Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Watch Review

Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Watch Review

Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Watch Review

Let’s first take a look at the BR-X2 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor by itself

What we should have this is a watch that belongs to the “X-factor” concept by Bell & Ross watches which are produced with complex movements, complex construction with no compromises on technical solutions or cost (relatively-talking about course). The X-collection was initially introduced in 2014, using the BR-X1 Skeleton Chronograph, a wrist watch to appear because the most technical and boldest proposition of the trademark, having a modular situation along with a skeletonized chronograph movement. The concept will quickly be derived having a tourbillon-chronograph movement, and this past year, the company revealed a complete azure form of this watch (which time, it truly made no compromises around the price… near to 500, 000 Euros). This crazy watch thus opened up the doorway for other creations, and also the new BR-X2 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor belongs to it.

Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Watch Review

This watch shows a quite unique construction. Resistant to the manufacture of standard watches, in which the movement is enclosed inside a situation with a minimum of 3 parts (central container, bezel, caseback) which azure crystals are attached, the BR-X2 is made around another architecture. The movement and also the situation are actually near to as being a one-piece element as well as on this central module, two azure crystals are directly screwed - acting just like a bezel along with a caseback. Inside a more in depth way, instead of to surround it, the steel situation frames the movement on its periphery, creating an outer protection. The situation and also the movement are a nearly seamless set up. Begin to see the technical drawing below to know:

Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor

This central module is presented on sides by two thick azure crystals (which actually represent over fifty percent from the watch’s thickness). Because of polished, bevelled sides and obvious gaskets, the BR-X2 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor offers great transparency in most angles. 4 functional screws produce the final set up and provide the timepiece its solidity and water proofing (50m, that is respectable thinking about the particular architecture from the watch). As you can tell around the image above, the situation is simply a steel band that frames the square-formed movement which comprises the lugs. A kind of monobloc construction.

The Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor also constitutes a signifgicant impression due to its proportions

As the situation measures 42.5mm x 42.5mm - meaning visually quite large around the wrist, as squared cases have a tendency to feel bigger - it wears well because of very short lugs. Probably the most impressive specs concerns the thickness from the watch, at 8.9mm - that is impressive indeed, thinking about the thinnest automatic tourbillon available on the market at this time is really a Breguet, having a 7mm profile.

Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Watch Review

It was possible due to the construction from the situation, the thinness from the movement itself (4.05mm) and the lack of a dial. Indeed, the leading side from the Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor may be the primary-plate from the movement, on the top which a circular brushed flange with integrated indexes continues to be applied. All this results in a highly technical, almost industrial look, which dramatically contrasts using the elegant proportions from the watch - I have seen it worn having a suit and tie also it makes great impression and simultaneously they fit within shirt’s cuff…

The dial side displays the hrs and minutes along with the flying tourbillon at 6 - having a pretty nice decoration, because it is bevelled and polished, but additionally a awesome shape using the “&” of Bell & Ross built-into the cage. As no dial exists, the leading from the watch is extremely technical, with several finishes usually located on the caseback - vertically and circularly brushed, sand-blasted, circular-grained - and many technical elements remain unhidden, like the winding mechanism and also the bridge for that keyless works.

The movement within the Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor is different for this watch

As with every tourbillon movements present in Bell & Ross watches, the BR-CAL.380 continues to be developed along with MHC Manufacture Haute Complication, a Geneva-based movement-designer, that also takes proper care of the set up (keep in mind that Bell & Ross isn't a movement manufacturer and it has never claimed to become one). According to a current (round) architecture, MHC gave the movement a squared-contour around perfectly adjust to design for the timepiece. Technically-speaking, it provides a one-minute tourbillon, a computerized winding via dense tungsten alloy micro-rotor, also it has a 50-hour power reserve. Its dimensions are 36mm x 36mm having a low thickness of four.05mm.

When it comes to look and decoration, Bell & Ross chose to have an industrial, technical look instead of opting for the classical Haute-Horlogerie style. The calibre from the Bell & Ross BR-X2 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor is deliberately quite rough and monochromatic. Bridges are vertically brushed, bevels are sand-blasted and also the wheels are rhodium-plated. This doesn’t imply that the decoration is “easy”, for instance gears and wheel are circular grained as well as their spokes are bevelled. Different color leaves, the tourbillon and it is cage are brushed on the top and polished on edges. Although this decoration can’t be known as haute-Horlogerie or hands-made, it's enjoyable, made accordingly towards the overall type of this watch and using the cost.