2016’s BR-X1 Chronograph Tourbillon Sapphire was Bell & Ross’s first foray into a completely transparent watch, expressing one of high horology’s most hallowed complications – a flying tourbillon in undeniable, avant garde brand signature design codes. in 2017, Bell & Ross demonstrated their growing watchmaking expertise by developing an entirely skeletonised tourbillon.

For Baselworld 2018 Bell & Ross unveils the six unique BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire watches. These six unique pieces take a playful if elegant look at the brand’s calling card – designer watchmaking – Bell & Ross may not have the horological heritage of some of watchmaking’s oldest brands but CEO and co-founder Bruno Belamich is certainly among some of the saviest watchmaker/designers, deftly marrying transparency and colour in the new Baselworld 2018 Bell & Ross BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire unique pieces.

Baselworld 2018 Bell & Ross BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire unique pieces

As if case in point, two of the six unique BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire watches will be offered exclusively online, a rarity when it comes to high complication watches. Behind the aesthetic marvel that is the skeletonised version of the BR-X1 tourbillon lies the engineering challenge of machining sapphire, the second hardest material on Earth after diamond. Using diamond tipped tools, watchmakers create the various case components of the new Baselworld 2018 BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire from a block of sapphire, taking care not to place undue (ironic) pressure during the grinding and polishing process to avoid fracturing the hardy yet shatter-prone substance.

Demonstrating superior expertise, the 45mm new Bell & Ross BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire is made from five individual blocks of sapphire, each milled to exacting tolerances to protect the monochromatic Calibre BR-CAL.288 ensconced within. Though there’s a selection of three colours to choose from, each calibre uses a single hue for the main plate, bridges, dial, hands and tourbillon cage, thus creating an unmistakable aesthetic hallmark for each unique piece.

Naturally, the first of this set of unique BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire watches comes in black, the signature colour code of Bell & Ross since inception and a nod to military jet cockpit instruments. While black offers the strongest contrast with the transparent case, the other colours are no slouch either. The second of the Bell & Ross Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire unique series is executed in noble gold. An execution made further refined by the choice of pink gold, punctuated with red rubies in the tourbillon cage, the only points of colour departure on otherwise monochrome calibres in the series. The final and third BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire offers a hat tip to the traditions of watchmaking – heat blued steel. For this interpretation, Bell & Ross has seen fit to extend the deep blue colourways all throughout the movement, giving this vintage hallmark a modern dimension.

Two of the unique high horology  BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire watches are offered through their own website (the brand was among the first to make its presence felt on the internet) and Mr. Porter, a first for Bell & Ross, which had previously offered its SKUs first through an eCommerce portal in 2008 exclusively for Europe. The blue version will be available from 21st March through Mr. Porter while the Black edition will only be exclusively available at www.bellross.com

New Bell & Ross BR-X1 Skeleton Tourbillon Sapphire Price and Specs

Movement Hand wound Calibre BR-CAL.288 with 100 hours power reserve
Case 45mm sapphire case with 10 metres water resistance
Strap Rubber strap
Price £355,000