Bell & Ross – BR X1 & BR 01 INSTRUMENT De Marine Edition Collection NEW
COMBINING TRADITION AND MODERNITY
Aviation is a passion at Bell & Ross, and reinterpreting on-board instruments, its guiding force. The iconic BR 01 watch took its inspiration from the clock in an aircraft cockpit. With its latest collection of Marine Instruments, the watchmaking firm is temporarily leaving runways, radars and fighter planes.
The constant quest for new universes and new lands to explore, has lead Bell & Ross to pay tribute to world this series of three watches. The first marine instruments appeared in the 17th century with the purpose of guiding the vessels that had started to cross the seas and oceans at this time. The timepieces designed for shipboard use, which were key to naval history, have inspired this collection. These three new watches offer a contemporary reinterpretation of those evocative tools that link together tradition and modernity, past and present.
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Bell & Ross BR 01 Instrument de Marine
A brief history
The marine clock was rst tted to ships in the 17th century. These clocks were equipped with a sufficiently accurate mechanism to serve as the time base for navigation.
From the 18th century on, marine technology developed and a large number of vessels were now crossing the oceans. A wave of shipwrecks followed, often caused by inaccurate navigation.
For the United Kingdom, the mastery of the high seas had a strategic purpose. As an island, its military and economic power depended upon it. Members of Parliament strived to find a way of reducing the number of shipwrecks reaching the conclusion that voyages would be safer if ships had more accurate timekeeping instruments.
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In those days, navigators would turn to the night sky, specifically to the stars, to help them during long voyages. Precise knowledge of the time enabled them to establish their longitude, and thereby determine their position in the ocean.
The English Parliament voted in the “Longitude Act” in 1714, which was a law promising a reward of £20,000 to the inventor of a clock that was accurate to one degree of longitude. John Harrison, a specialist micromechanical engineer, won this prize with a clock that offered unrivalled accuracy.
Forms and Materials
The new Marine Instrument collection takes the essence of the legendary 18th century clock invented by John Harrison and scales it down to watch size.
At that time, ship’s clocks were housed inside square wooden cases. However, the display was round, just like the majority of modern watches: a circle within a square. In the design of these new watches, Bell & Ross combines contemporary and retro touches, and the materials play a very important role:
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INDIAN ROSEWOOD: This wood harks back to the hull and masts of the vessels and to the cases used to house the ship’s instruments at the time. Indian rosewood is a rare timber, of a warm pinkish red in color, with an elegant texture and very fine grain. It does, however, offer very high compressive strength. Working it requires a very meticulous approach. Firstly, it is shaved into very ne sheets, which are pressed, machined and then varnished.
BRONZE: The cases of the BR 01 Marine and BX1 Skeleton Chronograph are adorned with bronze, an alloy that brings to mind the brass used for the surrounds on the original ship’s clocks. When it comes into contact with air and moisture, this material takes on a brown or greyish-green patina. With no two-oxidation processes alike, these watches are transformed into unique pieces.
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Bell & Ross BR-X1 Instrument de Marine
ROSE GOLD: This material is used for the BX1 Tourbillon Chronograph case. Rare and noble, gold is the perfect choice for such an exceptional model. Its warm color also pairs beautifully with the Indian rosewood.
GRADE 5 TITANIUM: The watchmaker has chosen modern, lightweight and resilient Grade 5 titanium for the central container section.
Three Instrument, Three Functionalities
The Marine Instrument collection is based on three specific models, authentic or more sophisticated, but all boasting a signature elegance.
BR 01 INSTRUMENT DE MARINE
A faithful rendering of a ship’s clock as a wristwatch, this model is similar to the iconic BR 01 in its execution. The BR 01 Marine Instrument has a stylish, subtly retro design. This watch has a case, bezel and winding crown made from bronze. Only the case-back features more contemporary titanium. In a final touch, an elegant band of rosewood encircles the dial of the watch.
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Technical Features
Ref: BR-01 Instrument de Marine Limited Edition of 500 pieces
Movement
Calibre BR-CAL.203
Hand-wound mechanical
17 jewels, 21,600 vph
56-hours power reserve
Functions
Hours, minutes and small seconds at 6 o’clock
Case
Diameter 46 mm
Precious wood, titanium and CuSn8 bronze
Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire
Water-resistance: 100 metres
Dial
White lacquer
Roman numerals
Blued hands
Strap
Brown alligator
Buckle: pin. Bronze
The dial pairs white lacquer, Roman numerals and fine blued steel hands, in tribute to the aesthetic of these 18th century instruments. The small seconds dial, with its delicate graphic layout, sits at 6 o’clock.
