Introducing: The Bell & Ross BR-X1 Military (Live Pics & Pricing)

October 09, 2018

Bell & Ross has just unveiled an all new BR-X1, and it's everything you would expect from the brand. It's bold, while being focused on new materials development. The BR-X1 collection is of course an extension of the well known, thinner, and less complex square watches that most people associate with Bell & Ross. From the initial skeleton chronograph in titanium and ceramic, the BR-X1 collection now boasts 20 references which include chronographs and a tourbillon?(remember the Hyperstellar in titanium or the Instrument De Marine with a wooden case?).?And now we have the BR-X1 Military.Designed by brand co-founder Bruno Belamich and inspired by fighter jets, the BR-X1 features a 45mm case in high resistance titanium (HRT) with a matte khaki color, with luminous green baton markers sitting over the skeletonized dial. This choice of case material achieves two things: a badass shade of matte green on the wrist and impressive resistance to corrosion (the case will remain unaffected by exposure to salt water and the elements). The BR-X1 Military on the wrist Initial Thoughts Bell & Ross is at its best when its focused on stealthy sports watches (both square and round). I admire brands who know what they do best and do it with little deviation (Rolex are the masters here).Looking at the watch itself, the dial on the on the BR-XI is made from tinted sapphire crystal, giving you a glimpse into the watch and the black DLC-coated, X-shaped upper bridge. The BR-Cal.313 movement is made up of an ETA 2892 with a Dubois-Depraz chronograph module added on top.?The bold, faceted hands and elongated indexes are filled with Super-LumiNova, which offers contrast on the dial. I often find skeletonized dials hard to read, but that's not an issue here.While the central hour and minute hands are read traditionally, while the sub second hand is positioned at three oclock, the minute totalizer on the chronograph function features an ultra-light aluminum disc that resembles the blades of a turbine in place of the typical hand. The tachymeter scale is visible on the rehaut, so there are no legibility issues there either. Finally, on the back there is a circular opening within the titanium case exposing the balance (and letting you see the automatic winding rotor swing by). The BR-X1 Military is limited to 250 pieces, and while it won't be to everyones taste, it's fantastic to see the continued evolution of one of Bell & Ross's flagship models. The Basics Brand: Bell & RossModel: BR-X1 MilitaryDiameter: 45mm Case Material: HRT (khaki High-Resistance Titanium) and black ceramic with rubber insertsDial Color: Skeletonized Indexes: BatonsLume: Yes, SuperCLumiNova on hands and indexesWater Resistance: 100 metersStrap/Bracelet: Rubber strap 007 / 250 (gotta love it) The Movement Caliber: BR-CAL.313 (ETA 2892 with a Dubois-Depraz chronograph module)Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds at three o'clock, skeletonized date at six o'clock, chronograph with 30-min totalizer at nine o'clockWinding: Automatic Frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 vph) Pricing & Availability Price: $23,000Limited Edition: 250 pieces?For more click here.