Deluxe Edition.

Considered an affordable entry into the world of luxury sports watches with integrated bracelets, the BR 05 was originally launched in steel.

Now, the brand has just unveiled the significantly more luxurious BR 05 Blue Gold, which features a stylish color combination of a metallic blue dial and rose gold case, and even a matching gold bracelet.

I find the BR 05 to be as beautiful to look at as it is controversial. At first glance, the design is reminiscent of the usual suspects in the luxury sports watch genre. However, the originality of the design is less striking, such as the bezel derived from the square BR 01 of a typical Bell & Ross (B&R) watch. And the stainless steel BR 05’s case treatment is well done; not overly complicated, but manages to have well-defined edges.

All of these qualities carry over to the rose gold model, which, combined with the blue sunburst brushed dial, makes for an eye-catching watch.

It’s cheaper than a solid gold Royal Oak or Overseas, but at this level the difference doesn’t seem to be that big.

While the value proposition in terms of movement and finish isn’t all that compelling at this price point — which may not be the point of an all-gold watch — the gold BR 05 is beautiful.

Compared to the more expensive alternatives from Audemars Piguet or Vacheron Constantin, the BR 05 case design is less nuanced, but the details are still good. The case is square with rounded edges, avoiding complex geometries and angles, but with sharp polished bevels on all edges. The bezel is wide and flat, with four large bolts at each corner – a signature element taken from the BR 01.

But, while simple, the case construction and finishing is excellent. Like most B&R cases, it’s made by G&F Chatelain, a case specialist that also offers larger, more exotic brands like Richard Mille and MB&F. The rich rose gold tone accentuates the quality of the case, giving it a more upscale look than the stainless steel models.

The dimensions of the case are exactly the same as the steel version, 40mm x 10.4mm, giving it a more compact profile on the wrist. The movement is BR-CAL.321, it is a Sellita SW300 with an open rotor.

Bell & Ross BR 05 Blue Gold
Ref. BR05A-BLU-PG/SPG (Bracelet)
refer to. BR05A-BLU-PG/SRB (rubber strap)

Diameter: 40mm
Height: 10.4 mm
Material: 18k rose gold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: BR-CAL.321 (Sellita SW300 base)
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date Winding: Automatic winding
: automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 40 hours

Strap: Bracelet or rubber strap