From the cockpit to the wrist, with an urban twist: This has been the recipe for success at Bell & Ross. The French-Swiss watchmaker introduced the BR-05 collection in 2019 and with it created a new platform on which to explore its technical creativity. The new BR-X5 brings with it a complex case with multi-layer construction, a dynamic dial with a stunning new color, and a high-specification movement with a five-year warranty, developed in partnership with and produced by the latest star among movement manufactures: Kenissi.

With the BR-05 and BR-X5, Bell & Ross has come to answer the call of its fans for a smaller, more compact offering. The BR-X5 measures just 41mm in diameter, a size perfectly suited to be bold, yet comfortable to wear. Despite the somewhat more compact size, no compromises were to be made when it comes to providing a full display of technical audacity: In its construction, the case of the BR-X5 begins with a steel core, a monoblock component machined not just to encapsulate the movement, but also to extend around the crown and serve as its robust crown protector.

Flanking the core from the top and bottom are two beautifully machined and intricately polished, angular plates that also make up the distinctive case profile of the BR-X5. The squared-off bezel sits on a rubber gasket, while the caseback screws down, both doing their part to establish the 100m waterproofness rating of this new range. This novel assembly is kept watertight by four screws that pass through the case all the way from the bezel to the caseback, each of which reinforces the solidity of the construction while also providing a signature look.

It is not only the construction but also the finishing that is intricate and calculated to the finest detail — inside and out on the BR-X5. It is all about an interplay between polished and brushed surfaces, one always stealing the wearer’s attention from the other. The angular, hollowed-out case profile received a high polish, while the top surfaces of the lug structure are satin finished. The bezel follows suit with a generously sized polished edge and a satin-finished top — the latter serves as a contrasting frame for the four exposed and polished screwheads and the jewel-like dial components, especially the hour markers and hands.

Sportiness and versatility are two defining characteristics of the BR-X5, designed to be comfortable during daily wear on its intricately finished H-link bracelet or its rubber strap — the latter open-worked to allow air to flow, further enhancing wearing comfort through breathability and lightness. The strap and bracelet are attached to the case via screws that are easy to remove with minimal skill but provide greater security and a more robust fit.

The dial of the new BR-X5 is available in either black for a more traditional and instrument-like aesthetic that goes so well with the distinctive DNA of Bell & Ross watches, or in ice blue. The latter is a stunningly vibrant color that makes no compromises in the field of legibility but adds a highly energetic look that is a superb match to the steel exterior. The black printed texts and tracks provide the contrast necessary to make the time easy to read, while the applied hour markers and frames for the power reserve and date displays increase the complexity and refinement of the face of the BR-X5.

The BR-X5 boasts a three-day power reserve and combines that with a modern and more stable operating frequency of 4 Hertz, i.e. 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour. The power reserve can be replenished manually via the crown, or simply by wearing the watch, in which case the open-worked self-winding rotor will take care of this. A glance through the sapphire crystal caseback reveals another trait of a cutting-edge movement: a special balance wheel secured by a bridge (a plate that is secured at both ends with screws for yet greater resistance against shocks), with four micro-adjusting screws set into its periphery. The screws are recessed into the four spokes so as to further reduce air friction of the balance wheel. This movement was developed in collaboration with, and produced by Kenissi, the company that supplies movements to Bell & Ross, as well as to Tudor, Breitling, Norqain, and Chanel.

Versatile in its design and size, bold in its style and dependability, and highly refined inside-out, the BR-X5 stays true to the core values of Bell & Ross. It is a testament to the French-Swiss company’s tireless push for yet higher performance and greater technical complexity. Available in black or ice blue, the Bell & Ross BR-X5 is priced at $6,900 USD when purchased on a rubber strap, or $7,400 USD should buyers opt for the stainless steel bracelet, while the limited edition BR-X5 Multimaterial watch is priced at $11,800 USD. . You can learn more on the brand’s website.

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