Bell & Ross sometimes  enjoys abandoning its usual themes of aviation and the military. In 2009, the watchmaker became one of the first to create a skull watch. Since then, the BR 01 Skull family has grown to include ten members which are greatly sought after by collectors.

In 2020, the avant-garde Cyber Skull revisited this iconic series.  Its faceted design represented a leap into the future.  And it was a resounding success.

The latest  Cyber Skull Sapphire  is a completely translucent, full sapphire  version. This technical material fires this icon of the watchmaking world into the realm of transparency and wealth.

NUMEROUS VERSIONS

In 2009,  Bell & Ross became one of the first watchmakers to create a skull watch.  The BR01 Skull includes  a skull and crossbones  in the company’s  iconic “circle in a square” case. It was an immediate success.

Bell & Ross then launched other versions.

– In 2016, the Burning Skull introduced  more volume to the skull surrounded  by flames. This provided the whole with a 3D aspect.

– In 2018, the Laughing Skull incorporated an automaton movement. The jaw moves when winding the crown so that the skull seems to be laughing. Spooky!

– 2020 saw a major break! The new Cyber Skull inaugurated a spectacular black ceramic case with truncated corners and a “pixelated” skull. This avant-garde  design fired this watch into the realm of ultra-modernity. It would go on to enjoy great success.

– In 2021, the Cyber Skull Sapphire  Only Watch  21 adorned the case with sapphire crystal. With its orange-coloured skull, this unique model was sold at the Only Watch  charity auction.  The hammer  finally fell at a price of 220,000 euros, twice its top estimated value. A genuine success!

– The latest Cyber Skull Sapphire  is the “general public” version of this exceptional watch. It reproduces the full sapphire case. However, the faceted skull is transparent on this version. It is a limited version of 10 items. Already a sure value for collectors.

NUMEROUS INSPIRATIONS

The design of this new Cyber Skull Sapphire  breaks  with the other skull watches  in the neo-vintage style. The sharp edges of the case play with the light, with the multiple facets  multiplying the perspectives and reflections.

It draws on several sources of inspiration:

– Avant-garde: it pays homage to the ultra-modern world of informatics and virtual technology. The faceted, pixelated design is a tip of the hat to the digital arts.

– Origami: its angular design is reminiscent of the ancestral

Japanese art of paper folding, transposed into the future.

– Military: the case is shaped like the fuselage of an American F117 stealth bomber. This faceted design allows it to vanish from radar screens. All eyes, however, are on the Cyber Skull Sapphire.

THE TRANSPARENCY   OF SAPPHIRE

The BR 01 Cyber  Skull Sapphire is a UFO of the  watchmaking world. The base is a Cyber Skull, which has nevertheless been developed entirely in colourless sapphire crystal. It plays the transparency card to the full, including in the translucent rubber strap.

The skull and crossbones are captured between two sapphire crystals, so that they appear to be floating in the air.

Initially, the sapphire is a precious block of very hard glass. A material  that is very difficult to shape.  The slightest  error means starting all over again.

THE MOVEMENT

The  BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire  combines design  and watchmaking  excellence. This high-end watch boasts a BR-CAL.209 automaton  movement. Specifically developed for the watch, this manual-wind skeleton calibre is almost invisible. It takes the form of the skull. The skeleton  form reveals some of the interesting technical parts, including the cogs, balance and more.

The plate and bridges follow the outline of the skull before extending below the crossbones. The spring balance placed at “twelve o’clock” symbolises the brain in this skull which is very much alive.