BOUTIQUE
BELL & ROSS
BR-X2 Skeleton Tourbillon Micro-Rotor
After launching the BR-X2 Tourbillon Micro Rotor last
year, Bell & Ross now offers a skeletonized version of
the watch, where, once again, the case and the move-
ment are one in the same, all fully visible between two
sapphire crystals.
The two sapphire layers sandwich in-house
BR-CAL.381, a skeletonized movement with a
tourbillon and micro-rotor. That brushed steel layer
between the top and back sapphire is essentially a
movement baseplate with lugs. It allows the owner to
wear the movement on the wrist, which is the stated
point of this Bell & Ross Experimental piece. As Bell &
Ross says, “The mechanism is brought to the forefront,
while the case disappears.”
Now pared down to essentials, the movement’s
very dense tungsten micro-rotor can be admired as it
sways to power the two-handed tourbillon timekeeper.
On most watches with a flying tourbillon, the regu-
lating organ itself would be the visual highlight. Here,
though the tourbillon’s stylized ‘B’ dutifully denotes
the seconds, my attention is drawn to the spaciousness
within the sapphire. The watch’s clean, architectural
layout draws attention only to the primary
time-keeping components, each nicely polished amid
a minimal set of curving, satin-brushed bridges.
I challenge you to find a right angle anywhere here.
The curved edges inside perfectly complement the
well-known rounded corners of the Bell & Ross square
case. The luminous (and rounded) metallic applied
markers are actually set on their own bezel-shaped
bridge, just underneath the sapphire crystal, adding
another pleasing layer of dimension to the piece.
Bell & Ross again demonstrates that it can do
wonders within its well-known square case. Here it’s
kept at 42.5mm across and 9mm in depth (including
the surprisingly slim 4.05mm-thick movement).
The BR-X2 Skeleton Tourbillon Micro Rotor
nicely melds timekeeping basics (albeit with a flying
tourbillon setting the precision) and an eye-pleasing
contemporary skeleton design.
The Bell & Ross BR-X2 Skeleton Tourbillon Micro-
rotor will be available in a limited edition of fifty pieces.
Price: $79,000.
IW RATING
Design: 8 (out of 10)
Crisp and clear.
Innovation: 9
Working with sapphire is difficult.
Finissage: 7
On par for a high-end piece.
Legibility: 8
Yes, it’s quite clear.
Rarity: 8
Fifty pieces.
Value: 7
Limited numbers will mitigate unusual look and
specific collector interest.
Overall iW rating: 47 (out of 60)
32 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | FALL 2018