Hello everyone! In this article, I’ll be featuring my recent watch acquisition, the Bell and Ross BR-03 Astro.
It’s been quite a while since I last did this, but this is essentially a series where I shine a spotlight on my personal purchases. I’ve previously done similar articles on my Kurono Tokyo Toki, IWC Mark XVIII Le Petit Prince, TAG Heuer Monaco CAW211B, Tissot PRX Powermatic 80, Bell & Ross BR 05, Santos de Cartier, Tudor Black Bay 58 Blue, Ming 17.09, Grand Seiko SBGA413 “Shunbun”, Swatch X Omega MoonSwatch “Mission to the Sun”, Hermes Arceau Squelette, and the Tudor Black Bay 58 Silver.
As you guys may know, Bell and Ross is known for its utilitarian, aviation-style square watches. So when I first saw the press releases for the BR-03 Astro, I was pleasantly surprised – this was totally different from the rest of its lineup, which mostly comprises legible dials, skull dials, or skeletonised dials. Yet, the astronomy theme is still thematically relevant to the ethos of the brand, which has always centred around adventure and exploration. In other words, the BR-03 Astro is different, but still retains the brand’s DNA within its iconic square case.
Furthermore, the ceramic case is well-made, being crafted by G&F Chatelain, the high-end case maker that’s owned by Chanel. Being ceramic, the watch is virtually scratch-proof (it also comes with a sapphire crystal), which means that the Astro will likely look like new even after years of usage. Surprisingly, the case is also svelte, coming in at just 11.5mm thick and 41mm in diameter – this will slide underneath the shirt cuff with no issues.
However, the literal star of the show has to be the aventurine dial, which is accented by cosmological details. The roaming satellite serves as the second hand, the moon denotes the minutes, and the little red circle (evoking Mars) indicate the hour. All the detailing “revolves” around Earth (not scientifically accurate, but I doubt anyone cares), which is imprinted on the underside of the sapphire crystal to create depth. Together, it’s one of the most stunning dials I’ve seen, and definitely the most beautiful at its price point.
On the topic of price, I believe the BR-03 Astro to be a great value proposition. Despite being limited to 999 pieces, the Astro is only $800 more than the base BR-03 ceramic model. It’s actually one of the more affordable ceramic watches in the market, being 10% cheaper than alternatives such as the 41mm Tudor Black Bay Ceramic. Even though the movement is based on the Sellita-SW300, the brand has modified it to provide a longer power reserve of 54 hours (as compared to the standard 38). In other words, the Astro manages to capture the grandeur of the cosmos without an astronomical price tag. Granted, it’s not an everyday watch or a one-watch collection, but rather a cool reminder to not take life too seriously.
Bell and Ross BR-03 Astro – Video Review
For those interested in seeing some hands-on footage of the watch, do watch my Youtube review of the Bell and Ross BR-03 Astro below:
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P.P.P.P.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
