A Review of the Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono Grey Steel & Gold Watch

Bell & Ross releases a new iteration of the BR 05 watch, adorned in tones of grey, steel and gold.

The Steel Sports Watch Formula

For a fair few years, Bell & Ross has been recognising the importance of the steel sports watch and its rising popularity. The integrated steel sports watch is in demand more now than it has ever been before, and it’s quite clear this trend is going nowhere. The product segment gives way to a vast array of similarly styled designs on the market today. Yet, Bell & Ross makes sports watches that stand out with a difference. The instantly recognisable “circle within a square” design is here to stay and has garnered a collectors’ cult of its own. The models from the BR 05 watch collection by Bell & Ross pay homage to the instrument panel-inspired style of the BR 03 series but are more youthful and athletic in style. What’s more, the value-to-quality ratio of a Bell & Ross BR 05 watch cannot be argued with. They’re not just an alternative to the more expensive sports watches on the market, but a preferred choice for collectors and that says a lot about Bell & Ross as a watchmaker.

The integrated bracelet design of a sports watch was a winning formula that Gerald Genta used in many of his iconic designs during the 1970s, namely the Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet and the Ingenieur by IWC Schaffhausen. The trick behind these innovative designs was to make the men’s watch bracelet more popular and more comfortable. Watches like the BR 05 bear bracelets take up a lot of visual presence on the wrist, so they need to be attractive and ergonomic. Luckily for Bell & Ross, the manufacturer gets the balance just right. Other features like the square-shaped case and round dial, the legible display, and an accurate movement all add to the popularity of the BR 05 watch, which brings us to the new BR 05 Chrono Grey Steel & Gold watch, recently released at the Watches & Wonders 2024 event.

New Colours for the Bell & Ross BR 05 Watch

Now, I know a lot of emphasis on the BR 05 watch is on its chiselled steel physique. But what if I were to say that the brand has gone one extra, with a mix of tones that still retain the appeal of the steel sports watch while enhancing a more luxurious quality? The new variant in question is a two-tone chronograph that boasts 18ct rose gold tones on its bezel and in the bracelet links too. The other parts of the case and the outer links of the bracelet are executed in a brushed finish to compliment the grey elements on the dial, achieved via a ruthenium coating. It’s normally the BR X5 watch collection that showcases the more daring side to Bell & Ross’ use of innovative materials. Take, for example, its use of carbon fibre, titanium and solid lume dials in the past. Saying that this is not the first two-tone design to emerge from the BR 05 watch collection, either. The brand released a cigar-inspired design named the Chrono Edicion in 2022 with Havana-coloured tones.

Bell & Ross has always made it clear that the sporty BR 05 watch collection is aimed at urban explorers. This new model, however, looks a little more cosmopolitan. You can opt for the watch on the two-tone bracelet that you see here, crafted from steel and rose gold, or a more supple and comfortable black rubber band with a striated surface for sports activities. Either way, the strong identity of the BR 05 remains intact. The four decorative screws still sit in the corners of the square case and the push-pieces echo the angular features of the case at 2 and 4 o’clock.

Technical Specifications of the New Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono Grey Steel & Gold

The new Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono Grey Steel & Gold watch measures 42mm in diameter and sits on the wrist with a depth of 14.25mm. The brushed surfaces and chamfered sides are a really nice touch, as is the familiar raised and rounded square bezel with the exposed screws bolted onto the surface. Tucked in between the two push-pieces is the crown, embellished with the company logo. The watch is also water-resistant to 100 meters and is fitted with a sapphire crystal glass front with anti-reflective and scratch-resistant properties. The back of the case is also kitted out with an exhibition window, enabling you to observe the movement as it performs.

The sunray brushed ruthenium dial is a beautiful shade to use in contrast with the crisp, blushing, rose gold tones of the hands and the hour markers. While the 12 and 6 o’clock locations on the hour track are represented by Arabic numerals, the remainder of the track features stick indexes that have been treated with Super-LumiNova, as have the hands. The minutes and seconds ring around the very edge of the dial provides you with more accurate timekeeping, especially since the 5-minute increments are mapped out on the flange. As this Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono Grey Steel & Gold watch is a chronograph, the dial is equipped with a central chronograph seconds hand that can be activated and paused using the top pusher and reset using the bottom 4 o’clock pusher.

The chronograph counters, positioned in a bi-compax layout, are neat and tidy, echoing the “squircle” shape of the case. The 3 o’clock counter provides the 30-minute feature, while the 9 o’clock location features the running seconds. Both counters on the dial have been finished in a rose gold hue to match the case and dial elements. The dial also benefits from a date window at 4:30. Inside the case of the new Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono Grey Steel & Gold watch is the Calibre BR-CAL.326, which provides a power reserve of 60 hours once fully wound and performs at a rate of 28,800 vibration per hour.

If you’d like more information on the new Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono Grey Steel & Gold watch, you can contact our customer sales team on 01335 453453 or email us a question at help@jurawatches.co.uk. Alternatively, you can view the rest of the BR 05 watch collection here at Jura Watches for more inspiration.