Positioned within its “Urban” collection, the Bell & Ross BR 05 is an integrated bracelet watch that represents a more refined expression of the brand’s signature instrument-inspired aesthetic. While the greater BR 05 lineup has expanded into a wide assortment of models, the Artline series offers a more ornate and visually intricate rendition of this fan-favorite design. Originally introduced in 2022, the BR 05 Artline made its inaugural appearance in stainless steel with vertical grooves adorning its surfaces that are inspired by the Art Deco period of the 1930s. Now for the brand’s latest release of 2024, Bell & Ross has taken the series in a bi-metallic direction with the limited-edition Bell & Ross BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold, which represents a two-tone rendition in stainless steel and 18k rose gold.
Based upon the core platform of the existing BR 05 series, the new Bell & Ross BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold (ref. BR05A-EL-GLST/SSG) features the same 40mm sizing as the standard BR 05 models, and its case is furnished with a flat sapphire crystal , a screw-on display caseback, and a signed crown set between two guards at the 3 o’clock location, which screws down to the middle case to help create 100 meters of water resistance. While some BR 05 models are fitted with rubber straps, the new Bell & Ross BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold is paired with the collection’s signature integrated bracelet, which features an H-link design and secures on the bottom of the wrist with a signed butterfly-style folding clasp.
However, what sets the new Bell & Ross BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold apart from the rest of the collection is that its bezel and center links are adorned with 18k rose gold panels that feature the Art Deco-inspired fluted grooves that first appeared on the original stainless steel Artline model from 2022. Despite offering a two-tone aesthetic, the actual amount of gold used throughout the watch appears to be relatively minimal, and when you look at the rim of the bezel and the interior surfaces of the bracelet links, you will notice that these components are not entirely made of gold but rather largely crafted from stainless steel with sculpted 18k rose gold panels attached to their outer surfaces.
To complement its two-tone appearance, the Bell & Ross BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold is fitted with a brown dial with a sunray finish. Additionally, rather than having large Arabic numerals at its cardinal points like the standard BR 05 watches, the new BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold features applied baton-style indexes, which offer a similar style to what can be found on the original stainless steel Artline model from 2022 and the various skeletonized BR 05 watches. The trio of centrally-mounted hands and the applied indexes receive a rose gold finish with Super-LumiNova inlays that emit a green-colored glow in the dark, and at the 3 o’clock location is a date window surrounded by a rose gold-finished frame that matches the appearance of the hands and hour markers.
Similar to other time-and-date models from the current BR 05 lineup, the new Bell & Ross BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold is powered by the brand’s Caliber BR- CAL.321-1 automatic movement. While the Bell & Ross BR- CAL.321-1 is based upon the blueprint of the Sellita SW300 and runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz), it uses the updated version of this popular self-winding caliber, and it therefore offers an extended power reserve of approximately 54 hours. Sitting visible through the sapphire window in the display caseback, the BR- CAL.321-1 fitted to the new BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold is completed by a skeletonized oscillating weight that has been given a rose gold finish to match the rest of the watch.
Similar to the original Bell & Ross Artline model from 2022, the new BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold will be produced as a limited edition, although it will exist in smaller numbers than its stainless steel sibling with production limited to 99 examples. In that same spirit, this new two-tone version is also quite a bit more expensive, and the Bell & Ross BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold has an official retail price of $12,800 USD, which makes it over twice the cost of the original stainless steel BR 05 Artline model. Given the amount of gold that is used within the construction of the watch, this ultimately feels like a rather large premium, especially considering that this two-tone version costs more than a third of what Bell & Ross charges for a full 18k rose gold BR 05 with a matching solid gold bracelet. That said, the bi-metal aesthetic and grooved panels make the BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold one of the more striking models from the greater BR 05 series, and it easily stands out as one of the most ornate options within the brand’s current lineup. For more information on the Bell & Ross BR 05 Artline Steel & Gold, please visit the brand’s website.
