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Bell & Ross Adds Gold Colors to BR 05 Skeleton

Bell & Ross updates its hot BR 05 Skeleton collection with a new steel edition that glows with a warm gold coloring and soothing amber accents.

The new Bell & Ross BR 05 Skeleton Golden.

The new BR 05 Skeleton Golden is seemingly bathed in its namesake hue thanks to a galvanized gold-colored flange just inside the round dial opening. A gold-tinted translucent dial panel is topped with gold-colored and luminescent (green) hands and indexes to underscore the color theme.

The new model is just the latest in a series Bell & Ross launched in 2019 with its first all-steel BR 05 Skeleton, which was followed by different steel variations: the Skeleton Blue in 2020, the NightLum in 2021 and the Skeleton Green in 2022.

As with all of Bell & Ross’s BR 05 ‘round within square” watches, this newest skeleton model features a 40mm diameter steel case, a flat sapphire crystal, and a satin-brushed steel bezel fixed by four polished steel screws.

Seen from the side, the watch’s multi-level construction becomes evident. Its middle case middle is nicely polished with two 45° bevels and is then satin-brushed on both sides. 

Bell & Ross has always allowed its automatic calibers a full showing with a sapphire crystal back, which emphasizes the brand’s customized 360° oscillating weight. The rotor powers a skeletonized BR-CAL.322, a Sellita-based automatic caliber.

Bell & Ross connects the BR 05 Skeleton Golden to the wrist with either with a highly integrated, 1970s-style steel bracelet with alternating polished and satin-brushed surfaces, or a rubber strap in a matching amber color. The watchmaker offers this effervescent new model as a limited edition of 500 pieces.

Prices: $6,600 on the rubber strap and $7,100 on the steel bracelet.

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Vacheron Constantin Launches ‘Panda’ Overseas Chronograph

Vacheron Constantin adds a new ‘panda’-styled chronograph to its sporty Overseas collection in a nod to the chronographs of 1960s motorsports.

The new Vacheron Constantin ‘Panda’ Overseas Chronograph.

The new 42.5mm steel chronograph features a silver-toned, sunburst satin-finished dial, snailed black counters, black-velvet-finished flange, 18-karat white gold hour-markers and hands. All hands are finished with a generous dollop of SuperLuminova.

The contrasting light-dark dial styling of the so-called panda dials was aimed at enhancing the visibility of the chronograph function.

Inside the watch Vacheron Constantin fits its superb automatic Caliber 5200 that boasts twin barrels, a column wheel and vertical clutch.

The movement also features a 22-karat gold oscillating weight adorned with a wind rose, visible through the watch’s sapphire caseback.

Like all Overseas models since Vacheron Constantin launched its much-touted 2016 re-design, the new model is also sold with an interchangeable bracelet and two straps to allow the wearer to easily swap styles as desired without the need for tools. Price: $32,400.

Specifications: Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph ‘Panda’

(Ref. 5500V/110A-B686) 

Movement: Caliber 5200 self-winding with 22-karat gold Overseas oscillating weight, approximately 52 hours of power reserve, 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations/hour), Hallmark of Geneva certified timepiece. 

Case: 42.5mm by 13.7mm steel, soft iron casing ring ensuring anti-magnetic protection, screwed-down crown and quarter-turn screw-lock push-pieces, transparent sapphire crystal caseback,
water-resistant to 150 meters.

Dial: Silver-toned, sunburst satin-finished base, translucent varnish, black velvet-finished flange and snailed counters, 18-karat white gold hour-markers and hours, minutes, seconds and counters hands, highlighted with Super-LumiNova.

Bracelet: Steel bracelet, half Maltese cross-shaped polished and satin-brushed links, black calfskin leather with grey stitching, black rubber. Stainless steel bracelet secured by a stainless steel triple-blade folding clasp with push-pieces and comfort-adjustment system, delivered with a stainless steel triple-blade folding clasp with push-pieces and patented interchangeable system compatible with both additional straps. 

Price: $32,400. 

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Ulysse Nardin Delivers a Blue and Gold Blast 

Ulysse Nardin adds a rose gold and blue PVD titanium model to its skeletonized Blast collection. The new Blast Tourbillon Blue & Gold marks the first blue two-tone model in the contemporary series, identified with its x-shaped tourbillon cage, x-shaped movement bridge, rectangular frame and three-lug strap connection.

The new Ulysse Nardin Blast Tourbillon Blue & Gold.

The tourbillon exposed in the lower section of the large x-shaped bridge regulates Ulysse Nardin’s UN-172 Manufacture caliber, an automatic movement with a three-day power reserve and a silicon balance spring, escapement wheel and pallet fork. At the top of the skeletal dial you’ll find a platinum rotor.

Part of the allure of the entire Blast collection is its distinctive multi-level 45mm case. This model delivers that profile with a central case in sand-blasted blue PVD titanium and an upper case in satin-finished and polished rose gold. That wide bezel is made of blue PVD titanium.

