Latest news with #Bell&Ross
Tatler Asia
4 days ago
- Business
- Tatler Asia
Co-founder of Bell & Ross Carlos Rosillo on the brand reaching the 20-year milestone with its iconic luxury square watch
Photo 1 of 3 Bell & Ross BR-03 Skeleton Black Ceramic Photo 2 of 3 Bell & Ross BR-03 Skeleton Grey Steel Photo 3 of 3 Bell & Ross BR-03 Skeleton Lum Ceramic The BR-03 Skeleton Black Ceramic comes in a full ceramic case with baignoire-style indexes and numerals, as well as skeletonised hands. These indicators are coated in Super-Luminova that glows a surreal green in low-light conditions. The BR-03 Skeleton Grey Steel features polished and satin-finished surfaces with faceted indexes for a striking Brutalist-inspired sculptural look. Described as the more luxurious version of the skeleton series, it is limited to 250 pieces. If the Grey Steel is luxury, the BR-03 Skeleton Lum Ceramic is sci-fi sleek, also limited to 250 pieces. The black ceramic is paired with a black dial highlighted with neon-like luminescent SLN C3 and placed on a translucent smoked plate for a tinted effect. The green outline illuminates the outline of the cutouts, evoking the appearance of a glowing car grille. Read more: Why the new Tissot PRC 100 Solar deserves your attention Above After 20 years, Carlos Rosillo is still surprised that the Bell & Ross 'circle within a square' case shape has become so iconic We caught up with Carlos Rosillo, co-founder and CEO of Bell & Ross, on arriving at this significant milestone. Congratulations on 20 years. Did you imagine the brand would grow to this point when you started? The last 20 years for Bell & Ross have been bold in terms of creation, taking risks and innovating. I didn't expect the square watch would become so popular. It was a watch from the cockpit (instrument)—a watch that made a statement. And today, it is an icon. Take us back to the beginning. How insane was it to launch a luxury sport watch in a square shape? It was absolutely insane! But I asked, how could we differentiate ourselves in the competitive market? What would make us different? We were—and still are—influenced by the airplane, by its cockpit. So Bruno (Belamich, co-founder and creative director) took up the challenge to design a watch that corresponded to the cockpit instrument. It was simple, straightforward, no superfluous details. And since then, he was able to regenerate, innovate and come up with something that always surprises every year. Just look at the new BR-03 Astro—timekeeping is indicated with the help of a satellite. It's weird but you could tell it's a Bell & Ross by its case shape. Above The BR-03 Astro features an astronomical display of the Earth, Sun, and Moon on the dial How does Bell & Ross keep this spirit of boldness? Bold, to us, is the ability to be creative without fear. It's having the capacity to be different and defy expectations. I'd go as far as to say that the Bell & Ross square shape is a classic. Why do you think it has endured? Probably because it's a very simple design. It's a combination of two strong shapes—the square and the circle. Do you often have conversations with Bruno about design? Bruno is a talented designer—he knows how to be consistent but also always be surprising. We have a product meeting every week where we discuss how to innovate by combining different aspects such as design, engineering, manufacturing, and professional use. What is your favourite moment from the last 20 years? It's a difficult question to answer because I've had many important moments. I remember the first reaction [to our square watch] from a Japanese collector who told us we had made a big creative jump. There have been many more memorable moments after that, but I will never ever forget that first reaction because it was a big surprise.
