The challenge facing any brand with an established design language is being able to evolve that language without abandoning what made it so great to begin with.
Bell & Ross has spent nearly two decades perfecting their circle-in-a-square cockpit instrument aesthetic, from the oversized BR-01 debut in 2005 to the refined 41mm BR-03 update in 2023. Most iterations have focused on materials and dial treatments rather than fundamental construction. However, the new BR-X3 is a complete structural reimagining that brings the X series’ “Extreme” mentality to the brand’s flagship aviation watch.
Mission Control Architecture
The most notable addition to the BR-X3 for 2025 is its radical three-tier sandwich case construction that takes the brand’s signature 41mm square form and completely reimagines its internal structure. Where the classic BR-03 relies on traditional case construction, the BR-X3 features separate top and bottom plates connected by visible corner screws, with a cylindrical barrel housing the movement sandwiched between decorative pillars. The effect is part spacecraft instrument panel, part high-end racing component.
Available in two distinct configurations, the Blue Steel edition pairs satin-finished stainless steel with anodized aluminum blue accents, while the Black Titanium variant opts for micro-blasted Grade 2 titanium with DLC-coated crown guards. Both retain the timepiece’s crown guard, sapphire crystals front and back, and 100m water resistance.
Layered Complexity
The dial construction features a three-plate system. The base features either sunray blue or matte black varnish, topped with a rhodium-plated or micro-blasted metallic frame that houses the signature X-shaped layout. This design logically organizes the elongated date window at 3 o’clock and power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock, both framed by generous applications of green-glowing Super-LumiNova X1.
However, the real conversation starter lies beneath the exhibition caseback: Bell & Ross’s BR-CAL.323 manufacture movement, developed in partnership with Kenissi (the same movement house supplying Tudor). The COSC-certified automatic delivers a substantial 70-hour power reserve.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 41mm
Case Thickness: 13.3mm
Case Material: Micro-blasted Grade 2 titanium or satin-finished stainless steel
Water Resistance: 100m
Movement: BR-CAL.323 manufacture automatic
Strap: Perforated rubber with matching pin buckle
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
The BR-X3 collection is available now through Bell & Ross retailers and bellross.com, with the Blue Steel priced at $7,200 and Black Titanium at $8,300.
Recap
Bell & Ross BR-X3
Bell & Ross adds its flagship BR-03 aviation watch to its X series, with a revolutionary three-tier sandwich case construction and in-house Kenissi movement.
