen all manner of complications including the chronograph and GMT functions. Now, as the next step of the BR 03’s evolution, it gets a further update to its design going from 42mm to, drumroll please, 41mm.

On paper, a difference of 1mm in case width may not seem like such a big deal but what the specifications don’t show is the adjustment of the proportions which makes the watch even more visually striking. The case size is shrunk down, by 1mm and the lug width is reduced from 4.5mm to 4mm. Additionally, the bezel has been beefed up slightly as well and when you put all these elements together, the eye can immediately perceive the bolder look of the BR 03.

Another fantastic update to the BR 03 comes from something that can’t even be seen. The BR-Cal.302 movement that has been powering most of the modern BR 03 watches has now been modified so that instead of the classic 42-hour power reserve the watch now gets 12 more hours with a new 54-hour power reserve. What this means in practical terms is that if you take your watch off on a Friday evening for the weekend, on Monday, when you put it back on your wrist for the week, the time will still be accurate.

TALKING SHOP

Following the launch, or rather, relaunch of the collection, we got to sit down with Fabien de Nonancourt, the Managing Director of Bell & Ross to dig a little deeper into the redesigning of this core collection.

DG: With the debut of the Kenissi made movements with the BR X5, was there ever a consideration to put these movements into the BR03?

FN: Just as how in the BR 05 collection you have both the Sellita and the Kenissi made movements, we decided to first go with the latest Sellita movements for the BR 03 because it is a movement that fits the needs of the majority of our users. Maybe in the future we could have a version that comes with the Kenissi movement. Also the Kenissi movement is slightly thicker and with a square watch, the thickness plays a more significant role in terms of aesthetics.

DG: Talk to me about the copper dial version of the BR 03 in steel. It is a very unique look.

FN: Yes, with the copper dial version, we chose the particular finishing to reflect watchmaking traditions. The dial was made with an old technique whereby the numerals are engraved on the dial and after that it was filled with black Super-Luminova. As opposed to the other dials which the numerals are printed on. And also, we have the blued-hands, in this case, done with a PVD coating.

DG: The pricing has increased a little from the previous generation of BR 03 watches. So where did the extra cost come from?

FN: Inflation [laughs]. Unfortunately everything costs a little more to produce these days.

DG: With the shrinking of the BR 03’s case, will we see this happen to the dive watch and the chronograph as well?

FN: Not necessarily because the idea is to provide different sizing for our customers. Like if you notice with most brands, the chronograph is larger than the three hands. Even our BR 05 if you notice that our chronographs are slightly larger as well. So with this BR 03 re-design we are giving more choice to our consumers.

DG: This will effectively replace the old BR 03? when can customers expect to see this in stores?

FN: We have already stopped supplying the 42mm BR 03 to our retailers so it is gradually starting to disappear from the stores. You still can get the 42mm for a few more months but after that stock is gone, it will be 100 percent 41mm BR 03s.

Each of these watches will come with a rubber or calfskin strap depending on the model and is water resistant up to 100m. Prices begin at MYR 15,600 onwards.

Lord Of The Skies – Bell & Ross’ Brand New BR 03-92 Patrouille De France 70th Anniversary Edition

The watches of Bell & Ross may be Swiss Made but the heart and soul of the brand are very much entrenched in France. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that for an aviation partnership, in 2021, they chose the Patrouille de France, an elite unit of the French Air and Space Force. This year marks the 70th anniversary of this prestigious aerobatic display team that has built its reputation on the prowess of its pilots.

To celebrate this momentous milestone with Patrouille de France, Bell & Ross launched a limited edition of their BR 03-92 which offers a dial in a mesmerising shade of blue, a colour that mirrors the team’s Alpha Jet. The beautiful dial is combined with subtle elements of colour in the form of the yellow Patrouille de France insignia, a beautiful logo to indicate its 70th anniversary and the colours of the French flag represented on a ring around the dial. This vibrancy is balanced nicely with the white Arabic numerals and hand tips to ensure the utmost legibility. It is, after all, designed with the input of the pilots.

