Ceramic has arrived to be the heart and soul of the new Bell &amp; Ross BR 05 integrated bracelet collection.

For Bell &amp; Ross, designing ceramic watches has always felt like a natural evolution and, in fact, always been inevitable. Technical ceramic, which became popular in watchmaking during the 1980s, had already developed into a crucial material in the aeronautics and space industries due to its ultra-resistance and lightweight properties. It was only time that it made its mark in horology. Primarily used in manufacturing rocket nose cones and spacecraft heat shields, ceramic perfectly aligns with the brand's aeronautical inspirations.
After all, Bell &amp; Ross is reknowned for transforming aircraft instrument panels into exceptional timepieces. With its nigh resistance to scratches, ceramic has now come to play a vital role in modern watchmaking. It is one of the hardest materials in the world, second only to diamond, and yet it is lighter than steel. Moreover, this remarkable material adjusts to the body's temperature upon contact with the skin and is hypoallergenic, making it particularly comfortable to wear. The soft-to-the-touch quality enhances the overall wearing experience, complementing durability with comfort. Furthermore, once crafted in deep intense black, ceramic immediately draws a direct reference to aircraft cockpits and their on-board instruments, core elements of the Bell &amp; Ross&rsquo; DNA and design philosophies.

The new black ceramic BR 05 collection from Bell &amp; Ross features three distinctive models: two joining the brand&rsquo;s permanent collection and a limited edition of 500 pieces. Consistent across the models are the use of the same case size and movement to power the watches.
The watches debut their new diameter of 41mm and shows off its striking black shade to great effect. Magically, the case seems to absorb light. Intriguingly, the aesthetic captures attention, while making objects appear smaller. To counteract this optical illusion and maintain the watches' presence, Bruno Belamich, the Creative Director and co-founder of Bell &amp; Ross, opted to slightly increase the dimensions. The dimensions of the three-hands and hour markers on the dials have also been adjusted accordingly.
Additionally, the watches come with sapphire case backs that highlight the matching black ruthenium finish of their automatic mechanical movements, each offering a practical power reserve of 54 hours.
Ultimately, the new ceramic BR 05 watches successfully adhere to the functionalist approach favoured by Bell &amp; Ross. Luminescent components enhance readability at night, even while the case and bracelet adopt a stealthy, enigmatic aesthetic.

Boasting a shiny black sunburst dial with rhodium-plated skeletonised hands tipped with white luminescent material, the BR 05 Black Ceramic comes with either an integrated ceramic bracelet or a rubber strap with matching buckle. Undeniably sophisticated, the BR 05 Black Ceramic features a captivating satin polish finish. Inside, the calibre BR-CAL.321-1 automatic winding movement beats to power the watch.

The satin-polished BR 05 Skeleton Black Ceramic stands out with its tinted transparent dial, showcasing a different mechanical self-winding calibre. To help with legibility and make the dial pop even more, the applique indices and skeletonised hour and minute hands have been filled with white Super-LumiNova&reg; that glows green in the dark.
The BR-CAL.322-1 movement with a black ruthenium finish proudly shows off its skeletonised components and offers a dissimilar vibe to the former. Nevertheless, this model, like the aforementioned BR05A-BL-CE also comes with a sleek satin polish finish and the choice of either bracelet or rubber strap.

The matte sandblasted BR 05 Skeleton Black Lum Ceramic features a black smoked sapphire crystal dial, highlighting the rhodium-plated skeletonised hands adorned with high-shine green luminescent material.
In contrast to the other two models, the BR 05 Skeleton Black Lum Ceramic case and bracelet instead comes with a matte surface finish achieved through sandblasting. This results in the ceramic having a sportier and more resolutely graphic appearance. To differentiate this model further, its applique indices and skeletonised hour and minute hands are instead filled with a bolder C5 Super-LumiNova&reg; with green glow.
Powered also by the calibre BR-CAL.322-1, this model is particularly exclusive, limited to only 500 pieces, and is available solely with the integrated matte black ceramic bracelet.

&ldquo;The bracelet is integrated into the case in line with the brand&rsquo;s codes, while bringing another dimension to the watch: the first link is part of the case. This type of design has been an industry benchmark since the &rsquo;70s; when transposed to Bell &amp; Ross, we get a watch with a shape that is at once compact, harmonious and ergonomic,&rdquo; exclaimed Bruno Belamich, Creative Director and co-founder of Bell &amp; Ross.

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