SpotlightAll-Black Ceramic In An Everyday Avatar: Introducing The Bell & Ross BR 05 Black Ceramic Collection

The BR 05 collection of everyday sport watches with integrated bracelet by Bell & Ross gets a ceramic overhaul with the new BR 05 Black Ceramic trio. Long before ceramic was an acceptable and much-admired watchmaking material, it was used in aviation for being lightweight and durable. Bell & Ross’s aeronautical inspiration is apparent in their use of ceramic for the brand’s BR 01 and BR 03 lines. Now, the brand have introduced intensely blackened cases made from the light, hypo-allergenic and scratch-resistant material to their line of everyday watches with the BR 05 Black Ceramic trio. With the BR 05 Black Ceramic series, this is the first time the urban-inspired everyday watch by Bell & Ross gets an all-black ceramic dressing.

BR 05 Black Ceramic Comes To Town

Although first released in 2019, only five years back, the Bell & Ross BR 05 collection has grown into an identity of its own. Its comfortably sized square-ish case with an integrated bracelet house a round dial, a distinct feature found on most of the brand’s collections, and inspired by cockpit instruments. Besides the three-handed timekeepers with a date window at three o’clock, the collection also boasts of skeleton dials, and complications such as the chronograph and GMT. Steel, titanium and various forms of gold have thus far made it onto the angular cases of the collection, so it was only a matter of time until ceramic joined the party.

The BR 05's comfortably sized square-ish case and integrated bracelet house a round dial, a distinct feature found on most Bell & Ross collections

Besides the three-handed timekeepers with a date window, the BR 05 collection also boasts of skeleton dials, and complications such as the chronograph and GMT

BR 05 And The Black Ceramic Upgrade

Sized at 41mm, the BR 05 Black Ceramic and BR 05 Skeleton Black Ceramic feature satin-finished and polished ceramic cases, while the BR 05 Skeleton Black Lum Ceramic is made from matt black sandblasted ceramic. A water resistance rating of up to 100 metres allows the watches to withstand the inevitable splashes that come with every use. Transparent casebacks on all three timepieces offer a view of the 360-degree oscillating weight of the movements. Inside the BR 05 Black Ceramic is the automatic mechanical BR-CAL.321 calibre, while both skeletonised timepieces are powered by the BR-CAL.322 calibre designed specifically for open-worked watches.

The 500-piece limited edition BR 05 Skeleton Black Lum Ceramic is made from matt black sandblasted ceramic and features a transparent caseback

Transparent casebacks on all three BR 05 Black Ceramic watches offer a view of the 360-degree oscillating weight of the movements

A sunray-brushed black dial on the BR 05 Black Ceramic houses contrasting white numerals, markers, and hands filled with Super-LumiNova, with the date window at three o’clock. The watch comes on an integrated ceramic bracelet or a rubber strap.

On the BR 05 Skeleton Black Ceramic timepiece, lume-filled white indexes and hands against a tinted transparent dial ensures legibility while also offering a view of the movement. Paired with a ceramic bracelet or a rubber strap, this watch also joins the brand’s main collection.

The BR 05 Skeleton Black Lum Ceramic—limited to 500 pieces only—features a black smoked sapphire crystal dial and shiny green luminescent material on indexes and hands. Unlike the other two, this timepiece will only be available on an integrated ceramic bracelet.

The BR 05 Skeleton Black Lum Ceramic features a black smoked sapphire crystal dial and shiny green luminescent material on indexes and hands

Ceramic is an extremely difficult material to work with. That’s why, in watches with an integrated bracelet and all black treatment like that on the BR 05 Black Ceramic series, ceramic has an especially appealing aesthetic. Here’s hoping we see more ceramic watches in black by Bell & Ross in the future.