Swiss watch manufacturer Bell & Ross have indulged us with a rush of releases over the past week all of which call the BR 05 collection home. Alongside an indulgent BR 05 Gold Skeleton piece and a jewellery-inspired BR 05 Diamond, the brand entice the eyes – and wrists – of modern day globetrotters with a stunning new second time zone complication. Meet the new Bell & Ross BR 05 GMT.
We covered the original line of BR 05 watches here when it was first released in 2019, back when it consisted of just a handful of time-only designs with square-shaped cases, round dials, integrated bracelets and a distinctively urban aesthetic worthy of the luxury sports watch market. Over the years, the series has seen several stunning adaptations including a routine chronograph and several limited edition skeleton watches, most of which have appeared just in the last six months. Some of our favourites include the BR 05 Skeleton Nightlum and the two-toned BR 05 Steel & Gold models. Now, for the first time, Bell & Ross introduce the GMT complication into the collection, and it seems to have arrived just in time for the easing of travel restrictions.
As we expected, the new Bell & Ross BR 05 GMT watch maintains all the familiar characteristics of its steel sports watch precursors with a utilitarian yet urban finish supported by the cushion-shaped case tapering effortlessly into the bracelet and equally slick crown guards. Its obvious distinction comes from the addition of a GMT hand at the centre of the dial and the 24 hour graduated inner bezel at the circumference. The backdrop is finished in sunray black and detailed with contrasting white Arabic numerals and skeletonised hour and minute hands made of metal appliques. The GMT hand is dressed in vivid red for instant readability while the 24 hour scale is dual-toned with the night-time hours finished in black and the grey semicircle corresponding to the daytime hours. This combination of white, red and black is a familiar sight in the Bell & Ross collections ensuring once again perfect legibility.
Powering the GMT hand and its companion hours, minutes, seconds and date indicators is the BR-CAL.325 calibre, an automatic winding movement based on the Sellita SW-330. Its intricate construction can be spotted through the sapphire crystal exhibition case back alongside some of the 25 jewels and the 360 degree oscillating rotor. The movement also supplies the Bell & Ross BR 05 GMT watch with a 42 hour power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
With the addition of the 24 hour scale and the graduated flange, the case of the Bell & Ross BR 05 GMT watch has increased in size slightly compared to it’s time-only brothers. Only by 1mm, however. Still a midsize watch, the stainless steel case sits on the wrist at 41mm in diameter and 11.1mm in height and features the familiar integrated lugs, rounded square bezel with signature mountain screws and a brushed surface with polished edges. Topping the case is sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating on both sides and at 3 o’clock, the screw in crown with crown guards ensures a 100 metre water resistant rating.
At present, the Bell & Ross BR 05 GMT watch can be ordered on a choice of two straps. The first is a sporty black rubber band with striped ribbed detailing and a stainless steel pin buckle. This choice will set you back £4,100. For the true luxury sports watch finish, you can also order the design on a three-row link stainless steel bracelet with folding buckle. This version retails at £4,500.
If you’d like to learn more about the Bell & Ross BR 05 GMT watch and order your own, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternately, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453454 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications: Bell & Ross BR 05 GMT Watch (BR05G-BL-ST/SST, BR05G-BL-ST/SRB)
- Case Size: 41mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw down
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: BR-CAL.325 automatic
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, date
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Jewels: 25
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Black sunray brushed with Superluminova hands, numerals and indexes. Inner flange with two-toned 24 hour scale
- Strap: Integrated steel bracelet or black rubber
- RRP: £4,100 (Rubber), £4,500 (Bracelet)