The 42mm width of the square BR 03-92 case is made of the same high-tech ceramic found on previous models and it has also been given a matte black coating to ensure the case maintains a utilitarian look. On the back side, the designers have taken special care to fit in all five aircraft that have flown since the creation of the Patrouille de France in 1953. This includes the Thunderjet which was flown during the team’s debut, the Alphajet which has been in service since 1981, and the Ouragan, Mystère IV and Fouga Magister which have helped forge their legacy. These planes, built not for their destructive capabilities but rather for agility and manoeuvrability in the skies, have very interesting silhouettes adding to the uniqueness of the caseback.

The BR 03-92 Patrouille de France 70th Anniversary is powered by the solid BR-CAL 302 movement and the entire watch is water resistant up to 100 metres. Whether you are a Francophile, aerophile or just looking for a new shade of dial colour, this new launch from Bell & Ross will appeal to at least one, if not all the mentioned demographics. And at only 999 pieces available worldwide, you can be sure that it will quickly ‘fly’ off the shelf.

MOVEMENT BR-CAL.302 automatic
CASE 42mm in micro-blasted ceramic
STRAP blue calfskin and ultra-resilient black synthetic canvas fabric
PRICE MYR 17,600

Bell&Ross Alpine F1 Team Chronographs: Raring to go

Bell&Ross revs up with the new Alpine F1 racing team with three new limited edition chronographs pithily named BR V3-94 A521, BR 03-94 A521 and BR-X1 A521. This is part of a continuation of the watchmaker’s partnership with Formula One racing since 2016; the Alpine F1 team was formerly known as the Renault F1 team. If you know a thing or two about racing, you will guess that the team colours are changing so any dedicated watch collection must follow suit. Congratulations, because there is indeed a new Bell&Ross Alpine F1 Team collection of three chronographs, each one dressed up in the team’s Alpine blue, black and white livery.

All models also feature the Alpine team’s logo as the counterweight on the central chronograph hand. All three are variants of existing models, which you can easily suss out by the names: BR V3-94 A521, BR 03-94 A521 and BR-X1 A521, with the A521 portion signifying the particular characteristics of each new limited edition chronograph. This is a reference to the Alpine racing single-seater model A521. The latter two models have featured prominently in WOW and LUXUO over the years, and these new 2021 editions will be welcome additions.

From the left: BR V3-94 A521, BR 03-94 A521, BR-X1 A521

What is notable here are the variations within variations, attendant limited status, and we will begin with the Bell&Ross BR V3-94 A521, since the base model has received comparatively little attention from us. With the round 43mm BR V3-94 A521 in steel, there are two versions and both are limited to 500 pieces. One comes with a steel bracelet while the other sports a black and blue calf leather strap that has a carbon fibre look to it. Both have folding clasps, and of course both are powered by the automatic calibre BR-CAL.301. Bell&Ross fans will recognise this movement as the same one beating within all versions of BR 03-94. Perhaps even more obvious than this is the shape of BR V3-94 A521, which remains unusual for Bell&Ross, even if it is more in-line with sports watches everywhere.

BR V3-94 A521

Moving on, the BR 03-94 A521 is the version with the date window at 6 o’clock, and it shares the French flag on the dial, just as BR V3-94 A521 does. This is a nod to the Alpine team’s heritage but works just as well for Bell&Ross itself. This version is limited to 500 pieces. The flag touch is absent from the BR-X1 A521, which is just as well considering everything else competing for the eye here. This is of course the top of the line model in this set of three chronographs; it is limited to 50 pieces.

BR 03-94 A521

BR-X1 A521

Finally, depending on when you are reading this and where you are, the watches are all beginning with a pre-order run, with delivery for the BR V3-94 A521 and BR 03-94 A521 starting in July, and BR-X1 A521 in September.

By Ashok Soman

 

Bell & Ross breaks the mold with BR 03-92 Red Radar Ceramic

Remember the state-of-the-art Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Red Radar from 2011? You most probably would recall if you’re an aficionado of ultramodern, aviation-themed timepieces with an attention-grabbing pop of colour. Designed almost identical to an aircraft radar screen, the watch shows time through a peculiar disc display system.

