Hands On: Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire Watch Replica

Hands On: Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire Watch Replica

Over the past twelve years, we have seen many iterations of BR 01 and BR 03 watches wearing the "pirate flag", such as the depiction of skulls and crossbones. Originally static images, such as BR 01 Burning Skull Tatoo, evolved into an animation BR 01 Laughing Skull in 2018, and the avant-garde BR 01 Cyber​​ Skull just last year. Taking Cyber​​ Skull as a reference, the Paris brand now launches Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber​​ Skull Sapphire replica.

The Case & Dial

The high-impact design of the replica Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire begins with its 43.5mm-wide by 45mm-long faceted square sapphire case. While this low-poly form keeps the brand’s square design lineage intact, the overall execution feels futuristic and almost computer-generated in images, with simple angled case sides, notch lugs, and a tall sloping planar bezel that tapers inwards toward a flat sapphire crystal. 

The new sapphire case material gives this design a gemstone-like quality in images, with the facets of the case sides and bezel creating reflections and highlights not unlike a cut diamond. The only real concession to utility with this avant-garde clear design is the undersized stainless steel crown at 3 o’clock, with a faceted angular look that echoes the overall design language nicely but may prove more difficult to grip than a traditional coin-edge design. Although its clear construction leads to a nearly unimpeded view of the movement within, like most sapphire cases this new model seems to suffer from low durability, as the brand rates the watch for a meager 30 meters of water resistance.

Naturally, the skeletonized (no pun intended) sapphire dial is the centerpiece of the new replica Bell & Ross BR 01. The only truly functional elements here are the simple baton handset and a set of ghostly baton indices engraved on the underside of the crystal, presenting at least a token effort towards legibility in images. Of course, the visual highlight here is the faceted skull and crossbones design, stretching from edge to edge across the case and continuing the playfully futuristic computerized style set forth by the case. 

At 12 o’clock, the skull splits open to frame the “brain” of the movement, the beating balance wheel, creating a natural focal point in images. It’s at 6 o’clock, however, where the Cyber Skull Sapphire plays its greatest visual trick. As the movement is wound via the crown, the jaws of this stylized skull open and close, revealing the 6 o’clock mainspring barrel and acting as a makeshift power reserve indicator. While it may not completely reinvent the concept, the swap to sapphire for this new model’s dial adds even greater visual drama to this stylized design in initial images, and should lead to intense light play on the wrist as each facet of the skull catches a major light source.

The Movement

The BR-CAL.209 movement, which can be viewed from all sides, is developed with Concepto. It has a rhodium-plated main plate and bridges and almost entirely follows the contours of the skull on top. The frequency is 28,800vph (or 4Hz) and when fully wound the barrel holds up to 48 hours of energy.

Price

The Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire replica is worn on a translucent rubber strap, with a black PVD coated steel pin buckle. It is presented as a limited edition of 10 pieces only, at a price of EUR 105,000 each. For more information, please visit our latest replica Bell & Ross watch listing, we are the largest and most reliable replica of luxury watches store, copy watches such as Panerai, Cartier, Hublot, IWC, Tag Heuer and more.