Vogue Singapore
19-06-2025
- Business
- Vogue Singapore
Vogue's Watches Report: The new daily timepiece is here
Courtesy of Cartier A ladies' timepiece used to be a bit of an afterthought for many watchmakers. Going by the releases and design trends this year at Watches and Wonders, the world's biggest horological showcase, that is surely no longer. Pursuits of beauty, poetry and (surprise!) usefulness are making the ladies' category perhaps the most exciting it's ever been. In this series of Vogue Watch Reports, we curate 2025's most noteworthy releases from Geneva. Here, a look at a new generation of luxury daily watches. A luxury timepiece is an investment, to be sure, and one evergreen category is the everyday watch. Something that is well-made, beautifully designed and stylistically versatile to carry you through most occasions. Sophisticated and understated to take you from workdays to the evening, or even weekends and special occasions. Thanks to the trend for smaller case sizes, brands like Bell & Ross are following suit. This year, it introduces the smallest watch in its contemporary catalogue: the 36mm BR-05 Auto, pictured here with a grey dial. Courtesy of Bell & Ross A new generation of 'dailies' emerged this year, thanks in part to the growing trend of smaller case sizes. What's interesting is that these watches, even as they have been rescaled to slighter proportions, are being imagined for wrists of any gender. It's the rare sweet spot of a nearly-universally flattering case size. Somewhere between 32 to 36mm, and which fits most wearers. In design, there's also a shift from delineating daintiness for women. That sort of outmoded thinking has gone out the window. Watchmakers are recognising that the (very large) market of women are just as like to be in pursuit of an investment timepiece that doesn't infantilise their tastes. (Read: make it small, put a battery in it, and placate with some diamonds.) Good! It's driving the design brief of a modern luxury daily watch in a challenging but ultimately rewarding direction. A bit of reassuring heft and substantiality, coupled with essential elegance and style. Courtesy of Cartier 1 / 6 A classic, rejigged The appeal of a classic is a proven, enduring design. Which is why the matter of even a few millimetres in difference can be exciting: it opens up plenty more wearable possibilities. Cartier, for instance, has debuted a new small size for its contemporary Santos de Cartier that recalls some of the most desirable vintage models. Santos de Cartier small model in stainless steel, $8,750 Courtesy of A. Lange & Söhne 2 / 6 As for A. Lange & Söhne, its new 34mm 1815 models offer a traditional, understated look that is impeccably elegant. It's one of the German watchmaker's most discreet, yet tremendously chic designs: a classical three-hand watch that gets all of its details just right. It's powered by a hand-wound manufacture movement, newly developed for the watch and the brand's 75th since it was re-established in modern form. And despite its small case size, this new movement promises a 72-hour power reserve. A. Lange & Söhne 1815 34mm in white gold, price upon request Courtesy of Patek Philippe 3 / 6 A nifty square A square, geometric watch face is unique in a sea of circular models and easy enough to wear on the daily. The Cubitus, Patek Philippe's newest collection, welcomes a new 40mm model this year in options of white or rose gold that shrinks its casual chic look just a smidge to fit nearly every wrist. It's an investment to be sure, but the Cubitus is finding its place as one of the revered watchmaker's most brisk, energetic designs in its contemporary catalogue. Patek Philippe Cubitus ref. 7128/1G-001 40mm in white gold, $110,900 Courtesy of Bell & Ross 4 / 6 At Bell & Ross, meanwhile, its signature circle-in-a-square design inspired by aeronautical equipment gets monumentally downsized to an elegant 36mm in the new BR-05. Bell & Ross BR-05 36mm in stainless steel with an ice blue dial, $6,000 Courtesy of Montblanc 5 / 6 A sporty look When it comes to a sports watch, there are generally two aesthetic camps. The first is a tool watch, inspired by divers, chronographs and such. Look to Montblanc's Iced Sea Automatic Date 0 Oxygen, now available at 38mm with frosty gratté-boisé dials crafted with an ancestral technique. Worn on a rubber strap, its all-white look is sporty yet chic; or swap it out for a steel bracelet for a touch of metallic contrast. This year, Montblanc is also rolling out its 0 Oxygen update across its watches. Essentially, oxygen is removed entirely from the insides of the case. This is meant to reduce oxidative wear, so the brand's watches last longer between services—a thoughtful feature available on new models introduced this year, and which can also be applied to prior models as an upgrade. Montblanc Iced Sea Automatic Date 0 Oxygen 38mm in stainless steel, from $4,900 on a rubber strap Courtesy of IWC 6 / 6 The other look of a sports watch is a sturdy, luxury design with an integrated bracelet. This is the archetype minted in the 1970s, and which has endured for over five decades. The reason for its staying power is simple: steel lasts a long time with minimal babying, and a subtly sporty look is congruent with the more casual dress codes of today. IWC has taken the temperature of the times, and scaled its Ingenieur Automatic to a nifty new 35mm size. It's part of the Schaffhausen manufacture's refresh of the collection, and this new case size comes in options of full steel with a silver or black dial, or 5N gold with a matching golden dial. IWC Ingenieur Automatic in stainless steel, $10,500 Vogue Singapore's June 2025 'Gold' issue is available on newsstands and online.
