Bell & Ross BR X1 Black Titanium Chronograph is 45 mm in diameter with titanium and ceramic with rubber inserts. Rocker push-buttons. Back with opening in tinted sapphire crystal, centred on the balance.

Bell & Ross has dropped a new luxury watch and while it’s not the most expensive Bell & Ross, it is probably among the more expensive chronographs the French brand has ever released and World of Watches is going to explore the aspects which add to the price of the Bell & Ross BRX1 Black Titanium Chronograph

New Luxury Watch: Why the Bell & Ross BR X1 Black Titanium Chronograph is more expensive than the average BR chronograph

The grade 5, lightweight and resistant, titanium case is machined and made by a heritage 1936 case-polishing workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds begun by brothers George and Francis Chatelain.

The namesake G&F Chatelain workshop eventually progressed and specialised in progressive stamping and precision machining  by acquiring a stake in Standoz & Co in 1963., and then completing the acquisition in 1993, 30 years later. By 2006, the Chanel-owned company added specialist know-how of material ceramic production which they have now used to create the high-tech ceramic bezel to the latest chronograph from Bell & Ross.

The Bell & Ross skeleton chronograph is equipped with a calibre BR-CAL.313. Automatic mechanical. ‘X’-shaped upper bridge. 56 jewels, 28,800 vph.

Given their supplier relationship with laudable brands like Richard Mille, your “fraction of the price” Bell & Ross chronograph is definitely a story worth telling when you regal others on how you came to be wristed this beauty.

As a result, the 45mm BR X1 Black Titanium Chronograph is the perfect synthesis of Bell & Ross ‘ expertise in the world of aviation watches and master watchmaking-  Add elongated, rectangular ergonomic integrated into the case, pivoted push buttons, operable through a pilot’s flight gloves and what you get are chronograph functions which are easily and efficiently accessed in a wide variety of situations and environments.

Bell & Ross BR X1 Black Titanium Chronograph with hours, minutes, small seconds at 3 o’clock. Skeleton date at 6 o’clock. Chronograph: 30-min timer at 9 o’clock, central chronograph seconds.

A hallmark of the X1 range of Bell & Ross watches is the expansive sapphire crystal which reveals the skeletonised chronograph calibre – a base ETA 2892 with Dubois-Depraz chronograph module comprising the BR Cal. 313 set with an open-worked date wheel accompanied with a lattice-work diamond shaped bridge emanating from the central pivot holding the hour, minutes and chronograph seconds hands.

Consequently, the new limited edition Bell & Ross BR X1 Black Titanium Chronograph with a 250 piece production run is more expensive than the average Bell & Ross chronograph.

Bell & Ross BR-X1 Black Titanium Chronograph Price & Specs

Sophisticated and reliable, the skeleton chronograph movement of the BR-X1 chronograph is truly exceptional and combines Haute Horlogerie finishes with extreme lightness. Limited to 250 pieces, the BR-X1 Black Titanium chronograph is priced S$27,200.

Case: 45mm diameter – Titanium and ceramic with rubber inserts – rocker push-buttons – back with opening in tinted sapphire crystal, centred on the balance. – 100m water resistant
Movement: calibre BR-CAL.313 – self-winding – 4Hz frequency – 56 jewels
Strap: black rubber strap with steel and rubber pin buckle