Bell & Ross Gets Frosty With New BR-X5 Ice Blue Steel
Blue Steel vibes.
The best watch designs assuredly blend form and function readily, and the best even act as a blank canvas to be updated and customized at will. Bell & Ross has treated the Bell & Ross BR-X5 accordingly in recent months, using an all-new movement and bold, vibrant colors–best seen in the new BR-X5 Ice Blue Steel.
The latest edition of the rugged, distinctive watch once again boasts an exclusive BR‐CAL.323 movement from Swiss manufacturer Kenissi, bolstering its precision and durability.
The real star of the show, however, is the sleek and winter-appropriate, sunray Ice Blue Steel dial, reminiscent of another famed shade of light blue (in a more rugged design, of course).
Fittingly, the French watchmaker notes the combination delivers in matters of looks and up-to-the-second timekeeping: The BR-X5 Ice Blue Steel “reaches new heights of precision,” the company said.
The movement itself is certified Swiss Official Chronometer Control Body, and boasts a highly useful 3-day power reserve (track it using the power reserve indicator at the 9’o-clock window).
Of the movement and the design itself, Bell & Ross says the design “values precision and reliability more than ever,” and it’s tough to argue with that sentiment.
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Other details are just as well-considered, including a date window displaying three slots at the 3-o’clock space, rather than the more traditional single-date window.
The multi-component case is also a stunning visual highlight, stripping out unnecessary weight in a streamlined design visible from the side of the well-proportioned 41mm case.
For good measure, the BR-X5, like other aviation and military-inspired timepieces from the French company, is a watch made to be worn far afield: Note the choice between a hard-wearing yet sleek stainless steel strap or a crisp, bright blue rubber strap for an additional $165.
The watch itself is priced accordingly given its handsome blend of style and utility: Be prepared to drop $6,900 if you can track one down at a Bell & Ross retailer.