This year, Bell & Ross unveils BR 03-92 Red Radar Ceramic that is striking and spectacular in equal measure. Revisiting the pioneering display of its predecessor with a more playful appearance, the time is shown through a carefully-considered system of two rotating discs, with a passenger plane motif on the large outermost disc showing the hours and a fighter plane motif on the smaller disc showing the minutes. They are accompanied with an analogue seconds hand.

In essence, there are two levels on the display: the discs with the planes at the lower level and the hours scale printed on the inside of the bright red sapphire crystal. The fun design is reminiscent of a stylised toy, which gives the impression of two miniature planes gliding over the dial. Each component is masterfully assembled and fine-tuned by Bell & Ross in-house experts to ensure the precision of the watch movement will not be affected by friction.

Continuing its journey of superior innovation and performance, the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Red Radar Ceramic takes on the BR 03 42mm ceramic case, a high-tech material that is scratch-resistant in addition to a soft touch effect. Limited to 999 pieces, this is the third member of the Bell & Ross highly successful Radar family.

Click here to pre-order your Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Red Radar Ceramic now.

 

Paint the town red with the imaginative Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Red Bronze

The latest addition to Bell & Ross’ line up is probably their most visually striking yet. Not only does it feature the famously square case of their Instruments collection, but it also has a bold combination of red and bronze that is sure to turn heads. Engineered to the exacting standards of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, ISO 6425, the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Red Bronze is certified with 300 metres of water resistance for those looking to conquer the depths. While most luxury watches are known for their elegant round curves, Bell & Ross embraces its trademark, unabashedly tool-ish, square aesthetics, making it a fantastic companion for the intrepid gentleman as he explores land and sea.

readyviewed Bell & Ross made their mark on the world of horology with their introduction of the innovatively designed BR 01 in 2005 . The watch’s square case was inspired by the dashboard instruments used in antique military aeroplanes, readyviewed and led to the creation of the Instruments collection , arguably the most iconic series of watches in Bell & Ross’ catalogue. The Diver Bronze collection took the celebrated case and spruced it up, choosing to use a CuSn8 Bronze alloy in its construction rather than traditional steel. The eye-catching bronze alloy paid tribute to the divers of old as it was used to construct the first deep-sea dive helmets. This specific mix of 92% copper and 8% tin also has the added benefit of being able to develop a unique patina over time as it is exposed to time and the elements. The screw-down crown helps ensure the 300-metre water-resistance with an impact-resistant guard, while the rubber insert allows it to be handled easily when wearing gloves.

Complementing the bronze case are the red dial and bezel which gives the BR 03-92 Diver Red Bronze its name. The red colouration is the latest in this series, following the black (2018), green (2019), and blue (2020) editions. The unidirectional rotating bezel is made of the same bronze alloy as the case and is set with red anodised aluminium ring, complete with a 60-minute scale and lumed marker at 12 o’clock. The red-lacquered dial is adorned with large, gilded, applied hour markers and hands, fitted with Super-LumiNova® inserts for superior legibility under all conditions. The unassuming date window, located between four and five o’clock is a nice touch, staying out of the way until needed, without disrupting the circle of lumed hour markers.

Rounding off the casing is a thick sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating and a stainless-steel case back engraved with an antique deep-sea diver’s helmet. The more chemically inert stainless-steel was chosen due to concerns over hypodermic allergic reactions.

Within the watch’s outer case of bronze and steel, sits an inner cage, fashioned from soft iron. From within this iron cage, Bell & Ross’ automatic BR-Cal.302 movement powers the BR 03-92 Diver Red Bronze. Based on Sellita’s dependable Sw 300, the BR-Cal.302 has a power reserve of 38 hours and is protected from impacts and magnetic fields by the aforementioned iron cage.

The Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Red Bronze comes stock with a comfortably sophisticated reddish-brown calf leather strap, which beautifully complements the bronze case and burgundy dial. The stock strap will serve users well in all kinds of situation, being easy to pair with different outfits. However, if one desires to put the diving capabilities of the watch to the test, Bell & Ross includes a woven rubber strap as well.

This stunning addition to Bell & Ross’ line of bronze dive watches was made in limited quantities with only 500 pieces available in Singapore, each retailing at S$6,300 on their online boutique. To purchase or find out more about this novel take on Bell & Ross’ iconic square-cased watches, head over to their website.

