On Nov 5, 54 brands and watchmakers will come together for the 9th instalment of the Only Watch event. This annual charity auction is held to raise money for research on the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
One of the supporters is Bell & Ross which will be showcasing the mind-blowing BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire timepiece. Before you take a look at the watch at Malmaison by The Hour Glass boutique from Oct 15–20, here are some astounding facts about this watch.
The first thing that catches your eye is the stylised and angular design of the skull on its dial. Each element of the watch, the case, crown, skull, crossbones, is structured within the many faces that sculpt the surfaces, creating volumes that come alive with its 3D image.
To create this fascinating piece, Bell & Ross developed the BR-CAL.206 that is designed entirely by the manufacture. The skull is mounted on 21 jewels, the balance benefits from an Inca bloc type shock-absorbing system. The creators also worked on the skeletonisation of the main plate and bridges to reveal the heartbeat of the watch. The finishes feature rhodium-plated movement, polished chamfers, velvet-sanded hollows, and hand-drawn strokes decorations.
The main plate follows the shape of the skull, extending up to the four corners of the case while an amazing technical feat makes the skull appear to float weightlessly inside the case. There are 12 baton-shaped hour markings engraved under the crystal. All this is the full view as the dial is transparent.
Here’s the best part: The automaton movement activates the jaw which opens and appears to snigger when winding up the spring. Behind the mandible hides the barrel that you will discover when the skull grins back at you. The skull comes alive with the oscillation of the anthracite balance wheel.
For this bespoke version of the Cyber Skull, Bell & Ross used the orange colour to provide its owner with a unique piece for its wrist. Made of transparent sapphire, the Skull dial was metallised on the back that has a smooth side to give this orange effect.
Orange is the ultimate colour for aeronautical instrumentation due to its high level of legibility and capacity to make essential information stand out from contrast. It is also the official colour of Only Watch and the back of the watch features a special engraving to mark the occasion.
