Hello everyone! In this article, I will focus on my most recent purchase, the Bell & Ross BR 05.
This is essentially a collection and I'm focusing on my personal purchases. I've done similar articles before, such as about my Kurono Tokyo Toki, IWC Mark XVIII Le Petit Prince, TAG Heuer Monaco CAW211B, and most recently the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80. Today, I'll be showing my first purchase of the New Year - Bell & Ross BR 05.
I had a chance to review the new BR 05 GMT a while back and liked it more than I expected. In particular, I really like the feel of the integrated sports watch, as well as the nice bracelet. I wrote "the BR 05 GMT's case and bracelet are the best for its price" and increasingly appreciate how comfortable it is to wear for extended periods of time. However, I found the matte black dial to be a bit too conservative for my tastes, and there's no need for a GMT function either - given the current pressure on the Omnicron, I doubt I'll be traveling any time soon.Best replica watch
So I started exploring the rest of the BR 05 lineup and found myself leaning towards the time-only variant. Given Bell & Ross' heritage as a manufacturer of aviation instrumentation watches, the instant legibility of the standard BR 05 model is most appealing to me. Of the many colorways available, my favorite is the sunburst blue dial.
In terms of metal, the blue BR 05 looks better than in the press photos. Blue watches are a dime a dozen these days—I own several, including the aforementioned IWC Mark XVIII Le Petit Prince and the Tissot PRX Powermatic 80. However, the BR 05 has a royal identity, a je ne sais quoi in a different shade of blue than its competitors. It just looks richer and warmer, with a lovely elegance that complements its rugged sports watch nature. I also love the clean, sleek aesthetic of the dial, and its simplicity provides the perfect canvas for the striking blue dial. The date wheel is also rendered in blue to blend into the dial - an important little detail.JACOB & CO ASTRONOMIA SKY
The time-only BR 05 shares the same bracelet as its GMT counterpart. In other words, it has a bracelet - just look at the completion in the video above! The polished center link contrasts with the satin-brushed bracelet, making the watch sparkle on the wrist. It captures light beautifully and even has a slight taper for a more streamlined look. Granted, it's a bit of a Nautilus inspiration, but it's executed so well that it matches the haute horlogerie inspiration.
The Time-only BR 05's case is only 40mm in diameter, significantly smaller than the brand's BR01/03 icon. In fact, it's the smallest men's square watch in Bell & Ross' current catalog. On my 7" wrist, the 40mm case fits very well. Due to its boxy nature, it has quite a bit of wrist presence - it's still quintessential Bell & Ross. However, its integrated nature and lack of lugs mean it actually wears smaller than my TAG Heuer Monaco despite being 1mm larger on paper. At just 10.4mm thick, it's also pretty slim for a square watch. I don't find it any problem under shirt cuffs and it actually goes well with formal wear. I remember wearing the BR 05 with a navy suit and getting a lot of compliments for it - it's a watch that is both dressy and sporty.replica watch Review
Unfortunately, the movement is the unremarkable Sellita SW-300. Obviously Bell & Ross has made some aesthetic modifications to what it calls the BR-CAL.321 - it now features a skeletonised "wheel" rotor - but in terms of specs it's pretty much the same as the standard movement . This means only a short power reserve of 40 hours. This is definitely an area where the BR 05's competitiveness has declined, and perhaps that's why some watch lovers scoff at the brand. For context, Tudor offers an in-house chronometer-certified movement with a 70-hour power reserve in its Black Bay watches, which can be found at prices well below the BR 05, both in the retail market and on the resale market. At the very least, I would have liked the movement to be chronometer-certified—even entry-level models from competing brands like Breitling have it. Having said that, the in-house off-the-shelf movement also means the BR 05 will be much cheaper to repair than its proprietary counterparts.
When the BR 05 was first released in 2019, it caused a lot of controversy - many slammed it as a mere tribute to the Nautilus and the Royal Oak. A few years later, the tide seems to have turned, and audiophiles are now starting to appreciate the BR 05's virtues. Although the watch has now turned into a full collection (with 29 models), the time-only BR 05 with its striking blue dial still shines brightest, at least for me. For a fairly affordable sports watch, the BR 05 offers everything you need without everything you don't need. I really like how Bell & Ross has kept some of the brand's signature elements on the BR 05 (screws on the bezel, clear dial, etc.) while updating it into a modern package that fits the urban lifestyle. In terms of fit and finish, it's a watch well above its price point. It's the watch I wear the most at the moment, simply because it's such a great on-the-go watch. But, to be honest, I'm still deciding whether to keep this watch as it technically does the same thing as my Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 (blue dial integrated sports watch). But if you don't already have a blue integrated sports watch, then I really recommend visiting your ad/boutique to try on the BR 05 - it really shines in metal.luxury replica watches