Bell & Ross turns 30 this year, and seems to have ridden the luxury watch revival perfectly.
It launched in 1994, as it was becoming clear that the mechanical watch market was not just stubbornly clinging on, but booming.
The Franco-Swiss firm started with one simple idea, a “circle in a square” watch that looked like an old aircraft instrument.
From there it expanded to make a whole range of different watches riffing on the original idea, but heading in lots of different directions.
BR-05 is the “urban elegance” range, which launched five years ago with a universally wearable 40mm case and integrated bracelet.
The new BR-05 Skeleton Arctic Blue has a dial that has been skeletonized with a transparent frosted-textured panel over the rhodium-plated movement.
“The idea behind the Arctic finish of the dial is to play with a design that can be seen as hyper-realistic or abstract,” said Bruno Belamich, creative director and co-founder.
He added: “The realism of cracked ice can give the illusion of flying over a frozen lake. The dial seems carved from a piece of ice. The white etched lines can also be perceived as an abstract pattern on a transparent blue background. However, you view the dial, and the magic of the design works.”
The BR-05 Skeleton Arctic Blue is a limited edition of 250 pieces. It costs £6700 on a rubber strap or £7200 on a steel bracelet.