One of the best watchmakers to come out of the 21st century, Bell & Ross has made a name for itself for its aviation-themed timepieces with square cases and dials that evoke cockpit instrument gauges. However, the French brand now sends things into space with arguably its most unique model yet, based on the BR-03.
Bell & Ross BR-03 Astro Basics
Revamped in 2023 with smaller proportions, including a dropped-down 41mm case, the BR-03 is 11.5mm thick and boasts 100m of water resistance — these are all carried over for this latest release. Housed in a micro-blasted black ceramic case, the BR-03 Astro, Bell & Ross has removed all of the watch’s typical dial elements in favor of a giant textured Earth in the center with stars all around.
But that’s not all. Counting the seconds is a small laser-engraved satellite that orbits the Earth. At the risk of being technically erroneous, the Moon that touches our blue planet corresponds with the minutes as it rotates. Meanwhile, Mars signifies the hours. These elements are put on a transparent plate that orbits the Earth. I should also mention there are no hour markers or indices.
The magic happens thanks to a Sellita SW300-1-based BR-CAL.327 from Bell & Ross. This is an automatic movement with 54 hours of power reserve that B&R has used before on its other no-date BR-03 models. Lastly, the watch comes with both black rubber and black synthetic fabric straps.
What We Think
Admittedly, it’s difficult to picture how this would all work since there’s not a lot of images of the watch — and all of them depict the Moon and Mars in the same spot (there’s a brief GIF of the satellite ticking for about 7 seconds). Likewise, the texture of the timepiece is difficult to imagine from the mere photos online. Nevertheless, this is a highly impressive watch that would look stunning on the wrist and is a good step in the right direction for a brand that has never ventured this far outside the box.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 41mm
Case Thickness: 11.5mm
Case Material: Black ceramic
Water Resistance: 100m
Movement: BR-CAL.327 automatic (Sellita base)
Band: Black rubber strap and black synthetic fabric strap
Limited Edition?: Yes, 999
Pricing & Availability
Limited to just 999 pieces, the BR-03 Astro is priced at $4,800, which makes it the most expensive BR-03 currently available aside from the White Steel & Gold variant. Head over to Bell & Ross website to purchase one now.
Recap
Bell & Ross BR-03 Astro
Bell & Ross’ latest BR-03 removes the watch’s standard dial elements, replacing them with a giant Earth in the center, stars decorating the outside, and Mars, the Moon, and a satellite serving as the handset.
