In the few short years since its introduction in 2019, the Bell & Ross BR 05 has quickly become one of the cornerstone offerings within the brand’s catalog. Unlike the various models that make up the “Instruments” series, which almost look like they came directly from the cockpit of an aircraft, the BR 05 is part of the “Urban” lineup, which offers a more refined and streamlined take on the classic Bell & Ross signature aesthetic. A skeletonized version of the BR 05 has been part of the range since the very beginning, and Bell & Ross has released a new iteration of it in a different color every year since its launch. The classic clear version was the inaugural model from 2019, and it was followed by a blue one in 2020, a smoked variation in 2021 (known as the NightLum), and a green version last year in 2022. Now for 2023, we have the Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Golden, which offers a warm, golden orange take on this fan favorite skeletonized sports watch design.
Aside from offering a new colorway, the Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Golden is otherwise entirely identical to previous iterations of the watch, which means that it uses the same square-shaped stainless steel case with rounded corners that measures 40mm in diameter by 10.33mm thick. Just like previous versions of the BR 05 Skeleton, the new “Golden” model features a pair of sapphire crystals fitted to both its bezel and caseback, which allows for an entirely unobstructed view of the internal skeletonized movement and allows you to see straight through the open-worked areas of the watch. Similarly, like other BR 05 models, angular crown guards are separately attached to the middle case in order to offer protection for a signed winding crown that screws down to help create 100 meters of water resistance. While there is nothing new about the case of the Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Golden, the defining element of this particular model is the color of the transparent dial fitted to the watch.
The dial and hands fitted to the new Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Golden offer an identical design and layout to previous executions of the model, with the key differences being the colors and finishing of the components. The surface of the dial is a transparent golden orange color, and it is surrounded by a galvanized golden chapter ring with applied baton-shaped hour markers extending from it. At the center of the dial are a trio of gold-finished hands, and both the hour and minute hand (along with all of the hour markers) are coated with Grade X1 White 10 Super-LumiNova, which appears white in the daylight and emits a green glow in the dark. The decision to lean into the golden colorway for the hands and dial accents helps create a warmer overall appearance, and it is ultimately these gold tones that make this iteration the “Golden” model, rather than just being the orange version of the BR 05 Skeleton watch.
Given that this new watch is essentially just a dial variation of the other skeletonized models that have been released over the course of the last few years, the new Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Golden is powered by the same BR-CAL.322 automatic movement that can be found inside its different colored siblings. As this skeletonized caliber is based upon the core design of the popular Sellita SW300-1, the BR-CAL.322 runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz), while offering users a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. Additionally, since it doesn’t have a calendar disc or any of the other components that make up a date mechanism, the self-winding BR-CAL.322 is able to offer a highly open-worked design, which is further complimented by its custom skeletonized Bell & Ross oscillating weight.
Just like other BR 05 models, the new Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Golden offers what could really be considered an integrated bracelet design, although it is available with the option of either the model’s signature tapered H-link bracelet (ref. BR05A-CH-SKST/SST) or an integrated style of rubber strap (ref. BR05A-CH-SKST/SRB). The bracelet is identical to what can be found on other models from the BR 05 collection, and it features brushed and polished surfaces with a butterfly-style folding clasp. Meanwhile, the rubber strap is the same style that can be found on other Bell & Ross watches, although it is crafted from brown rubber to complement the warm golden tones of the dial, and it features a matching stainless steel folding clasp.
When purchased in its bracelet configuration, the Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Golden is accompanied by an official retail price of $7,100 USD, while the rubber strap version costs $6,600 USD, and this makes the new “Golden” edition $100 more expensive than the green version that was released last year (which could either be a result of the new model’s gold-finished dial/hand components or simply due to inflation). Additionally, just like previous versions of the watch, the new BR 05 Skeleton Golden will be produced as a limited edition of 500 pieces, and given that past iterations of this model have all sold out, it’s highly likely that available examples of this new Golden edition will also be claimed by collectors. For more information on the Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Golden, please visit the brand’s website.