By Abram Yum

 

Bell & Ross BR01 Cyber Skull extends the watchmaking into the World of Art

Human civilisation has a mixed relationship with the visual motif that is the skull. While the most common symbolic use of the skull is as a representation of death, mortality and the unachievable nature of immortality, Vikings of the first millennium to the paratroopers of the Second World War, including the pirates of the 17th and 18th centuries have used representations of the skull as a prominent warlike symbol.

Suffice it to say, Death’s heads are found throughout art history as well.To those without finely tuned aesthetic judgment, Stephen Gregory’s jewel-decorated human skulls look like they’ve inspired Damien Hirst’s diamond-encrusted skull For the Love of God, but Gregory tells Guardian UK, “My skulls and his are very different objects.” What Damien has done to skulls, casting it in platinum and encrusting it with diamonds, Bell & Ross has done to watchmaking with the potency of humanity’s most recognisable emblem.

When Art and Watchmaking Combine, What results is the New Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull

Skull imagery is popular across many cultures. Lucas Van Leyden’s St Jerome muses over a skull in his study in 1521, referencing Albrecht Durer’s St Jerome of 1514. Even before Hirst, Pablo did a classic Picasso on his 1946 Black Jug and Skull. In the watch world, Bell & Ross broke the mould in 2019 with the launch of its BR 01 SKULL, which dared to shake up traditional watchmaking codes. Recalling warrior archetypes from the Vikings of the first millennium to the paratroopers from the 82nd and 101st American Airborne Division of the Second World War, Bell & Ross a maker of military aviation inspired instruments, elected to pay tribute to these outstandingly martial men who have born the skull sparking a wider trend across the watchmaking industry.

 

Naturally, Bell & Ross has developed other variants of its famed Skull. While the skull is a literal personification of death (and in the case of the paratroopers, “Death from above”), the skull has other poetic and philosophical implications. It symbolises the fragility and brevity of life, particularly in works of art. Venetian painters of the 16th century elaborated moral allegories for their patrons, and memento mori was a common theme: translated “remember you must die” is a constant reminder of one’s own mortality despite the immense scientific advances made during the age of the Enlightenment, recalling the gruesome depictions in ancient paintings or in curiosity cabinets owned by humanists during that Age.

Día de los Muertos or the Mexican Day of the Dead is associated with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, held in November, mocking death by wearing the famous calaveras, artistic representations of skulls, typically rendered in bright colours in opposition to the usual association of black or charcoal funereal hues. This irony is similarly expressed by the BR 01 Cyber Skull in revealing a mischievous smile when its mouth is opened. It has a timelessness displayed in its faceted relief, conveying an ancient symbol in an ultra-contemporary style.

Reminiscent of José Guadalupe Posada’s satirical work with the laughing skull, the Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull revisits its famed motif with a design far from the vintage style that is usually associated with the Skull. When last we saw a skull watch, they were either matched with primal tattoos or carved in the style of the Jolly Roger, this time, the BR 01 Cyber Skull establishes itself in contemporary modernity. A watch with several faces (and facets), angular like an F117 Stealth Bomber which projects this watch artpiece firmly in the 20th century and the future.

The Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull is where watchmaking, design, symbolism and bold creativity meet. With its cut sides and sharp edges, the angular silhouette of the BR 01 Cyber Skull ably conveys Bell & Ross heritage for military aviation inspired timepieces. Modelled like the fuselage on an F117 fighter plane, the facets are meant to deflect radar waves rendering the stealth bomber invisible. While this concept is applicable to military jets and sophisticated military ships, in order to conceal their visual identity as much as possible, this technique renders the Cyber Skull watch highly noticeable instead.

Additionally, Bell & Ross has chosen to adorn its Cyber Skull with black matte ceramic. This anti-reflective colour is also used on some military vehicles. Its glazed superstructure is reminiscent of the canopy on a jet. More than just a colour, the new black matte used on the watch gets its depth from a ceramic used to match its design. Its lines, structured like those of a fighter plane, pass under the radar and establish a new design language which bellows in loud contrast to the over-done trends for luxury sports watches and classic watchmaking shapes that favour curves and roundness.

