Bell & Ross BR-05 Artline
Bell & Ross first introduced the BR 05 version of the company’s flagship BR 03 in the year 2019. Based on those designs, the new BR 05 Artline is a much more modern, elegant and refined take keeping the rounded corners intact to give the watch a vintage feel in an urban context.
This latest design featuring a folding metal casing was shaped by taking ideas from the following:
Primarily, the watch took inspiration from the aero patterns of the corrugated aluminium fuselage of the 1940s transport planes.
Secondarily, the urban trend of applying aluminium in architecture has inspired the formation of the watch. As aluminium covers the facades of skyscrapers, the watch has the protection of an aluminium framework around its mechanical compartment. The use of aluminium in interior decoration and lights has also been a driving force for the watch company.
The Creative Director of Bell & Ross, Bruno Belamich claimed that the word, ‘Artline’ has been coined to summarise the entire idea conclusively.
“When you look at it, you immediately think of the American style of the Stream-Line,” he clarified.
Belamich also quoted: “Several references were running through my head while creating this piece. The first of these concerns air travel.”
BR 05 Artline is a watch with ornamental qualities and is a rare Bell & Ross edition. On the display panel, the numbers are like baton indexes, multiplied by two at 12 o’clock where the dial has a touch of sunburst ruthenium grey.
The watch is winded by the BR-CAL.321 and is enclosed in a 40 mm wide case with a thickness of 0.5 mm. It also flaunts a satin-finished and polished steel strap having geometrical stripes on the surface.
This new BR 05 Artline is a special edition by the company and has only 250 copies to it. The pieces are available for purchase at Bell & Ross boutiques.
Created in 2019, the BR 05 is a derivative of the BR 03, the model Bell & Ross considers as its iconic line.
Building on that, the new BR 05 Artline adopts a subtle, refined finish and retains its shapes with rounded corners from this more urban family.
According to Bruno Belamich, Creative Director of the Brand, the term Artline is deployed as a term to sum up the concept perfectly.
“When you look at it, you immediately think of the American style of the Stream-Line”, he explains.
Belamich continued: “Several references were running through my head while creating this piece. The first of these concerns air travel.”
The new design with folded metal casing calls on two inspirations.
Firstly, the aero style which was used to transport planes of the 1940s were known for their corrugated aluminium fuselage.
Secondly, is the urban style which calls on aluminium being widely used in architecture. This alloy covers the facades of state-of-the-art buildings. Interior decoration also takes advantage of this material, which adorns avant-garde lighting and furnishings.
An ornate watch, the BR 05 Artline is a unique Bell & Ross model. The display numerals give way to baton indexes, just doubled at 12 o’clock while the dial is adorned with a sunburst ruthenium grey. Powered by the BR-CAL.321, the case is 40mm in width and 10.5mm in thickness and comes on a satin-finished and polished steel strap with striated links.