Ulysse Nardin delivers the new Blast Tourbillon Blue & Gold with a blue velvet rubber strap and its own rose gold and blue PVD titanium folding clasp. Price: $67,000. 

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Frederique Constant Celebrates With New Worldtimers

To celebrate its thirty-fifth anniversary, Frederique Constant unveils two new versions of its 41mm Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture. 

Though one edition, an 18-karat rose gold limited edition of thirty-five, is not available directly in the United States, the second steel-cased model is being sold here.

The Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture, in a steel case.

The steel-cased unlimited reference offers a brown dial and matching strap, with a lighter brown shade dominating the dial’s Earth symbol. On the orb Frederick Constant reveals latitude and longitude lines. A sunray finish highlights the date disc at 6 o’clock. The dial also offers luminous, silver-colored appliqué hour markers that match the three central hands.

The back of the watch displays the Frederique Constant manufacture FC-718 automatic caliber.

As a classic worldtimer, the watch displays twenty-four cities around the center on the external disc. These stand-in for the globe’s twenty-four primary time zones. Just inside this band, a second disc displays the time in each reference city. Light and dark section denote daytime or nighttime in the referenced city.

This celebratory variation comes with three straps: chocolate brown alligator leather with a nubuck finish, a matching rubber strap and a polished, brushed steel three-link bracelet.

The Frederique Constant Highlife Worldtimer Manufacture, in a gold case.

Frederique Constant places a soft blue dial within its gold model. As on the steel edition, the dial is slightly lighter within the center to better reveal the longitude and latitude lines on the engraved orb. Here, the hands and markers gold-colored and luminous.

For the gold model, Frederique Constant supplies an integrated blue alligator leather strap and a blue rubber strap.

Part of the watch’s success since its debut in 2012 is how simple it is to operate. All the features (hours, minutes, date, Worldtimer) can be adjusted using the crown thanks to the three-notch system Frederique Constant built in to the Manufacture FC-718 automatic caliber. The first click winds the watch, the second adjusts the date (upwards) and the reference city (downwards) and the third adjusts the time in the central display.

Price: $4,495 (steel model), and 25,995 euros (gold model). 

 

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MB&F Launches LM2 in Palladium Case

MB&F renews its dual-balance Legacy Machine No.2, now casing it in palladium and highlighting a stunning aquamarine sunray dial. The new limited edition (of eighteen) is just the latest version of the LM2 since its debut in 2013 with a choice of a red gold, white gold and platinum case.

The new MB&F Legacy Machine No. 2 Palladium.

The new MB&F LM2 Palladium highlights a flying double-balance mechanism that has its two oscillating balance wheels seemingly levitating under a large, domed sapphire crystal.

An ode to historical dual-regulator designs from Abraham-Louis Breguet, Ferdinand Berthoud and Antide Janvier, the LM2’s balances each beat at their own rate while the large planetary differential below continuously averages out these two rates to feed power to the hands.

In addition to the new case metal, this latest LM2 also features a new NAC finish that gives the caliber a deep anthracite color. You’ll find the names of the two men responsible for the movement (award-winning watchmakers Jean-François Mojon and Kari Voutilainen) hand engraved on the caseback.

The Legacy Machine No. 2 is one of MB&F’s rarest models. It was launched in 2013 in red gold, white gold and a limited edition of eighteen pieces in platinum 950. MB&F added a limited edition of eighteen pieces in titanium with a green face in 2017, and in 2018 it was marked by a limited edition of twelve pieces in white gold with a purple face. In 2019, a red gold blue limited edition was launched in just twelve pieces.

This new Palladium model joins the collection in a limited edition of eighteen pieces.

Price: $172,000. 

Specifications: MB&F Legacy Machine No. 2 Palladium

Movement: Three-dimensional horological movement developed exclusively for MB&F by Jean-François Mojon at Chronode and Kari Voutilainen, manual winding with single mainspring barrel, frequency of 18,000 bph (2.5Hz),  45-hour power reserve.

Differential: Planetary differential comprising 3 gears and 5 pinions.

Balance wheels: Two bespoke 11mm balance wheels with four traditional regulating screws floating above the movement and dials.

Balance spring: Traditional Breguet curve terminating with stud holder.

Finish: Superlative hand finishing throughout respecting 19th century style; polished internal bevel angles highlighting handcraft; polished bevels; Geneva waves; gold chatons with polished countersinks; hand-made engravings; NAC finishing for the Palladium edition.

Functions: Hours and minutes, planetary differential transmits the average rate of the two regulators to the single gear train.

Case: Palladium.44mm by 19mm, water resistance to 30 meters.

Sapphire crystals: High domed sapphire crystal on top and sapphire crystal on back with anti-reflective coating on both sides.

Strap: Black, brown or blue hand-stitched alligator strap with tang buckle matching the case.

Price: $172,000. 

 

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