Reviewing the Bell & Ross BR-X5 Black Steel Watch

The new Black Steel watch from Bell & Ross’ BR-X5 collection combines a new multi-layer steel case construction with an optimised dial and an all-new movement.

In an oversaturated market of steel sports watches, very few watch brands have deviated away from the formula for fear of it going wrong, Showing itself a confident contender within this category is Bell & Ross, who has been setting a new standard in the popular steel luxe sports watch category with its popular BR 05 watch collection. Since I launched a few years ago, experts at Bell & Ross have added a BR 05 GMT, BR 05 Chrono and a skeletonised version to this line of automatics. But now it’s time for something new. The unique circle-within-a-square sports watch launches an all-new design – the BR-X5 - and it’s good.

The new Bell & Ross BR-X5 watch makes its mark as a daring and bold statement. Even the reference to its name nods to experimentation and mystery with the letter “X” – a link between the past and the present. It builds on the already solid foundations of the BR 05 watch, with a square bezel, four industrial-inspired screws sitting in the corners of the case, a strong anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front, legible dial elements and an integrated bracelet. For the development of the new BR-X5 watch, however, Bell & Ross equips it with a Kenissi movement and has developed a special case – both of which have a 5-year warranty. The COSC-certified movement sits inside a watertight container around which the watch’s multilayer case is built around – similar to how steel is used in the aeronautics industry. The watch is crafted from stainless steel and comes on an option of an integrated stainless steel bracelet or an open-worked rubber band to match the colour of its black or ice-blue dial. The Bell & Ross BR-X5 Black Steel and BR-X5 Ice Blue watches have been released as a new layer to the BR 05 collection and come with a similar spec list. Today we’re going to look at the Black Steel model.

The new Bell & Ross BR-X5 Black Steel watch

The new Bell & Ross BR-X5 Black Steel watch for 2022 comes fitted on a black rubber strap reference: BRX5R-BL-ST/SRB or an integrated stainless steel bracelet option reference; BRX5R-BL-ST/SST. Both variations, aside from their band, have the same specifications. This includes a 41mm stainless steel case with a square bezel set atop a multi-layer steel case with a sapphire crystal glass front and caseback. The latter shows off a personalised oscillating weight, inspired by a sports watch car rim. The front glass offers a clear view of a rich black dial with white elements and plenty of Super-LumiNova treatment. The watch sits at a 12.80mm height and offers 100-meter water resistance.

It is the case of the new Bell & Ross BR-X5 watch, however, that really adds allure to its sporty design. The middle case is hollowed out to reveal its clever construction, optimised for a lightweight and highly resistant feel on the wrist. The crown itself is protected by a crown guard that is machined from the same block of stainless steel used for the container and is built, as is the rest of the case, around a watertight container – the core of the design and the housing for the new movement. The sapphire glass front and back are both connected to the two steel plates that form the front and back of the case. Four screws penetrate the thickness of the case in four columns, reinforcing its strength and solidity.

The tough and highly resistant case of the new Bell & Ross BR-X5 Black Steel watch is underscored by its classic dial design. A piece of tough sapphire crystal glass creates a protected canopy across the display, revealing white luminous hands and indexes. The hour markers are pill-shaped and elongated to give the dial a new look. The hands are styled in the same watch and have also been trimmed in a rhodium plating with a grade X1 Super-LumiNova fill. At the 3 o’clock location is a date window dressed against a matching black backdrop. Balancing this feature is a power reserve indicator at 9 ‘clock, segmented into three sections to create ease when tracking the remaining power of the Calibre BR-CAL.323. Its red colour indicates the lower end of the watch’s energy reserves.

Beneath the dial is the Kenissi-developed BR-CAL.323. It features a decorated oscillating weight, a variable inertia balance wheel and a power reserve of 70 hours once fully wound. It also performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour and is COSC-certified.

If you’d like more information on the new Bell & Ross BR-X5 Black Steel model, either on a black rubber band or stainless steel bracelet, you can check out the finer details here, or call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453

Technical specifications of the new Bell & Ross BR-X5 Black Steel watch

• Case: 41mm - height: 12.80mm – stainless steel – multilayer construction – hollowed centre – screw-down crown and crown guard – 100-meter water-resistant – watertight core – anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – sapphire-backed case – four screws drilled down into columns to enhance solidity – satin-brushed polished and micro-blasted finishes
• Dial:  Black – sunray finish – white elongated pill-shaped hour markers filled with grade X1 Super-LumiNova – central metal skeletonised hour and minute hands treated with Super-LumiNova – date scale at 3 o’clock – power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock
• Movement: BR-CAL.323 – automatic – developed by Kenissi – 28,800 vph – 70-hour power reserve – personalised oscillating weight – variable inertia balance wheel – oscillating weight designed like a sports car rim – viewable from a sapphire exhibition caseback
• Strap: Stainless steel – integrated – folding clasp / black rubber – open-worked – stainless steel folding clasp
• Reference: Black rubber: BRX5R-BL-ST/SRB / Stainless steel bracelet: BRX5R-BL-ST/SST
• Price: Starts from £5,990