Almost ten years ago, Bell & Ross launched its first BR 01 Skull and made a lasting impression by breaking with traditional watchmaking codes. The Bell & Ross Skull family has since become an iconic collection and welcomes this year, a new version of this cool outstanding concept.

There’s indeed a long and rich tradition between skulls and time. Aside from an undeniable reference to pirates, this emblematic watch symbolizes the military codes, especially the ones from the paratroopers of World War II to remind how vulnerable they were to danger. The famous “Jolly Roger” as a decorative element appears then as a talisman or a rebel symbol.

With this new BR01 Laughing Skull, Bell & Ross will make you smile. Memento Ridere – in Latin – or “remember to always laugh.” Venturing into the field of automata for the first time, the brand has a surprise in store for you: the mandible moves and the skull grins back at you. No wonder, winding your watch has never been so entertaining!

The renowned 46mm square watch contains a new self-winding movement which features an automaton figure as well. This animated display of the Skull’s mandible is a manufactured movement that Bell & Ross exclusively designed and entirely developed, the BR-CAL.206.

It goes without saying that the skull is the focus of attention and fits surprisingly well in the craftsmanship landscape. Not only does the skull-shaped caliber fit perfectly into the case, but it seems to be floating in zero gravity within the dial.

This most modern version of the animation systems remains faithful to the dial’s characteristics of its predecessors; dagger-shaped for the hours, and sword-shaped for the minutes. The skeletonized hands are coated in Super-LumiNova and glow in the center. The bold timepiece is made from micro-blasted steel with a “Clou de Paris” finish, giving it a rather pronounced distinctive character.

The BR 01 Laughing Skull comes with a brown alligator strap in a limited edition of 500 pieces. With its elegant finishes and the reference to legendary military codes, the BR 01 Laughing Skull constitutes a new icon and will certainly win over Haute-Horlogerie collectors and watch aficionados. Price for the watch is $9,900. bellross.com

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