Jewellery & Watch News
Luxury pilot’s watch expert Bell & Ross is taking their expertise onto the racetrack, extending upon their partnership with the Alpine A1 racing team with the launch of the Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono A523 watch. The limited edition of 500 pieces marks the first time the integrated architecture of the BR 05 watch has been combined with the sporty blue livery of the motorsport team.
Since their founding in 1993, Bell & Ross has cemented a strong legacy in the aviation world, producing cockpit instruments and pilot's watches for military personnel and everyday aviators. In recent years, they have also made a notable impact in the world of motorsport. The partnership with the Renault F1 team, which later became the Alpine A1 team, has led to the creation of several special and limited edition watches including recent designs like the Bell & Ross BR 03 92 A522 watch. The latest addition to the collection however marks a first for the Swiss watchmaker. For the first time, Bell & Ross has utilised their BR 05 watch to capture the style and precision required by the Alpine A1 team’s high-pressure racing environment.
David Gendry, VP Sponsoring, Partnerships and Communications at Alpine speaks on the partnership: “When it comes to our partnership with Bell & Ross, our philosophy is one of style and performance. We work in a high-pressure environment where precision and performance are essential to deliver results. Wearing a Bell & Ross watch is not only a constant reminder of our goals, but also an integral part of how we achieve them: through precision, punctuality and reliability”.
Bruno Belamich, Co-founder and Creative Director of Bell & Ross, also adds: “This year, the BR 05 Chrono A523 completes the series of Alpine timepieces, subtly adopting its colour code while perfectly meeting the needs of the team’s drivers. But beyond style and colourways, above all, we are designing a tool that serves the driver: an ally at all times… The choice of chrono movement meets the needs of Team Alpine, who are of course measuring speed and sports performance. Bell & Ross conveys the Alpine identity in each of its designs through the colour code and logo.”
The design of the Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono A523 Limited Edition retains the sporty-chic essence of the BR 05 collection with a 42mm square-shaped case with integrated lugs, a rounded square-bezel with four corner screws and flat sapphire crystal glass. The case also incorporates a screw in crown with crown guards, flat chronograph pushers and a screw down exhibition case back for a 100 metre water resistant rating. The case sits on the wrist at 14.25mm tall and offers alternate polished and satin-finished surfaces. It comes complete with a choice of two integrated straps: a flat stainless steel bracelet or a black calfskin leather strap with Alpine blue lining.
On the dial of the Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono A523 watch, you can find plenty of bold blue accents added in honour of the Alpine A1 racing team. Blue is placed on the tachymeter scale and on the two chronograph hands for the central chronograph seconds and 30 minutes counter. The rest of the dial is finished in black with the two subsidiary dials recessed and outlined in silver to match with the large silvered Arabic numerals, small seconds hand and central hour and minutes hands. These hands and the numerals are adorned in glow in the dark Superluminova. The dial also nods to the racing team by adding an A-shaped counterweight to the chronograph seconds hand and the French flag at 6 o’clock.
The engine behind the Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono A523 watch is the self-winding mechanical BR-CAL.326 calibre with hours, minutes, small seconds at 9 o’clock, central chronograph seconds, 30 minutes counter at 3 o’clock and date functions. It also delivers 25 jewels, a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 38 hours. The Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono A523 watch is limited to 500 pieces and retails at £6,100 on the leather strap and £6,500 on the metal bracelet.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono A523 watch and secure one of the 500 limited edition pieces for yourself, head over to the W Hamond website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01947 603330 or send us a message at info@whamond.com.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: BR-CAL.326 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, central chronograph seconds, 30 minute counter, date
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Jewels: 25
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Black with blue tachymeter scale and chronograph hands, Superluminova numerals and hands, A-shaped chronograph hand counterweight
- Strap: Black leather or integrated metal bracelet
- Buckle: Folding
- Limited: 500 pieces
- RRP: £6,100 (Leather), £6,500 (Bracelet)
- Reference: BR05C-A523-ST/SCA (Leather), BR05C-A523-ST/SST (Bracelet)