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Best Men And Women's Skeleton Watches At 2025 Watches And Wonders
The Bell & Ross BR-03 Skeleton Lum Ceramic The skeletonization of a watch is a specialized technique requiring hours of chiseling and metal trimming by a skilled watchmaker to remove non-essential components of the movement. What remains is the 'skeleton' of the movement, such as the intricate gears, bridges and other essential parts. The same person often adds decorative engravings or other embellishments. To view this detailed work of artisan craft, the dial is either significantly reduced or entirely removed. French watch and clock maker, Andre-Charles Caron, who was the resident clockmaker to King Louis XV, is credited with crafting the first skeleton watch in 1760. As already mentioned, skeletonization process is traditionally handcrafted. However, with advancements in computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM) this technique can be replicated to produce skeletonized designs that would have been impossible to create by hand. Even in the modern era of watchmaking, it is the unique pieces crafted by hand that are most valued by collectors. The best examples are often presented by the most prestigious brands and independent watchmakers. They are prized not only for for their artisan skill but the artistic representation of the movement. A skeletonized watch can be a thing of beauty. The recently concluded Watches and Wonders horology fair saw many examples of skeletonized timepieces this year for men and women. Below are some of the best. Armin Strom One Week Titanium Skeleton FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder What was already an openworked timepiece is now fully skeletonized to reveal all the mechanics. The small seconds dial is skeletonized, revealing the power reserve level and the escapement wheel. The mainplate and the barrels are also skeletonized. Because of this full skeletonization, the seven-day power reserve indicator is highlighted as well as the cone mechanism, 'reminiscent of ancient pocket watches,' the brand said. A sapphire caseback provides a view of the entire Armin Strom Manufacture caliber ARM21-S, a manual-wound movement with a seven-day power reserve. The movement is housed in a 41mm case made of lightweight grade 5 titanium. The watch is limited to 100 pieces. Bell & Ross BR-03 Skeleton Grey Steel Bell & Ross, the brand that specializes in square aviation watches, introduced the BR-03 Skeleton at Watches & Wonders. To reinforce the skeletonized concept, Bell & Ross redesigned the entire watch around a specific X-shaped structure and enhanced the luminescence. The watch is powered by the new BR-CAL.328 caliber, an automatic three-hand movement without a date, with a 54-hour power reserve. The upper bridges form an X with four double arms, each connecting to one of the four bezel screws. The movement is designed by and produced for Bell & Ross. There are three distinct references of this new timepiece. They are: The BR-03 Skeleton Black Ceramic, which has a 41mm black ceramic case constructed from smoked sapphire crystal. The dial has applied black 'baignoire style' indexes filled with green-emitting white Super-LumiNova (SLN). The hour and minute hands are skeletonized and filled with green emitting white SLN, while the seconds hand is black with a white tip. The BR-03 Skeleton Grey Steel with a 41mm satin-polished gray steel case. Everything on the watch is designed to reflect light, including the faceted indexes and the faceted ruthenium treated cut patterns on the open-worked dial. This model is limited to 250 pieces. The BR-03 Skeleton Lum Ceramic that features green luminescence on the edges of the openworked black dial. A green Super-LumiNova outline traces the cutouts of the dial, which is housed in a 41mm black ceramic case. This model is limited to 250 pieces. Chanel J12 Bleu X-Ray Chanel made waves at Watches and Wonders by introducing an entire line of its well-known J12 watch collection in a distinctive blue ceramic. One of the pieces from the collection was further distinguished for a couple of reasons. The J12 Bleu X-Ray features the skeletonized Caliber 3.1 Swiss-made manual winding movement with a 55-hour power reserve. The luxury brand chose colorless sapphire for the plate and the two bridges, which gives the