In the world of chronographs, creating a piece that first of all, isn’t called a Daytona lookalike is a challenge of its own. Everyone has their own definition of a good chronograph, and mine is pretty simple. In my eyes, a good chronograph needs to first of all, be well-balanced. And what we have here is in my opinion, a well-executed chronograph from Bell & Ross, the BR05 Chrono in green.
Before jumping into the watch itself, it’s worth mentioning that the BR05 line started off in 2019 with a three-hander (the BR05 Auto). With it only being four years since, big-ups to the brand for coming up with such a diverse and versatile lineup over a considerably short period of time. More talk on that can be found on my previous write-up here.
Now let’s get to business. First off, looks. Once again, a huge aspect that elevates a watch from being just average to being great is the level of character that it carries and the instantly recognizable look that it gives off. Like how a Nautilus can be spotted at a glance, I love how this modern-day chronograph embodies the design language and principles of a true Bell & Ross timepiece with the iconic circle within a square look. But what really gets going me is the visual balance that is achieved. Through the equally sized subdials and proportionate numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock, everything looks great! However, I still find that the presence of the date window throws off the balance by a tad bit despite the date wheel being color matched to the dial and it being positioned at 4 o’clock.
Next up, the way it wears. For something that’s 42mm in size, it hugs my wrist relatively well with a slight overhang. Thanks to the short lug extension and how the lugs extend at a steep angle from the case, it allows this piece to wear smaller on my 16cm wrist, making it a pleasure to put on as a daily wearer. Definitely a plus point for all my buddies out there with smaller wrists! At 14.25mm in thickness, it honestly feels thinner than what’s on paper. I guess a lot of it has to do with the “steps” present on the case, where the side profile doesn’t come off as a flat block like the Tudor Black Bay. Although it would be ideal if the case was thinner, it’s honestly alright as is. While we’re here, it’s worth mentioning how comfortable the rubber strap is. As great and comfortable as the steel bracelet variant is, I was instantly drawn towards the rubber option once tried on.
To achieve reliability, the BR05 Chrono is powered by the BR-CAL.326, which is essentially based on the Sellita SW510. Bonus points as the movement can be seen through the sapphire caseback! Besides, with this new movement comes a 60-hour power reserve while beating at 28800vph compared to 42 hours on the previous BR-CAL.301 which was ETA based.
To sum it up, the BR05 Chrono is a piece that is in my opinion, a great modern take on the brand’s core principles. While carrying the Bell & Ross DNA really well, it also serves as a great entry into the brand for someone who might not have grown into the classic cases like the BR03. If you’re seeking for a chronograph with character, wears well and looks good, this is definitely something for you to consider at RM26400 on a rubber strap and RM28900 on the bracelet.
feedthewrist. 