The Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono Green Steel is the newest addition to the BR 05 collection, which has quickly become the brand's focus since its debut in 2019. The 42mm-wide steel case is chunky, but it sits on the wrist with a fair amount of presence. The pushers are crisp and easy to operate, and the watch has a sapphire crystal, 100m of water resistance, and an integrated bracelet with a butterfly deployant.
The dial is the real star of the show, with a vibrant emerald green sunburst finish that ranges from explosive green to almost black depending on the light. The subdials have a subtle silvery graining that offers some sharp textural contrast. The date window is at 4:30, which is not everyone's cup of tea, but it is well-integrated and the color matching is impressive. The handset recalls that of the Royal Oak, and the applied baton indices and brushed applied numerals share the hands' rounded ends. The subdial hands have square bases that match the shape of the subdials, which is a nice touch of attention to detail. Everything is coated in Super-LumiNova, including the chronograph seconds hand.
The Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono Green Steel is powered by the Bell & Ross BR-Cal.326, which is based on the Sellita SW-510 automatic chronograph movement. This movement features a 60-hour power reserve at 28,800 vph and a cam-operated chronograph mechanism. It is the standard movement for all BR 05 Chrono models, and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw it fitted to all of the brand's chronographs in the coming years.
The Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono Green Steel is priced at $6,200 USD on rubber and $6,700 USD on the steel bracelet. That marks a $300 increase since the originals were released three years ago, but it is not a significant price hike given the new integrated chronograph movement.
Overall, the Bell & Ross BR 05 Chrono Green Steel is a great addition to the BR 05 collection. It has a bold and modern design, a vibrant green dial, and a reliable and accurate movement. It is a bit pricey, but it is worth it for the quality and craftsmanship.