appearance of floating gears. This impression is further enhanced by a bridge in a colorless sapphire, adorned with 12 baguette-cut bright blue natural sapphire indicators. The skeletonized movement is really the secondary innovation of this watch. The first is that the case and bracelet are crafted from a block of blue tinted sapphire that took 1,600 hours of work to create, Chanel said. The links and bezel are made of white gold and set with 196 blue baguette-cut natural sapphires with the edges framed by black trim that creates a contrast with this endless sea of blue. The watch is numbered and limited to 12 pieces. Charriol Navigator Caliber Skeleton 41mm Charriol's Navigator Caliber Skeleton 41mm is an extension of the 36mm version launched last year. Coralie Charriol, CEO and creative director of the brand founded by her father, Philippe Charriol, originally designed this for women when she introduced it in 2024. She says there is demand from men and women for a larger version of the timepiece. Coralie worked with Swiss caliber manufacturer, Soprod, to produce the 'Charriol Skeleton Caliber 41' automatic movement, created from the SOPROD M100 movement 11 ½. It details the hours, minutes, a sweeping seconds hand, and has personalized bridges and oscillating weight, and a 42-hour power reserve. The dial features two brushed steel inner rings with a minute track with 12 super LumiNova index points and 12 faceted indexes in polished steel with a dark blue finish. The dial and movement are housed in a 41mm steel case with a bezel engraved with a double Charriol lettering and decorated with 2 screws. It's limited to 41 pieces. IWC Big Pilot's Watch Shock Absorber Tourbillon Skeleton XPL This watch marks the first time that IWC used its patented 'SPRIN-g PROTECT' shock absorber system to protect the tourbillon in the watch against shocks. The cantilever spring was redesigned and adapted to accommodate the IWC in-house 82915 caliber with a flying minute tourbillon. To reduce the mass of the movement and maximize the system's performance, the plates, bridges and the rotor are skeletonized, which provides a better view of the mechanics and the bulk metallic glass (BMG) shock absorber spring inside. It's housed in IWC-proprietary Ceratanium case and crown. It is fitted with a black patterned rubber strap. Norqain Wild One Skeleton 39mm Mint Norqain, launched in 2018, produces watches primarily for younger watch enthusiasts with active lifestyles. The watch brand is known for its skeleton watches. Among the new releases at Watches and Wonders 2025, are four Wild One timepieces, each with a unique and vibrant color and a smaller 39mm case size that can be worn by men and women. The color scheme for each watch is on the rubber shock absorbers, the crown guards, the inner bezel ring, and on the Super-LumiNova on the hands and hour markers. The rubber straps are in the same color as the rest of the watch. The colors are Hyper Pink, Mint, Ice Blue and Sky Blue. Sapphire crystal on the front and caseback provides a full view of the skeletonized caliber N086 automatic, skeletonized, COSC-certified chronometer movement. Parmigiani Tonda PF Skeleton Slate Green Like all Parmigiani watches, this skeletonized timepiece is an elegant and refined thing of beauty. The green color is inspired by the architectural palette of Swiss-French architect and designer, Le Corbusier. The PF 777 automatic caliber has a total of 187 components, presented in a fine latticework with beveled finishes, and an openworked barrel, where the mainspring can be seen. The white gold oscillating weight bears the Parmigiani logo under a sapphire crystal disc on the caseback. The skeletonized movement is housed in a 40mm platinum case with a knurled bezel. Its thickness is 8.5mm. The watch is limited to 50 pieces. The Ulysse Nardin Diver [AIR] It's impossible not to include the Ulysse Nardin Diver [AIR] among the best skeleton watches released at Watches and Wonders even though I recently wrote about it in a story prior to the fair. The extreme skeletonization of the new UN-374 caliber was one of the techniques used to create the world's lightest dive watch. The movement is made of lightweight and high strength titanium, and uses a triangle design structure that provides the integrity to withstand 200 meters of water resistance and an impact of 5,000 grams.
