Bell & Ross BR 01 Laughing Skull
Skull watches aren’t something new in the horology industry, especially so for Bell & Ross, which has had four different Skull watch references since 2009. The new Bell & Ross BR 01 Laughing Skull, launched in 2018, however, is the first to be equipped with an automaton movement. At first glance, the skull on the dial appears to just grin at you but, as you wind it, the display becomes animated and starts to laugh.
In order to make this happen, the brand had to develop a new movement – the calibre BR-CAL.206 – that was entirely produced by the manufacture. In addition to adding in an automata feature, the movement was also designed in the shape of a skull outline so, when placed in the case, it appears to be suspended within.
The 46mm case is made with microblasted steel, which is then decorated with a special a Clous de Paris guilloché that needed special machining. The skull on the dial is made from metal appliqué, which has been embossed to create a relief pattern. The hands are literally sword-shaped hands, and have been skeletonised and coated in Super-LumiNova.
