Bell & Ross BR 01 Skull Bronze automatic 46 mm Full Set 2015

The brief

In 2009, Bell & Ross made its mark by breaking traditional watchmaking codes with its first BR 01 "Skull". In 2015, the brand presents an even more surprising version, the BR01 SKULL BRONZE.

This characterful version pays tribute to the epic of World War II paratroopers. These elite fighters proudly wore on their uniforms a patch bearing a skull and crossbones and the words "Death from Above". Falling from the skies at dawn on June 6, 1944, the troops of the 101st and 82nd American Airborne Divisions played a major role in the Normandy landings.

From time immemorial, the most fearsome combatants displayed their courage by wearing skull and crossbones. As much to impress their adversaries as to ward off bad luck. Today, while it continues to feature on a wide range of military equipment - uniforms, emblems, aircraft - the famous "Jolly Rogers" appears as a decorative element, like a talisman or rebel symbol.

Inspired by military codes

True to the spirit of the 1944 paratroopers and their emblem, the BR 01 SKULL BRONZE resolutely displays a skull barred by crossbones drawn by the bezel and screws, like the pirate flags of yesteryear. The monochrome "phantom" dial, with its black color symbolic of death, features hour and minute hands and other traditional codes of the military world: the dagger and the saber. The bronze color of the case and the aged look of the leather strap reinforce the vintage, warrior feel of a watch that will appeal to collectors and lovers of watches with character.

The color of time

To give this BR 01 SKULL BRONZE a unique look, Bell & Ross chose to make the case in bead-blasted bronze finish. With an initial hue evoking shades of rose or red gold, bronze has acquired a patina over time that gives it an incomparable "out-of-age" look. If bronze has brilliantly traversed millennia of history, Bell & Ross brings it into the modern age by marrying it with grade 5 titanium, which brings its hypoallergenic properties and extremely light qualities, synonymous with wearing comfort, to the case back.

Retrofuturism

With its use of bronze and reference to legendary military codes, the BR 01 SKULL BRONZE appears as an icon. But it is also a watch in tune with the times. The BR 01's famous 46 mm square case houses a self-winding movement that combines precision, solidity and performance. A screw-down crown ensures water resistance to 100 m. The sapphire crystal is distinguished by its claw-shaped gold indexes, obtained by metallization of the inner face.

To respect the purity of the design and the aesthetic balance of the watch, its mechanism has been designed to allow the axis of the hands to appear in the exact center of the skull. The off-centering of the crown attests to this special arrangement. The skull and crossbones at the heart of the dial, a wink of technology with vintage charm, glows in the dark thanks to the use of an applied B-light photoluminescent pigment. Finally, it's a special worn-leather-style tanning technique, with tone-on-tone stitching, that gives the brown strap its aged look.

The package

This Bell & Ross limited to 500 pieces is in excellent condition with already a nice patina. It will be delivered Full Set with its original case, instructions for use and original warranty card dated 2015. The box also includes a brand-new nylon strap, a set of tools for changing the strap and a patch specific to this edition. This BR01-92-SKULL-BR has been authenticated and serviced by our watchmakers and as such benefits from the Lepage Vintage 1-year warranty.