The architecture of the new BR 01 Cyber Skull establishes the brand’s creativity whilst respecting its military and aviation roots. Each element of the watch, the case middle, bezel, crown, skull, crossbones, is structured within the many faces that sculpt the surfaces, creating remarkable depth; metaphorically escaping the radar but attracting attention.

The BR 01 Cyber Skull is Whatever You Perceive it to be

In the same way an artist creates a subjective experience through works that are interpreted in their own way by each person that views them, the new BR 01 Cyber Skull reveals itself fully through the experience of those who wear it. Quite simply, it is akin to Hirst and Gregory’s own creations, treading similar yet divergent paths. Hirst puts eyes in his – so the skulls look back; you interact with them. Damien’s possess the ultraluxe flair of diamonds that one doesn’t quite get one’s eyes to really focus on its countenance.

The new Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull too reveals a fascinating approach to perceived reality: depending on how you look and which facet you start from – the objet d’art appears either futuristic origami thanks to its angular style evocative of an ancestral art of folding, or a pensive if puzzled face (given the raised “eyebrows”), or an awkward Iron Man (the mouth agape), or a genteel Jolly Roger, given the gentleness and subtlety of the crossbones which serve as bridges for the calibre.

A work of traditional watchmaking and yet possessing a visage of modernity, there is no doubt that the faceting of lines is a nod to the digital arts. When a digital image is still, you can see the pixels that it is made up of, a result of the grained, textured surface of the skull and crossbones which dominate your attention so completely.

As an innovative work of its time, the BR 01 Cyber Skull raises questions by capturing people’s eyes with a work of sublime animation: Trapped between two pieces of sapphire crystal, the screwed-down skull and crossbones possesses a jaw which seems to levitate, an automaton powered by the concealed BR-CAL 206 hand-wound movement, ingeniously disguised under the faceted decoration. To make it invisible to the eye, the main plate closely follows the shape of the skull, while the bridges extend up to the four corners of the case, hidden by the tibias. An architecture like this makes the skull appear to float weightlessly inside the case. An impression which is enhanced by the total transparency of the dial, highlighted solely by 12 baton-shaped indices. Only when the watch is turned over is the key to the mystery revealed through the sapphire crystal case-back. This phenomenon is further amplified by the middle of the faceted case with no lugs, also made from black matte ceramic.

The jaws continue to “snigger” when the spring is wound, one of two signs of “life”, the other being the balance spring obviously beating within the brain of the skull – as if to say, the consciousness of man resides in the head rather than the beating organ which keeps our life force flowing at the center of our chests.

The luxury sports watch aesthetics come courtesy of its natural purity of design: lugs carefully integrated into the mid case with the housing for the rubber strap cut out of the volume of the case, measuring 45 mm x 46.5 mm. Its luxurious swagger is further enhanced by the choice of ceramic in creating this post-modern Skull watch. A high-tech material that is solid yet lightweight, the ceramic acquires its legendary hardness, density and resistance in the appearance of black matte, a colour that cannot be achieved with traditional watchmaking materials. The facets of the new Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull are consequently achieved using diamond powder to cut the angular surfaces in the same way jewellers cut a precious stone – no mean feat.

Avant-garde and sculpted, the Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull reinvents the popular skull watch it pioneered. In this latest opus, Parisian aesthetic sensibilities and Swiss watchmaking prowess move art and watch lovers alike; an ultra-modern watch which invites one to ask the question: is there new life in a (watch) world that has constantly re-tread old ground? The new Cyber Skull appears to say a resounding, “Yes!”

BR 01 Cyber Skull Price & Specs

Movement Manual winding calibre BR-CAL.208, developed with Concepto, with 50 hours power reserve
Case 46mm matte black ceramic with 50 metres water resistance
Strap Rubber
Price EUR 9,900

 

5-star Langkawi trip with Bell & Ross

Day 1

If I was allowed to use one word to describe my trip, it would be overwhelming. Last month, Bell & Ross flew me to Langkawi to preview their latest collection from Baselworld and I was inundated by the luxury I had during the trip.

The clock’s hands pointed at ten and eight as my flight touched down at Langkawi International Airport. It was sunny when I stepped out of my flight. I had a feeling the trip gonna be good and I was not wrong.

