Bell & Ross, everyone’s favorite big square watch company, is making waves with their new Instrument De Marine series, a decidedly nautical set of watches including a standard three-hander that Captain Cook would strip off the body of a dead privateer and a tourbillon that would go great with an alternative-Victorian-history-sci-fi submarine.
The BR 01 is the simplest of the group with blued hands reminiscent of older Breguets. The BRX 1 comes in a standard and tourbillon model and features a chronograph.
I’m a sucker for B&R so I’ll forgive the brass and glass steampunkery of these watches. The massive square watch goes far better with B&R’s initial aviation theme but, thanks to the dial choice and colors, I’ll allow this departure from the norm. They are unequivocally beautiful pieces.
Of the BR 01 the company writes:
The BR-X1 is similarly hot-blooded:
The automatic caliber provides a chronograph function, small seconds at 3 o’clock and skeleton date at 6 o’clock. The chronograph minute timer sits at 9 o’clock. Stripped of hands, it takes the form of an aluminum disc with a design clearly evoking a ship’s propeller.
So set sail on the Seven Seas and prepare to drop a few grand on the entry level pieces and a lot on the tourbillon. Bluebeard would have wanted it that way.
