On November 6th of this year, the 9th edition of the Only Watch biennial auction of unique timepieces will be sold for the benefit of research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Among a variety of other watch manufacturers, Bell & Ross has supported the Only Watch project and its incredible fundraising efforts since its inception. This year, the brand’s contribution takes the form of an exclusive one-off version of its recent BR 01 Cyber Skull model: The Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire for Only Watch 2021.
The base watch is the Laughing Skull with the automata on basic caliber to enable the mandible of the skull to animate during hand winding of the watch. The Laughing Skull itself is an expansion of the skull theme which Bell & Ross has been fascinated with since the introduction of the BR 01 Skull in 2009. This year’s Only Watch Edition adds a level of complexity to the base Laughing Skull, by the implementation of a completely sapphire glass case as well as the skull. This creates an interesting aesthetic, with the clear, see-through sapphire glass case, and the skull in orange. The visual impact is stunning. Playful and yet serious in its message of morality and identifies well with the beneficiary of the Only Watch charity auction.
Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire Only Watch is characterized by the stylized and angular treatment of the skull on its dial. Each element of the watch, the case, crown, skull, crossbones, is structured within the many facets that sculpt the surfaces, creating volumes and a 3D image. The geometric shapes of the timepiece create a pixelation effect. For this bespoke version of the Cyber Skull, Bell & Ross used the orange color to provide its owner with a unique piece for their wrist. Made of transparent sapphire, the Skull dial was metalized on the back that has a smooth side to give this orange effect. Orange is the ultimate color for aeronautical instrumentation due to its high level of legibility and capacity to make essential information stand out from contrast. It is also the emblematic color code of Only Watch, which is used on its logo. The back of the watch also features a special engraving for Only Watch. The Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull Sapphire Only Watch is finished with a translucent rubber strap.
For more on Bell & Ross, check out the BR 03-94.