After less than half an hour journey, we finally reached our accommodation – Four Seasons Resort Langkawi. Unfortunately, the rain started to lash down. The hotel staff was caring enough to shield us with umbrella and drove us into the resort with a buggy.

Inside, it was truly an oasis decorated with a backdrop of Insta-worthy beach view and dotted with villas. I was ushered to the arrival hall. The friendliness of the staffs, the tasty welcome drink and the idyllic setting instantly put me on cloud nine. Then, we adjourned to the Serai restaurant, a restaurant serving buffet meals to have lunch and headed back to my room afterwards.

I was given a room with a partial sea-view. The room was an epitome of opulence, which comprised a spacious room boasting a king size bed; an expansive dressing room consisting dressing area, double vanity, a toilet and an indoor bathroom; an outdoor terrazzo bathtub; and a personal patio with a partial beach view.

Partial sea-view ground floor pavilion

 

Bedroom

After a restful nap, I donned a resort outfit and got ready for the highlight of the day – Discover the evolution of Dive Instruments and the retrospective of Bell & Ross’ Dive Watches.

Hosted at Rhu Bar of Four Seasons Resort, booths were set up to showcase Bell & Ross’ Baselworld collection – BR03-92 Diver Blue and limited edition BR03-92 Diver Bronze.

BR03-92 Diver Blue and BR03-92 Diver Bronze were the extended versions of BR03-92 Diver Black introduced back in 2017. Continued to cherish its glory of being the first brand to introduce square diving watch, Bell & Ross rolled out the two horological marvels in a row during Baselworld 2018.

Bell & Ross BR03-92 Diver showcase

BR03-92 Diver Blue

The trailblazing square diving watch BR03-92 Diver is a professional diving instrument that meets ISO 6425 standard, thanks to its capability of diving underwater up to 300 metres of depth. Aside from its impressive water resistance, it is also imbued with a calibre BR-CAL. 302. automatic mechanical heart, enclosed in a 42mm case. It also boasts White SuperLuminova® on its hour hand, minute hands and indices granting its legibility even underwater and under dark condition, defining a true diving watch.

That night was topped off with gourmet meals served exclusively by the Four Seasons’ chefs.

Day 2

After an English breakfast buffet at Serai restaurant, it was time for an exhilarating adventure at Kilim Geoforest Park. It was a two and a half hour tour which I visited mangrove swamp; abandoned charcoal mill where a troop of monkeys lived; Karst Hills where a flock of red eagles and sea eagles were seen hovering around; and bat cave.

In the afternoon, we popped in Kelapa Grill restaurant – an eatery surrounded by the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea – to sate our hunger for the afternoon. After we were done, Bell & Ross announced they were going to give a surprise in the evening.

Kilim Geoforest Park

Kilim Geoforest Park

Around 6 p.m., Bell & Ross drove us to the secret place in the rain. After half an hour journey, we rolled up at our destination – Ritz-Carlton Langkawi. There were plenty of buggies were already waiting there. We got on the buggy straight away and headed inside the resort. Then, we took a stroll along a hidden alley to get to the secret place.

Surprise unveiled: it was The Horizon, a lounge which perched above a rock with a picture-perfect sunset view. What’s more, there were models looking stunning with swimsuits and BR03-92 Diver watches welcomed us at the infinity pool.

After showering the models with the flashlight, I sat down and had plenty of delicacies such as satay, pad thai and mango sticky rice. As the day faded away, DJ amped up the party with upbeat music and I relished the moment drinking luscious champagne by the infinity pool. All these magnificent moments were preciously stored in my brain.

A detailed look at the Bell & Ross BR01 Laughing Skull

When we talk about Bell & Ross, one of the staples we are most fond of is the iconic Skull series and this 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the legendary timepiece.

First launched in 2009, we have seen many variations of the Skull silhouette, one that extends beyond the BR01 aviation aesthetics, like the BR01 Burning Skull and the BR01 Tourbillon Skull.

And to celebrate its 10th birthday, Bell & Ross unveils yet another iconic masterpiece – the BR01 Laughing Skull –, which is also the watchmaker’s first venture into the field of automata.

