Bell & Ross BR-03 Astro automatic ceramic aventurine dial rubber strap 41 mm

Earth from Space

"The Cupola, the observation dome of the International Space Station (ISS), was a source of inspiration for this watch, which is a kind of porthole opening onto the planets. I imagined the Earth seen from space in symbolic alignment with the Moon and Mars. All the magic of this watch is in the display, as it gives not a technical interpretation of the instrument watch, but, for once, a dreamlike dimension. The BR-03 Astro is a concept watch, an invitation to travel to the heart of the Milky Way,” emphasizes Bruno Belamich, Creative Director and Co-founder of Bell & Ross.

Conceptual, the BR-03 Astro is also conceptual in the way it is crafted. For example, to create a faithful and realistic representation of the Earth, and to meet Bell & Ross' standards of precision and legibility, it was necessary to use a transfer process under the glass. The thickness of the dial glass is hollowed out in the shape of a spherical cap, thus preserving a realistic Earth in terms of both volume and decal. Positioning and calculating the weight of the hands, in particular to support the engraved Moon, required an approach as rigorous as that needed to design the components of any other instrument watch. Journey into the solar system. The BR-03 Astro focuses on an expressive dimension of the magic of Space, with the Earth as the main character in this mise en scène.

Rethinking display codes

The small satellite's mission is simple and precise: to mark the seconds by completing a full revolution around the Earth in 60 seconds. The Moon indicates the minutes, while Mars slowly follows its orbit to display the passage of the hours. With this captive orbital system, concentrated in a blue aventurine dial, the BR-03 Astro offers a revisited reading of traditional time indications. Its “hands” are atypical. The planet Mars indicates the hours, the Moon the minutes, and the small satellite represents the second hand. Together, they create a permanent animation in a dial imagined as a natural setting set in perspective. Every time you look at the time, it becomes an escape

Tailored for interstellar travel

Adopting a technical black casing, evocative of the darkness of space, the BR-03 Astro asserts itself as an element of style and proof of difference. The efficient 41 mm case, 11.5 mm high, is made entirely of black ceramic. Water-resistant to 100 meters, it is adorned with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal hollowed out in its center in the form of a spherical cap to bring the Earth to life in the material. This high-performance watch is equipped with the Swiss-made BR.CAL-327 self-winding mechanical movement. Sturdy and inspired by pilots' equipment, the strap is in black rubber, fastened by a black PVD-treated steel pin buckle. The buckle is a reminder of the professional origins of this rare watch, produced in a limited edition of 999. With the new BR-03 Astro, Bell & Ross brings more altitude to this instrument collection.