Bell & Ross Strives to Make the Watch Case Disappear

The French brand Bell & Ross walks the line between both camps Well-known for its Vintage collection of round wristwatches honoring 1960s-era aviation, the watchmaker's new BR-X2 Skeleton Tourbillon Micro-Rotor fits squarely in the futuristic category Like its second-generation predecessor, last year's BR-X2 model, featuring a case and movement fused into a single element, the BR-X2 Skeleton Tourbillon was designed "To make the case disappear, leaving just the movement visible," says creative director Bruno Belamich.

In order to fit inside Bell & Ross's iconic shape, the watch boasts a square movement made in collaboration with Geneva-based MHC Manufacture caliber BR-CAL.381 is placed between two sapphire crystal plates, which are linked by a narrow band of steel machined as a single piece, so the sapphire crystals serve as both the bezel and the caseback Fans of slender timepieces will be pleased with the extra-thin movement, whose profile measures just 405 mm high.

A flying tourbillon at six o'clock rounds out the look of the two-hand watch display Available in a limited-edition of 50 pieces, the BR-X2 Skeleton Tourbillon Micro-Rotor retails for $79,000. . Source