BR-05 36mm

BR-05 36 MM: ENTERING ANEW DIMENSION

Bell & Ross's elegant urban watch reinvents itself with a new 36 mm case, eagerly awaited by fans of chic timepieces as well as female enthusiasts. A refined and subtle evolution.

A MATTER OF SIZE

Bell & Ross instrument watches are renowned for their precision. By redesigning the BR-05 with a more compact 36 mm case, and a significant thinness of 8.5 mm, the independent Franco-Swiss watchmaker has taken on a different kind of precision challenge. "Every millimeter counts, every millimeter is noticeable," states Bruno Belamich, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Bell & Ross. Is it new? Absolutely. To offer a smaller version of the BR-05, every element of this sophisticatedly constructed watch had to be redesigned and resized. The BR-05 line features a complex assembly, with an upper section attached to the case and sealed hermetically by four distinctive screws. Designing a smaller case in 36mm required a complete rethinking of the watch to ensure that the BR-05 36 mm would be neither entirely different nor entirely the same as its larger siblings-a true mark of distinction.

A MATTER OF CHOICE

Why revisit the proportions of the BR-05 now, when the line is already well-established in Bell & Ross's collections? To respond to new aspirations. "First and foremost, it's important to note that the BR-05 collection has offered various dimensions for several years. Launched in 40 mm in 2019, the watch has always evolved, adopting larger sizes for complications: 41 mm for GMTs and 42 mm for chronographs," explains Bruno Belamich. "Design isn't just about ideas; it's about choices. Today, we are clearly choosing to rethink this line to bring it into another dimension. The BR-0S's personality, which we aim to make urban-friendly, versatile, and elegant, is designed to meet the expectations of everyday sport-chic watch users. We have reworked its proportion on the wrist, so the bracelet fits more closely to any wearer's morphology. Another key motivation was to make this collection more accessible to women," Belamich adds. More inclusive and refined, the new BR-05 36 mm is also a deliberate design choice.

A MATTER OF PERSONALITY

Legibility of the dial is a constant priority for Bell & Ross's development teams. The same attention to detail has inspired the design of the dials of the new BR-05 36 mm. Refined hands, bold numerals, and applied, highly visible indexes filled with white luminescent SLN enhance the collection's cohesive identity. With colors ranging from black to grey, including ice blue and mother-of-pearl, the lacquered sunray-finished dials give the same watch a variety of distinct personalities. Afterall, the dial is the face of the watch. This character extends to the finishes of the angular case. Satin-brushed surfaces are perfectly fiat, and polished bevels highlight and enhance the overlapping volumes. This polished-satin interplay also features on the steel bracelet, whose remarkable suppleness ensures it adapts comfortably to all wrist types.

A MATTER OF FUNCTION

To fulfill its purpose, the BR-05 36 mm focuses on essentials: the precise and readable display of hours, minutes, and seconds. These three carefully designed hands contribute to a clear vision of what a daily watch should be. The hour and minute hands, skeletonized and filled with white SLN, are polished and rhodium-plated. The seconds hand, also rhodium-plated, adds a subtle contrast. A new movement powers the BR-05 36 mm: a mechanical self-winding caliber with a 54-hour power reserve. This reliable movement allows the BR-05 36 mm to remain relatively slim. "We designed the BR-05 36 mm as a dual iteration of the BR-05. It's not just a focus on the core functions of a watch but also an evolution in proportions, all while staying true to our guiding principles of reliability, precision, and comfort" emphasizes Bruno Belamich.

A MATTER OF TIMES

One of the pillars of Bell & Ross's collections, the BR-05 line, launched in 2019, offers a contemporary vision of the urban watch. Both elegant and sporty, it fits seamlessly into all aspects of modern life. The new BR-05 36 mm, designed as a gender-neutral piece, embraces inclusivity by offering models that appeal equally to women and men. Staying true to its core principles, Bell & Ross reinterprets its iconic "round within a square" design, directly inspired by the functionalism of aviation instruments, in a smaller version of the BR-05.