Bell & Ross show us that skull and crystal are, strangely, a perfect match but you know what else and skull is also a match made in heaven? Bronze. Folks, meet the delightful Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull Bronze, the latest in Bell & Ross Cyber Skull. For some reason, the marriage between a geometric cyber skull and bronze feels like a cross between steampunk culture and cyberpunk.
The bronze won’t remain as it is however, it is a living alloy that evolves over time. It quires a unique patina in contact with each person’s skin. The geometric skull is not bronze, btw. It is rose gold-plated brass, or bronze colored.
For this latest variant of the Cyber Skull, Bell & Ross has developed a 100% manufacturer mechanism. Its manual winding activates a gimmick that will put a smile on your face By turning the crown, the jaw of the skull comes to life. It seemingly appears to be sneering. At what, I do not know but it certainly feels like it is laughing in the face of death. Ermmm, how’s that good?
Another worthy mention is the BR-CAL.210 caliber. It is a stroke of ingenuity it is almost not visible from the top. It is cleverly incorporated behind the skull with plates and bridges following the shape of the skull and extending under the four femurs. It is an absolute beauty both in aesthetics and engineering. Key highlights are as follows:
MOVEMENT: BR-CAL.210. Manufacture. Hand-wound mechanical.
FUNCTIONS: Hours and minutes. Moving skull jawbone when wound by hand.
CASE: 45 x 46.7 mm. 13.7 mm thick. Satin-finished and polished CuSn8 bronze. Sapphire and CuAI7Si2 bronze case back.
DIAL: Sketetonised. Rose gold-plated brass skull (or bronze-colored skull). Gilt metal skeletonized Super-LumiNova-filled hour and minute hands. Balanced at 12 o’clock.
CRYSTAL: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
WATER RESISTANCE: 50 meters (5 ATM or about 164 feet)
STRAP: Black rubber
BUCKLE: Pin. Satin-finished and polished CuAI7Si2 bronze.
The Bell & Ross BR 01 Cyber Skull Bronze commands a cool US$11,400 and it is available for pre-order with delivery starting sometime end of February.
All images courtesy of Bell & Ross.