The mechanism selected is a hand-wound movement, as would have been used in this era. It has a central hour and minute display, with the seconds at 6 o’clock. Finally, the power reserve, which, at 56 hours, is much greater than usual, is a tribute to long ocean crossings.
BR-X1 SKELETON CHRONOGRAPH
Bold and stylish, this chronograph is equipped with an automatic skeleton movement. This ultra-sophisticated mechanism can be admired through the sapphire crystal dial, which has a slight grey tint like the sea on a stormy day. It is paired with a minute track featuring Roman numerals and gilt applique indices, covered in SuperLuminova. The skeleton theme is continued with the gilt hands. The sophisticated case is a symphony of titanium, rosewood and bronze. It encloses the bezel, push-pieces, crown and crown protector.
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Technical Features
Ref: BR‑X1 Skeleton Chronograph Limited Edition of 99 pieces
Movement
Calibre BR-CAL.313
Mechanical automatic
‘X’-shaped upper bridge
56 jewels, 28,800 vph
Skeleton chronograph
Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds at 3 o’clock
Skeleton date at 6 o’clock
Chronograph: 30-min timer at 9 o’clock, central chronograph seconds
Case
Diameter 45 mm
Precious wood and CuSn8 bronze
Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire
Back with opening in tinted sapphire crystal, centred on the balance
Water-resistance:100 metres
Dial
Grey-tinted sapphire crystal
Gilt appliqué indices with Superluminova inserts
Gilt skeleton Superluminova-filled hour and minute hands
Gilt aluminium 30-min chronograph timer disc
Strap
Brown alligator
Buckle: pin. Bronze
The automatic caliber provides a chronograph function, small seconds at 3 o’clock and skeleton date at 6 o’clock. The chronograph minute timer sits at 9 o’clock. Stripped of hands, it takes the form of an aluminum disc with a design clearly evoking a ship’s propeller.
BR-X1 TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH
The most exclusive version, this Haute Horlogerie model houses an exceptional hand wound mechanism. The Tourbillon made its first appearance in 1801, and is considered the ultimate complication by watch enthusiasts. This system is designed to compensate for the effects of the earth’s gravitational pull when the watch is in the vertical position. The goal is even greater accuracy.
This prestigious version is housed in an 18-carat rose gold and wood case. In classic fashion, the central hands on the dial indicate the hours and minutes. Two gilt metal counter discs sit at 2 and 10 o’clock. The first is the 60-second chronograph counter, equipped with a 6 impulse per second sweeping hand. The second is the 30-minute chronograph counter, with its semi-instantaneous jumping hand. The gilt tourbillon cage sits proudly at 6 o’clock.
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Technical Features
Ref: BR‑X1 Tourbillon Chronograph Limited Edition of 20 pieces
Movement
Calibre BR-CAL.283
Hand-wound flying tourbillon
Mono-pusher column wheel chronograph
282 components, 35 jewels, 21,600 vph
4-day power reserve
Functions
Hours and minutes
Chronograph: 30-min timer at 11 o’clock, chronograph 60-sec timer at 1 o’clock
Power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock
Flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock
Case
Diameter 45 mm
18 ct rose gold and precious wood
Rocker push-button
Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire
Sapphire case-back with anti-reflective coating
Water-resistance: 100 metres
Dial
Grey-tinted sapphire crystal
Gilt appliqué indices with Superluminova inserts
Gilt skeleton Superluminova-filled hour and minute hands
Strap
Brown alligator
Buckle: pin. 18 ct rose gold
The skeleton work on the upper bridges allows a view of the exceptional chronograph movement that is triggered using the mono-pusher at 2 o’clock. A sophisticated hand-wound mechanism, the « ying» tourbillon has 282 minuscule constituent parts, and sits inside a delicate suspended cage. Unusually, it is fitted on the main plate without an upper bridge. This means it appears to oat.
This incredibly complex movement bene fits from a colossal 100-hour power reserve, equivalent to 4 days, indicated by a hand (like a petrol gauge) set at 9 o’clock. The brand’s signature, the iconic «&», marks the seconds on the tourbillon cage. To develop a mechanism as complex as this, Bell & Ross engineers joined forces with Swiss master watchmakers.
The entire collection boasts a sapphire crystal case-back that allows for the sublime mechanisms at their heart to be appreciated.
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Model: Instrument de Marine
Ref: BR-01 Instrument de Marine Limited Edition of 500 pieces
Ref: BR‑X1 Skeleton Chronograph Limited Edition of 99 pieces
Ref: BR-X1 Tourbillon Chronograph Limited Edition of 20 pieces
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