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The BELL & ROSS BR-03 Astrotakes us on a journey into space. Not to the far reaches of the universe, nor to some distant galaxy — but somewhere much closer: our cosmic neighborhood. By putting Earth at the center, flanked by the Moon and Mars, Bell & Ross pays tribute to the Blue Planet in the most poetic way.
From the very first moment I laid eyes on this watch, I was captivated. It was love at first sight. And when I had the opportunity to see it up close — to study its details, to wear it on my wrist — that initial spark became a certainty: I love it. And I love it for many reasons. Five, to be exact. Its overall aesthetic. The unconventional way it tells time. Its minimalist design. The delightful contrast between its playful character and the seriousness of its mechanical movement. All of these qualities have made it a true object of desire — one that, thankfully, doesn’t feel unattainable.
Let’s take a closer look and discover what makes the BR-03 Astro truly special.
The BR-03 Astrois far from a conventional timepiece. First of all, it features a square case — the iconic silhouette of Bell & Ross. Measuring 41mm in diameter and 11.5mm thick, the case is made from matte black ceramic, a high-tech material that also forms the bezel. This all-black casing provides the perfect frame for the dial’s most striking feature: a plate made from black aventurine, reminiscent of a star-filled night sky.
Set against this cosmic backdrop, two planets and two satellites — one natural, the other artificial — appear in a state of hypnotic, perpetual motion. The effect is both poetic and mesmerizing, transporting the wearer into orbit with every glance.
All of these fascinating visual elements were conceived by Bruno Belamich, the creative director and co-founder of Bell & Ross. As he explains, “The Cupola — the observation dome of the International Space Station (ISS) — inspired this watch, which acts as a kind of porthole opening onto the planets. I imagined Earth seen from space in symbolic alignment with the Moon and Mars. The magic of this watch lies in its display— not as a technical interpretation of an instrument watch, but, for once, in an imaginative dimension.”
The first thing you notice when looking at the dial of the Bell & Ross BR-03 Astro is the absence of traditional hands. At the center — playing the leading role yet serving a purely decorative purpose — sits the Earth. Surrounding it, three elements rotate at different speeds: the red planet Mars, moving slowly to indicate the hour; the Moon, slightly faster, marking the minutes; and a small artificial satellite, spinning once around the Earth every 60 seconds to represent the seconds.
Unlike the motion of hands on a classic watch, what unfolds here is closer to a celestial ballet — a visual experience that feels like watching planetary motion from afar.
Although it appears simple to the eye, achieving this illusion required a far more complex technical solution. To create a realistic, dimensional representation of Earth, Bell & Ross designers developed a specially hollowed out sapphire crystal to give relief to a printed image of the Earth, thus creating a striking three-dimensional effect.
As seen in the exploded view, the minute hand (with the Moon) and the second hand (with the satellite) are traditional watch hands. However, precise calculations of their weight and position — especially for the oversized Moon — were essential to ensure the movement’s accuracy.
The hour hand, though, is something entirely different: Mars is drawn on a transparent sapphire crystal disc, which completes one full rotation every 12 hours.
As you may have already realized, despite its playful appearance, the BR-03 Astro is a seriously engineered timepiece. Inside beats the Swiss-made BR. CAL-327 automatic movement, known for its robustness and technical reliability — capable of withstanding the demands of active wear. After all, this is a Bell & Ross, and rugged construction is in its DNA.
Let’s be honest: the BR-03 Astro isn’t for everyone. It’s bold, distinctive, and some might hesitate to wear it daily. I, however, am not one of those people. I find it so captivating that I doubt I could ever get bored of it — even if I wore it from morning till night. This is a watch that never goes unnoticed. And it’s the perfect conversation starter, whether you’re sitting next to a fellow watch enthusiast or someone completely new to horology. While it may have a playful appearance, its intentions are anything but trivial. And that’s exactly why I love it.
In conclusion, the Bell & Ross BR-03 Astro
is a space-inspired timepiece designed not only for lovers of astronomy and cosmic exploration, but for all inhabitants of the Blue Planet. Seductive yet wonderfully simple, it is produced in a limited edition of just 999 pieces. So if you’re thinking about adding it to your collection, you may want to act fast.
Retail price: €4,990.
Limited Edition 999
CASE Black ceramic, Ø41 mm, height: 11.50 mm, black ceramic bezel, screwed-in crown | DIAL Blue aventurine plate representing space. “Mysterious” hour hand – Mars –a transparent plate on which a representation of Mars is drawn. The minute hand – the Moon – is in laser-engraved metal to show the craters, and the second hand – the satellite – is also in laser-engraved metal. The Earth in the centre is recessed into the sapphire. |
MOVEMENT Calibre BR-CAL.327. Self-winding mechanical movement. 54-hour power reserve. | FUNCTIONS / COMPLICATIONS Hours, minutes, seconds. |
WATER RESISTANCE 100 metres | BRACELET / STRAP Black rubber and an additional strap from black synthetic fabric, steel pin buckle with matt black PVD micro-blasted finish. |
