The house of Bell & Ross introduces a new timepiece to its BR-X1 line of aviation inspired watches. The collection, which made its worldwide debut in 2015, now welcomes the exclusive new Haute Horlogerie model, the BR-X1 Chronograph Tourbillon Sapphire.
This high-tech timepiece with a robust yet sophisticated look combines the extremely masculine aesthetic codes with technical refinement. Thanks to the original sapphire crystal case, the skeleton movement of the timepiece is here on full display. Its main plate and the pillars have been machined from a single block of metal, while the sapphire case is cut from six individual blocks: middle piece, back, top, crystal and the two bumpers, and is assembled with screws.
Built around a flying tourbillon master grand complication, this exclusive caliber also features a mono-pusher chronograph complication. The column wheel of the chronograph is visible underneath the see-through dial, at 12 o’clock position. The semi-instantaneous jumping hand here replaces a traditional sweeping hand, while the power reserve indicator appears at 9 o’clock position. The chronograph, with its 30-minute counter at 10 o’clock and 60-second counter at 2 o’clock, is controlled by the mono-pusher positioned at 2 o’clock position. This dedicated push piece is used to activate, stop and reset the chronograph timepiece.
The power reserve differential and the barrel are also visible on the back, while the flying tourbillon cage, graced with Bell & Ross insignia “&,” can be seen from every angle. Even though it looks fragile, the see-through case is made of sapphire, the second hardest material on earth – just after diamond. Almost nothing, other than diamond and silicon carbide, is able to scratch and destroy sapphire. This also means that machining a watch case from a solid block of sapphire is an extremely tough process.
The transparency of the 45x45mm case allows the admirer to journey inside the hand-wound flying tourbillon movement BR-CAL.285. The mechanism is assembled from 282 individual components and 35 jewels. It beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour, and provides at least 100 hours, or 4 days of power reserve. The watch is mounted on a bi-material strap which is made of translucent rubber with metallic Kevlar weaving.
Bell & Ross BR-X1 Chronograph Tourbillon Sapphire is available in a limited edition of 5 pieces. Reference: BRX1-CHTB-SAPHIR. Price upon request at bellross.com.
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