Could B&R be using any more lume?
The new BR-X5 from Bell & Ross is, well, bright. Designed to be completely luminescent, the piece has a glowing case, hands, pips, and seconds hand. Limited to 500 pieces, this $13,000 watch is, in a word, stunning.
From the release:
Visibility has always been a key objective for each Bell & Ross design, taking inspiration from aeronautical instrumentation. Launched in 2017, all the watches in the LUM collection explore the possibilities offered by luminescence, giving superior luminosity and maximum readability, whether day or night. Having used Super- LumiNova for the numerals, indices, hands and dial on previous pieces, now Bell & Ross is going even further with the BR-X5 GREEN LUM and its innovative composite material: LM3D. The biggest challenge for this new approach? Bringing together innovation with photoluminescent material and high-end design in the BR-X5 line.
Bell & Ross BR-X5 – Lumed
These lumed pieces have been rolling out of B&R since 2017 and this one seems to be the apex of the type. The first lumed pieces had boldly lumed faces and not much else. Now, however, B&R has decided to lume the whole thing, adding LM3D to the mix which is a glowing composite material.
“Continuing the tradition of aeronautical heritage and the brand’s iconic ’round within the square’ visual signature, in 2022 the BR-X5 added a new chapter to the Bell & Ross BR 05 range launched in 2019,” writes B&R. “In its design, style and technical features, the BR-X5 takes its place as a superlative BR 05: the BR-CAL.323 calibre, a prestigious manufacture movement designed by Kenissi, raises the BR-X5 collection to the heights of precision with a power reserve of approximately 70 hours, while the architecture of its multi-component case prioritises purity and radicality, resistance and lightness.”
I rarely wax rhapsodic about a watch, even from Bell & Ross, but this thing looks amazing. The design, the materials, and the concept are all spot on and I think this is destined to be a classic in their line-up. It’s obviously a little pricey but hey, it costs money to make your whole wrist shine.
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About the Author / Author Expertise & Authority
John Biggs: I live in Brooklyn, NY and write about technology, security, gadgets, gear, wristwatches, and the Internet. After spending four years as an IT programmer, I switched gears and became a full-time journalist. My work has appeared in the New York Times, Laptop, PC Upgrade, Gizmodo, Men’s Health, InSync, Popular Science, and I’ve written a book called Marie Antoinette’s Watch about the most famous and mysterious watch ever made. I am the former East Coast Editor of TechCrunch.com.
