Horological Meandering

Kong
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Bell & Ross BR 01 - Asia Boutique Exclusive Editions

A first project by Bell & Ross to have an Asia Boutique-Edition BR 01 collection in 2011, namely focusing at three regions - Singapore, Indonesia and Greater Asia - China. 
Each region is represented by a colour ( primary colours of RGB were used), which I can understand except for China.  Red for the Singapore Series, Green for the Indonesia and Blue for China.  Though the press release provided its own angle of the colour selection, believe the colours could be better matched. 





For each country-series, it consists of 3 models - the Radar, Compass and Airborne.

Instead of citing it as a country series, a generic colour reference would be easier to relate to... so I will address them as colour series instead.   

Both the Red and Green series, each models are produced in 50 pieces each. Only the Blue series are made in 100 each. 

Containing within these BR 01s' PVD black matt diameter 46mm cases are robust ETA 2892.  The instrument BR 01 is better suited for left-handed wearers as the screw-in crown is on the inner-side of the case.
From quick observations, the variation is with the colour of the tinted mineral-crystal.

Let's begin with the RED (or Singapore) Series, the colour for Alert or Danger ....





Seeing these three badboys,  reminded me of the "The Expendables " ....




The Red Radar in the BR 01 PVD matt case, rated to 100m for water-resistance.


Time indicators are 3 concentric black discs printed with three shapes -

a triangle for the hours,
a line for the minutes and
a dot for the seconds.

The markers are not coated with luminscent.


Above time is about 3:27 ... second-disc is approaching 60 second ...


The white hour and minute graduations were printed on the second surface of the mineral crystal.   No mentioned if it is similar to Hesalite.
Since it is not sapphire, care should be taken, otherwise standby a tube of Polywatch.  The upside is, mineral is shatterproof

Signed crown and it is screw-down.






Next is the RED Br 01 Compass  ... consisting of two discs,  outer disc  indicating the Hour while the inner disc for  the Minute.

The tinting of the mineral crystal is darker at the bottom-halves.   Time reading is supposedly read-out from the top halves.



Time reading is from outer disc to inner.  the straight marker is fixed and printed on the crystal. 

Above time is about 2:26 (assuming minimum parallax error   )










In case you are about to ask, does it "glow in dark" ... No, the indexes are not luminscent coated.




Next ... the RED Airbourne with the skull talisman of the US Airborne paratrooper divisions ...


A more interesting model ... more details, and also exudes defiant, rebellious personality.

The bezel is designed with the cross-bones.  Dial has certain 3-D effect, which are clearer in the Blue Series pictures below.

The hands are shaped of sabres.


The skull is an additional layer cut-out and then adhered onto the base of the dial.  However the dial or skull does not glow :-(

It will be really cool to have the skull glows in low light  areas ...




Next is the GREEN Series ....

























Finally, the BLUE  Series ...
























A close up of the skull ...note the depth ....





A surprise for the last ... only the BLUE Airbourne ...the skull does  G L O W !



Back to the colour theme, from my perspective, the RED should be allocated to Singapore.  Red is Chinese auspicious colour.  The Green for Indonesia is appropriate as Green is a preferred colour for Muslim society, thus it is also relevant to Malaysia.  As for Blue for China, I am really puzzled,  Nevertheless, the BLUE Airbourne is the most striking piece, it will shout out in low lighting area.  Fire it up before entering the clubs and cinemas


Which models / colours  appeal to you?


Kong







This message has been edited by MTF on 2011-11-26 04:03:18

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