Web Release
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
BELL & ROSS I WATCHES & WONDERS NOVELTIES - BR-03 Skeleton
Web Release Selection Lifestyle By Editor_wr Last updated Apr 4, 2025 BR-03 Skeleton: A Watchmaking Trilogy After 20 years of creativity around the BR-03 collection, Bell & Ross adds a level of sophistication to its icon with the BR-03 Skeleton. This launch is accompanied by the '20 YEARS BOLD' campaign, which chronicles the history of this iconic square watch. A concept watch with a powerful design and subtle details, the new BR-03 Skeleton is available in three complementary versions, showcasing Bell & Ross' expertise in skeletonization and luminescence. Whether in Black Ceramic, Lum Ceramic, or Grey Steel, the BR-03 Skeleton houses a newly developed movement specifically designed by Bell & Ross and produced for Bell & Ross. A Modern Interpretation of Skeletonization For many watch enthusiasts, skeletonization should be considered a complication in its own right. This finishing technique involves hollowing out and cutting components to reveal their intricate mechanics. These delicate operations require precise craftsmanship, as this 'stripping down' must not compromise the intrinsic technical qualities of the movement. This is why a skeletonized piece is always extraordinary. The three new BR-03 Skeleton models are powered by the same skeleton movement, designed and exclusively manufactured for Bell & Ross. 'By skeletonizing our BR-03, one of the pillars of our collections, we have brought an additional watchmaking dimension to an everyday timepiece. We have reworked the bridges and upper plates of the movement to bring maximum sophistication to the BR-03. To reinforce this concept, we redesigned the entire watch around a specific X-shaped structure, a symbol of sophistication and avant-garde. By enhancing luminescence, we aimed to add an extra level of horological sophistication. By simultaneously offering three versions with very different approaches, we allow this watch to reinvent itself, embracing three original and innovative designs,' explains Bruno Belamich, Creative Director and co-founder of Bell & Ross. Complementary yet unique in their style and story, each of these three watches highlights the brand's creativity and watchmaking expertise. The BR-03 Skeleton trilogy fills a gap in Bell & Ross' professional collection. A New, Dedicated Movement The choice of a finely skeletonized movement served as a source of inspiration for Bell & Ross' watchmakers. Their ambition to fully reveal the watch's mechanics naturally led to the creation of a dedicated movement. Featuring a 54-hour power reserve, the new BR-CAL.328 caliber—an automatic, three-hand movement without a date— ensures the reliability and precision of all three BR-03 Skeleton versions. The upper bridges form an X with their four double arms, each connecting to one of the four bezel screws. Architectural and technical, this X-shaped design enhances the modernist expressiveness of the three BR-03 Skeleton models. Three Powerful Interpretations The three versions of the new BR-03 Skeleton, introduced simultaneously by Bell & Ross, go beyond a mere design exercise or dial animation. This watchmaking trilogy explores three complementary creative directions: The first focused on transparency, the second transforming the professional watch into a bold jewel, and the third emphasizing luminescence. These three variations showcase Bell & Ross' skill in material craftsmanship and creative watch design. BR-03 Skeleton Black Ceramic: an aeronautical DNA The BR-03 Skeleton Black Ceramic brings together the concepts of skeletonization and transparency. The dial and movement form a cohesive whole. Heavily inspired by the technical purity and functionality of aviation, this iconic Bell & Ross model— a flagship in the black ceramic version—has been reinvented with skeletonization, a hallmark of modern fine watchmaking. Black, a color deeply familiar to aviation and aerospace enthusiasts due to its presence in cockpit instruments and stealth aircraft fuselages, is also closely linked to the world of design. The 41mm black ceramic case of the BR-03 Skeleton Black Ceramic acts as a modernist frame for a contemporary masterpiece. Constructed from smoked sapphire crystal, the dial features applied black 'baignoire style' applique indexes filled with