Limited to only 25 pieces, the BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire Ice Blue is inherently ultra-exclusive.
Bell & Ross introduces a stunning addition to its BR 01 Cyber Skull collection with the launch of the BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire Ice Blue. This contemporary timepiece captivates with its transparent sapphire case, showcasing a vibrant blue skull — an adventurous symbol that’s been adopted by the young brand (it’s only 30 years old) to represent its modern design.
At this point, Bell & Ross had gone on to design motorcycles now. And that’s just so they could design the BR 03-94 Blacktrack that was inspired by the Nescafe Racer itself. It was, in essence, a cool watch — all black, with structured lines, and it fits on a built-in mount that was customized for the motorbike.
So, here’s my question: Is the skull still cool? Who is still bearing the jolly roger in memory of SAMCRO heir Jax Teller?
The Cyber Skull is here to stay
In 2009, Bell & Ross decided on a change of diet from the usual Aviation and Military themed watches for which it is rightly famous. In a cunning change of tone, they became one of the first brands to produce a skull watch.
Using the popular squared shape of the BR-01, it became an instant success. Since then, the BR-01 Skull family has grown to include ten members each of which are greatly sought after by collectors.
2020 was the year of the Cyber Skull, another resounding success. The very first Cyber Skull Sapphire made its debut in 2021, in the Only Watch version.
The orange-colored skull framed within the sapphire crystal inspired a bidding frenzy and was sold at the Only Watch charity auction at a price of €220,000, twice its original asking price.
A new skull joins the ice blue trend
Now in an ice blue version, this striking timepiece serves as a symbolic tribute in multiple dimensions. Not only is the skull motif a well-known expression of philosophical themes such as vanity, life, and death in art and watchmaking, but it also pays homage to special forces units, which is an integral part of Bell & Ross’s heritage.
Elite troops, from Vikings to modern-day paratroopers, have adopted the skull as their emblem to ward off bad luck, and Bell & Ross boldly incorporates it as one of its talismans.
Now, they’ve topped this off before by crafting the skull itself in the monobloc of crystal, but the choice of color in this Ice Blue version is deliberate and impactful. The ice blue tone adorns the central part of the dial, and is crafted in galvanized brass and finished in blue PVD.
Bruno Belamich, Creative Director and co-founder of Bell & Ross, describes it as the “icy aspect of sky blue combin[ing] perfectly with the transparency of the sapphire of the case, like a faceted iceberg.”
The transparency theme extends to the 45 mm sapphire case. This complex corundum gem requires meticulous production, involving the heating of alumina powder melted by a hydrogen flame at temperatures exceeding 2,000°C.
The transparent soft silicone strap, closed by a polished and satin-finished steel pin buckle, completes the consistent look on the wrist.
Limited to only 25 pieces, the BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire Ice Blue is inherently ultra-exclusive. The case exhibits an automaton animation triggered by the hand-wound mechanical caliber BR-CAL.209.
Tech Specs: Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire Ice Blue
Movement: Manual-winding BR-CAL.209 caliber; 48-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; skull with automaton animation
Case: 43.5mm; sapphire crystal; water-resistant up to 30m
Dial: Skeletonised faceted sapphire; blue anodized steel skull
Strap: Transparent silicone
Price: SGD165,000
Availability: Limited to 25 pieces
