The seeing through the beauties
At Watches & Wonders 2025, Bell & Ross launched the horological year with one of the most stunning timepieces seen recently. They appear determined to surpass themselves once more. The watches unveiled include the iconic BR 03, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, for the very first time, it features a skeletonized dial. This technique, common in high watchmaking, is typically employed in their BR X Concepts and haute horlogerie series, where they proudly showcase their savoir-faire in the traditional art of watchmaking.
With the BR 03 Skeleton, the craftsmen at Bell & Ross choose a modern approach. The design of the skeleton dial is bolder and more powerful, making a stronger statement than the more elegant and classic skeletons seen in the Big Brothers. The skeletonised dial features an ‘X’ architecture, another iconic element of the aviation-themed family. The bold geometric structures are meticulously polished with contrasting patterns to highlight their forms while maintaining a no-nonsense presence for the black ceramic version, and the stainless steel has uniform polish to emphasise the faceted bridges.
The latest BR 03 Skeleton comes in three different variations: an all-black ceramic, a monochromatic grey stainless steel and a LUM ceramic. The all-black BR 03 Skeleton Black Ceramic dial is decorated with SuperLuminova-coated indexes, the iconic bold Arabic numerals and their sword hours, minutes and second hands. They appear to float above a smoked sapphire, which sits under the skeletal bridges and reveals the mechanism beneath.
In contrast to the all-black ceramic versions, the monochromatic BR 03 Skeleton Grey Steel version reveals everything instead of hiding. It playfully showcases its musculature through a different geometric ‘X’ skeletal bridge treatment, it is faceted instead. The components of the bridge’s beautifully sandblasted finish can be appreciated alongside the dramatically sloping inner bezel, which adds an alluring depth. The dial features Superluminova-filled baton hour, minute, and second hands, a subtle departure from the all-black design that emphasises its individuality and makes a strong statement, though less mysterious.
The last iteration is the BR 03 Skeleton LUM Ceramic; it is truly out of this world, and rightfully so. Unabashedly different from its two siblings, it possesses something extra. Though it may be all black, every aperture on the skeletal bridges is outlined with SuperLuminova C3 pinstripes, enhancing the openwork of the skeleton dials. The hour indexes and the baton hands for hours, minutes, and seconds are also filled with SuperLuminova C3. The aesthetics are a happy combination of its siblings, featuring an additional element that makes the most powerful statement of all three.
The three variations share the same heart because of the new near-transparent skeletonised dial a new calibre has been created, the new automatic calibre BR-CAL328 Skeleton is specially made for their new architecture. It has a 54-hour power reserve. The marvels are housed in a 41mm case.
The three BR 03 Skeletons show their coming of age and an excellent reason to celebrate their individuality with modernity, sportiness and a touch of elegance. The square 41mm with its round face doesn’t seem too much now with the skeletonised dial, it takes off the overpowering edge and softens it making it versatile for every day and every occasion.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHANNEL
