Bell & Ross Reinterprets the “Phantom” with the BR-05 Skeleton Phantom Ceramic

Entirely black, the “Phantom” finish has become a signature design for Bell & Ross. As early as 2007, the BR-01 Phantom laid the foundation for this aesthetic, inspired by military stealth aircraft, and by modern design, often embraced by the world of contemporary art. References to aviation are second nature for Bell & Ross, whose philosophy is to bring cockpit instruments to the wrist. Adding a love for design and architecture, Bruno Belamich creative director and co-founder, also draws an evident link with major artistic movements of our time, from Pierre Soulages to Richard Serra, Mark Rothko, and Jackson Pollock. These artists, like the engineers behind stealth aircraft, proved that form can be expressed through the play of light on black. A contemporary urban jewel and a modern instrument watch, the BR-05 Phantom Ceramic fits squarely into this vision.

To highlight the interplay of light and shadow, the dial of the new BR-05 Skeleton Phantom Ceramic is entirely black. This monochromatic approach demanded an original technical composition. The central plate of the dial is made of black-tinted sapphire crystal. Through its transparency, it reveals the rhodium-plated skeleton movement while deepening the watch’s air of mystery. The dial is framed by a matte black flange with applied indexes, also in matte black and filled with black Super-LumiNova®. This photoluminescent material, which also coats the skeletonized hour and minute hands, appears black by day but emits green light in the dark—an unexpected visual effect that enhances the technical feel of the watch. For added contrast, the seconds hand is rhodium plated. The Phantom finish does not compromise Bell & Ross’s usual standards of legibility for its instrument watches.

Skeletonization, a watchmaking art, blends technical mastery with aesthetics, something Bell & Ross values deeply. By refining and reshaping the components, which requires meticulous craftsmanship to maintain their strength and performance, the movement becomes lighter and more transparent. This allows the mechanism’s inner workings and rhythm to be revealed. Equipped with a 54-hour power reserve, the BR-CAL.322-1 caliber, developed specifically for Bell & Ross, beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). Its performance is visible from both sides of the new BR-05 Skeleton Phantom Ceramic, not just through the dial but also via the sapphire case back. Beneath the custom-decorated black oscillating weight, which spins 360°, you can see the black upper bridge and various finely open worked components that showcase the precision and beauty of this high-performance automatic movement.