When I first started collecting watches, Bell & Ross was a brand that I soon gravitated toward. So much that the fourth mechanical watch I acquired was a BR 03-92. It is still a watch I own and wear regularly today. It's the classic, smaller sized 42 mm BR model with the patented square case with round dial and tan numeral indices.
Over the years, Bell & Ross continued to create stylish and novel variations using the same overall design language. Sure the square case BR models constitute their main line, they have however, released different models that innovate on that basic case structure. A great example is the 2018 BR 01 Laughing Skull.
Regardless of whether you are a fan of the idea of using skull and bones as accessories to your person, the striking look of the silvery skull of the Laughing Skull on the Clou de Paris dial will, I believe, elicit an immediate smile. The implementation is brilliantly executed as the skull covers the manual wound (exclusive to Bell & Ross) BR-CAL.206 movement who's bridges and gears are shaped into a skull.
The details are also worth noticing, for instance the exposed balance wheel on the forehead of the skull; and, the pirate sword-shaped hands to indicate the hours and minutes. But perhaps the most interesting surprise, which explains the name, is that as you wind the manual movement, the bottom part of the skull's jaw moves up and down as if laughing. A sure attention grabber and also motivation to the owner to keep the watch wound, giving it enough juice for the next 48 hours.
The attention to detail does not end with the laughing movement of the skull on the front of the dial. The caseback exposes the same skull shape showing the beveling of the mainplates and polished gears. The microblasted steel case is a bit thicker than my BR 03 and while I could not measure it, I believe stands between 12 to 14 mm high.
However, this thickness is not a major issue since the 46 mm square case with tiny lugs attaching the brown alligator strap make all BR watches supremely easy and comfortable to wear. This wearability and the unique design are some of the reasons I keep going back to mine every few weeks.
BR 01 Laughing Skull full diamond
And for the real skull and bones passionate wanting to have a unique, perhaps blingy version, Bell & Ross also has a full diamond version limited to 500. Using close to 400 diamonds for a total weight of 2.9 ct, the dial is set with the gems instead of the machined Clou de Paris. It's not for everyone, certainly not for me, however, I can appreciate the brand targeting the hard core fans by creating a limited version that they offer at $30,000 while the basic model starts at $9,900.
The Bell & Ross Laughing Skull is available today on Bell & Ross's online store where you can also find the full diamond version as well as a variety of straps (rubber, different color and types of leathers) to better customize the watch to your tastes. bellandross.com
The Tudor brand of watches is interesting. Not only because they are the watches from the “little sister” brand to the mighty Rolex, but because they have a design language onto themselves that many like and many don’t. While I don’t own a Tudor watch and not many of their models sing to my sensibilities and aesthetic, I always like to see what novelties they produce every year.
At the COUTUREtime show in Las Vegas, I had this exact opportunity. It’s not clear I left with a lust for any of their new watches, but what Tudor showed me was streamlined, strong, well priced, and overall desirable. Let’s take a closer look.