WATCHES & STYLE

Bell & Ross’ Iconic BR 03 Gets a Futuristic Update

by Charmian Leong
25 Jan 2024

We may never get to see the BR 03 Cyber Rainbow in the metal, but the BR 03 Cyber Ceramic is a stunning successor.

You may feel like you’ve seen the Bell & Ross BR 03 Cyber Ceramic somewhere before, and that’s because you have… in a manner of speaking. A much more vibrant version, the BR 03 Cyber Rainbow, was unveiled for Only Watch 2023 before the auction was cancelled. It had a faceted titanium case that was embellished with varnished shards in a spectrum of colors, with the riot of hues extending to the bridges of the skeletonized movement as well as the rubber strap. Now you can get a much more sensible option without having to bid for it.

The BR 03 Cyber Ceramic maintains the structural essence of the Cyber Rainbow, but loses the color in favor of an all-black aesthetic and a ceramic case. This design evolution stems from the brand's aspiration to infuse a sense of futurism into the iconic BR 03 line, borrowing the case design from the BR 01 Cyber Skull collection while replacing the skull with an open-worked design.

For almost 20 years the BR 03 has cemented its identity as instruments for professional use thanks to its cockpit-inspired dial and focus on precision and reliability. The Cyber Ceramic represents a next-generation interpretation, drawing inspiration from stealth aircrafts. Bell & Ross Creative Director and co-founder Bruno Belamich intended the watch to be “a nod to the digital arts” with faceted lines that are reminiscent of pixels.


(Related: Great and Small)

“Grinding with diamond powder made it possible to resurface the facets, like jewellers cutting a precious stone,” he adds. “To preserve the purity of the design, the lugs have disappeared, and the housing for the rubber strap has been cut into the case.” The result is a streamlined construction that draws the eye to the skeletonised spectacle within. The hour and minute hands are micro-blasted and filled with grey Super-Luminova that glows green in the dark, while the hour indices and logo are made of glossy black metal and attached to the underside of the sapphire crystal.

Like the Cyber Rainbow, the Cyber Ceramic measures 42mm by 43.7mm, with the in-house BR-CAL.383 calibre proudly on display. With 25 jewels, a 28,800 vph frequency, and a 48-hour power reserve, the Cyber Ceramic, while stealthier than its predecessor, still manages to flaunt its space-age design with urban swagger.

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