green-emitting white Super-LumiNova (SLN), fully revealing the X-shaped skeletonized movement. Legibility remains a priority for Bell & Ross, a brand known for designing professional instruments. This is ensured through instrument-style hands: the hour and minute hands are skeletonized and filled with green emitting white SLN, while the seconds hand is black with a white tip for enhanced visibility. For technical and aesthetic consistency, the Black Ceramic version comes with a black rubber strap secured by a micro-blasted black PVD-coated steel pin buckle, as well as an additional aviation-inspired black Velcro strap. BR-03 Skeleton Grey Steel: A Metallic and Mechanical Jewel With the steel version of the BR-03 Skeleton, Bell & Ross envisions a sports watch transforming into a contemporary jewel. This instrument reveals its inherent sophistication by exposing the automatic skeletonized BR CAL.328 movement through its open-worked dial. The dial and movement form a cohesive whole. 'The BR-03 Skeleton Grey Steel is a high-tech jewel. This horological machine is presented as a sculpture in steel. It proudly displays its precious and sophisticated nature, as evidenced by numerous details: the polished and satin-finished case, the faceted indexes—everything is designed to capture and reflect light. The reflections have been carefully studied. The finely cut patterns on the open-worked dial are faceted and treated with ruthenium for extra brilliance. The faceting of the skeletonized dial also echoes that of a stealth aircraft, the ultimate reference in uncompromising avant-garde design. Entirely metallic, this watch is both a horological sculpture and a brutalist machine with a disruptive design,' explains Bruno Belamich. This more luxurious version of the BR-03 Skeleton is limited to 250 pieces. It also comes with two interchangeable straps: a black rubber strap with a polished and satin-finished steel pin buckle and a black Velcro strap. BR-03 Skeleton Lum Ceramic: The Surprises of Luminescence Even bolder, the BR-03 Skeleton Lum Ceramic embraces a dual identity and conveys a strong visual narrative. A sophisticated futuristic watch by day with its black ceramic case, it transforms into an extraordinary horological piece at night, revealing its luminescent properties. In many ways, it could belong in a sci-fi film. Green luminescence, a key readability feature, is also one of Bell & Ross' signature design elements. This visual design hallmark has been pushed to the extreme, giving birth to the most daring and futuristic of the three BR-03 Skeleton models. For this, the openworked black dial is highlighted with luminescent SLN C3 on its edges and placed on a translucent smoked plate that tints the movement. 'The neon-like photoluminescent effect allows us to X-ray the skeletonization, giving it a modernized aesthetic dimension. The skeletonized dial is cut following the contours of the movement's bridges, exposing blackened gears through the tinted sapphire crystal. A green Super-LumiNova outline traces the cutouts, reminiscent of the illuminated grille of a car. Here, luminescent material is used not just for optimal readability—something we usually focus on for professional watches—but as a decorative and horological finishing element' details Bruno Belamich. This highly exclusive watch is limited to just 250 pieces, available only at Bell & Ross boutiques and via the official website. Like the other versions, it comes with two interchangeable straps: with a black rubber strap secured by a micro-blasted black PVD-coated steel pin buckle and a black Velcro strap. BELL & ROSS I WATCHES & WONDERS NOVELTIES - BR-03 Skeleton Comments are closed.
Web Release
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
BELL & ROSS Launches The NEW BR-05 CHRONO PATROUILLE DE FRANCE
Back in flight with the Patrouille de France for Bell & Ross. The fourth watch born from the partnership with the French Air and Space Force's aerobatic team, the new BR-05 Chrono Patrouille de France chronograph celebrates a spirit of elegance and excellence. Inspired by the blue of pilots' flight suits and aircraft, the BR-05 Chrono Patrouille de France features a sky-blue dial and refined finishes. Its BR-CAL.326 caliber ensures a 60-hour power reserve. This limited edition of 500 pieces celebrates the technical excellence and prestige of the squadron.
