The Stealth Watch That Doesn’t Go Unnoticed
With its full black finish, the BR-05 Skeleton Phantom Ceramic brings a new stylistic dimension to the BR-05 line, an elegant, urban-inspired family of watches launched by Bell & Ross in 2019. In just six years, the BR-05 has become a cornerstone of the brand’s collections, introducing a new reference point in the maison’s design journey since 1994, with a clear guiding principle: the round in a square. This distinct identity takes its inspiration from professional dashboard instruments.
With the BR-05 collection, Bell & Ross targets aficionados of contemporary watchmaking who refuse to compromise on performance while seeking an elegant, urban-inspired timepiece. The line’s identity is embodied in its fully integrated design: “The case and bracelet form a single unit. This type of design refers to a style of watches that emerged in the 1970s. Translating it into the Bell & Ross aesthetic yields a result that is both intuitive, modern, and graphically impactful,” says Bruno Belamich, Creative Director at Bell & Ross. With the new BR-05 Skeleton Phantom Ceramic, featuring a unique black finish that is both precious and mysterious, an homage to stealth aircraft, Bell & Ross aims to show that it’s possible to stand out while staying discreet.
A Transparent Black Technical Dial
To highlight the interplay of light and shadow, the dial of the new BR-05 Skeleton Phantom Ceramic is entirely black. This monochromatic approach demanded an original technical composition. The central plate of the dial is made of black-tinted sapphire crystal. Through its transparency, it reveals the rhodium-plated skeleton movement while deepening the watch’s air of mystery. The dial is framed by a matte black flange with applied indexes, also in matte black and filled with black Super-LumiNova®. This photoluminescent material, which also coats the skeletonised hour and minute hands, appears black by day but emits green light in the dark—an unexpected visual effect that enhances the technical feel of the watch. For added contrast, the seconds hand is rhodium plated. The Phantom finish does not compromise Bell & Ross’s usual standards of legibility for its instrument watches.
The Finesse of Skeletonisation: Between Lightness And Power
Skeletonisation, a watchmaking art, blends technical mastery with aesthetics, something Bell & Ross values deeply. By refining and reshaping the components, which requires meticulous craftsmanship to maintain their strength and performance, the movement becomes lighter and more transparent. This allows the mechanism’s inner workings and rhythm to be revealed. Equipped with a 54-hour power reserve, the BR-CAL.322-1 caliber, developed specifically for Bell & Ross, beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). Its performance is visible from both sides of the new BR-05 Skeleton Phantom Ceramic, not just through the dial but also via the sapphire case back. Beneath the custom-decorated black oscillating weight, which spins 360°, you can see the black upper bridge and various finely open worked components that showcase the precision and beauty of this high-performance automatic movement.
A Ceramic Case Built To Withstand It All
The choice of black ceramic is not just aesthetic, it’s technical. This modern material guarantees robustness, thanks to its scratch and corrosion resistance. Harder than steel yet lighter, it also offers hypoallergenic comfort. Last year, Bell & Ross introduced a black ceramic case to mark the fifth anniversary of the BR 05 line. Crafting this material is demanding, but with over 20 years of experience, Bell & Ross is able to apply refined finishes—both polished and brushed—that elevate this BR 05 to the status of a contemporary jewel. Deliberately assertive, brushed surfaces create a striking interplay with the light, making the ceramic shine and adding a luxurious feel—enhanced further by the polished screws, bevels, and polished ceramic bracelet links. Water-resistant to 100 meters, the new BR 05 Skeleton Phantom Ceramic is available with an all-ceramic bracelet or a black rubber strap with a folding clasp.
Discover Bell & Ross timepieces at the Bell & Ross boutique by Sincere Fine Watches, located at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, #B2M-203.