Unlike all its predecessors, the new BR01 Laughing Skull brings a new surprise to your wrist, one where the mandible moves and have the skull grinning back at you with mischief.

Powered by the Br-CAL.206 calibre, which is also entirely produced by Bell & Ross, the skull’s mandible gets animated during its winding process and features 4 bridges that secure the main plate to the casing to create a floating effect at the centre.

And all these are made possible with Bell & Ross’s savoir-faire in applying the same technology used in 14th-century mechanical clocks to create the laughing mechanism of the skull.

For the BR01 Laughing Skull, the piece de resistance of the timepiece is the intricate dial design, which is created using metal appliqué and embossed beautifully. And adding to that is the revised sword-shaped hands, a staple within the Skull series, that are now skeletonised and coated in SuperLuminova.

And to finish it off, Bell & Ross cases this masterpiece in microblasted steel and decorating it with “Clous de Paris” finishing, a type of guilloché pattern that is made possible only with a special machinery.

 

Limited to only 500 pieces worldwide, the Bell & Ross BR01 Laughing Skull is one made with connoisseurs who desire unique and original timepieces in mind.

And with the new techniques and concepts applied to the Laughing Skull, the timepiece makes the perfect celebratory creation to further showcase Bell & Ross’s pioneering stand in the world of Haute Horlogerie.

 

 

The Bell & Ross BR01 Laughing Skull timepiece is limited to 500 pieces worldwide and is now retailing at RM43,400.

For more information, please visit your nearest Bell & Ross boutique or www.bellross.com.

Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver: A square diving watch for the stylish ocean explorer

As one of the few watchmakers in the business of regularly pushing out form or shaped watches, Bell & Ross occupies a specific niche. However, even with such an iconic shape, which you can see here, the firm’s first proper diving watch in 1997 was round. This is simply because one needs a unidirectional rotating bezel, among other things, for a true diving watch. There are many other famous names with famous shapes in watchmaking conforming to the pressure of the tool watch requirements in their own offerings, though we won’t name them to avoid making unfair comparisons.

For Bell & Ross though, it seems conformity was merely a passing phase because the BR 03-92 sports the “circle within a square” shape that defines Bell & Ross today, and yet it manages to meet the stringent requirements of ISO 6425 to qualify as a diving watch. Yes, naming conventions are fuzzy in watchmaking but only watches built to specifications of ISO 6425 can be called diving watches.

Given that BR 03-92 is a diving watch, let us look at the specifications here: it is water-resistant to 300 metres, and stands up to shocks, magnetism, salt water, temperature extremes and other professional requirements. Impressively, the watch is properly certified so you don’t just have to take the brand at its word. In the interest of reliability and performance, Bell & Ross is going with its standard automatic calibre BR-CAL.302, based on the reliable Selita SW300; the movement is protected here by a soft iron inner case, which is what makes it anti-magnetic.

The water-resistance here is the piece de resistance for Bell & Ross as the best it has managed with the square case is 100 metres; the BR 03-92 has three times that resistance. Looking at the case as we did at BaselWorld, this one is significantly thicker than the BR 03-92 Steel and such. Bell & Ross says this increased heft comes from a very thick steel caseback (2.8mm) and sapphire crystal (2.85mm). This compares with a caseback of 1.8mm and sapphire crystal of 1.5mm in the regular BR 03-92 Steel. Of course, that sapphire crystal has an anti-reflective coating to protect against glare and keep the dial visible. Speaking of which, the dial and its markers are certified to be visible in the dark from 25cm, with the hour, minutes and seconds all bearing different coloured Super-Luminova coatings.

All in all, the aesthetics and performance of the watch combined make it worth serious consideration. If nothing else, the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 is exciting because it is a truly unusual timekeeper, because of its shape. If you are a diving watch enthusiast or if you are a diver, professional or otherwise, this watch will make you stand out from the pack, even at a distance. That sort of cachet is nigh impossible to achieve and we salute Bell & Ross for its courage.

  • Movement Self-winding calibre BR-CAL.302 with date; 38-hour power reserve
  • Case 42mm in steel, with unidirectional rotating bezel in steel as well as anodized alunimium insert; water resistant to 300m
  • Strap Woven black rubber and ultra resilient black synthetic fabric