Having succeeded in creating a unique fan base with BR series, Bell & Ross brought the Skeleton Tourbillon model, which was accepted by the flag ships of the collection, to a completely different dimension.
Obviously, you do not need to be familiar with the Bell & Ross BR Collection to distinguish the new model from the other versions in the collection ... You even do not have to notice the flying Tourbillon escapement because the watch’s transparent sapphire crystal case is all it takes to tell everything.
The case, carrying the classic BR Collection lines, consists of 9 separate pieces. The central part, the caseback, the bezel, the front crystal and the four bumper pieces on each of the corners are all made of sapphire crystal. All these parts are connected together by screws positioned horizontally and vertically.
The sapphire crystals used in the watch industry are often used in the construction of the front and rear crystals. This raw material, obtained by cutting synthetic sapphire crystal (corundum) grown in laboratory environment in a disk form suitable for watch crystal production, is one of the most used materials in the entire watch industry.
At the beginning of the 1990s, the sapphire crystal used in the construction of the case by Alain Silberstein did not make much noise at the time, but nowadays the models produced from this interesting material are very popular. This popular trend, which Bell & Ross has just joined, includes important brands such as Richard Mille, H. Moser & Cie., Hublot and Greubel Forsey.
The case measures 45mm in diameter. The transparent-looking case is accompanied by a strap decorated with technological elements not less than what the case bears. The strap is made of transparent rubber. In order to increase the strength without damaging the flexibility, a metallic tone Kevlar skeleton was added to the inside of the belt.
In the new model, the BR Caliber Ref.285, which brought model from the previous heavy series of the season to life, was used.
The new model is powered with the Caliber Ref.285, which was also used for recent heavy hitters of the collection like the Skeleton Tourbillon. The movement sports a flying Tourbillon escapement and a single push chronograph feature. The hand winding movement offers 4 days of power reserve when fully wound.
The BR-X1 Chronograph Tourbillon Sapphire (ref. BRX1-CHTB-SAPHIR) is limited to five pieces with a price of US$495,000 (USA list).
