While the main plate at Bell & Ross is still military/pilot’s watches – as we’ve seen with the new MA-1 and some other novelties presented recently, like the Bi-Compass – other territories have also been explored by the brand. One of the recurring themes is Formula 1 and the partnership with Renault F1 – which […]
Few brands have watches that are instantly recognizable as their own. The Bell & Ross BR series won’t be mistaken for any other brand. Developed in 2005 with the BR01 and modelled after cockpit instruments, the BR series features a somewhat polarizing square case with round dial, and some models have evolved beyond the military motif. The BR 03-92 Blue Steel with its clean, deep blue time and date dial is a good example, maintaining the iconic square case with a dressier, non-military finish. The new model presented for Baselworld 2019, named the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 MA-1, is however all about military inspiration. Back to the roots!
There’s no need to explain anymore the link between Bell & Ross and aviation. The brand’s iconic watch, the BR, is indeed shaped after dashboard instruments – the typical “circle within a square” case. However, aviation doesn’t necessarily mean pressurised suits and jet fighters. Aviation is also about commercial flights and leisure planes. And what happens when you’re out of your plane? Well, in this context, the new, urbanized Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Blue Steel should be the answer.
What started in 2005 as a source of inspiration developed into a true leitmotiv for the brand: a circle within a square, a watch inspired and built like an onboard instrument, straight from military planes to the wrist. More recently, Bell & Ross has been exploring new territories and new shapes but the BR01 and BR03 are still the backbones of the collection. As part of the Baselworld 2019 collection, the Parisian-based brand makes a comeback to the cool and much-praised instrument watches, with the new Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Bi-Compass.
When it comes to military-inspired watches, there are some names that need to be mentioned. Sinn certainly is one of them and Bell & Ross shouldn’t be forgotten either – and these two brands share more than just inspirations, as you’ll see later. Today, we’ve decided to give the brand a closer look, and with the help of two of the most back-to-basics watches in the collection – the BR 03-92 Horoblack & Nightlum – we’ll try to understand what Bell & Ross stands for. Let’s take off!
When you think Bell & Ross, you should apparently have “military-inspiration”, “pilot’s watch” and “round-within-a-square-case” in mind. So, with its squared case and round bezel, its chronograph, its military-coloured lightweight and robust material inspired by stealth fighter planes and an overall functional design, it seems that the new Bell & Ross BR-X1 Military ticks all the boxes, right? (spoiler alert: it does, and it even adds the cool technical look of the Experimental collection).
Usually, we would not cover limited edition watches created by our neighbours (another magazine) but for once, we’ll make an exception. Not only because Wei Koh (founder of The Rake and Revolution) is a good friend of ours, not only because we like Bell & Ross watches, but mainly because the result of this new […]
Bell & Ross is making another bold addition to its futuristic “Experimental” collection this year. Just announced, the new BR-X2 Skeleton Tourbillon Micro-Rotor is the evolution of the BR-X2 Tourbillon introduced last year. Stripped back to the absolute essentials, this ultra-modern watch takes the challenge of transparency to the extreme, offering crystal clear insight into the company’s interpretation of contemporary Haute Horlogerie.
A year ago, Bell & Ross introduced the BR 03-92 Diver, the brand’s take on the dive watch. While it was not the first time B&R produces a watch to explore the deep blue sea – some of the earliest models were dive watches (inc. the impressive Hydromax 11000m) – this new watch was the first to mix the iconic square case with proper diving capacities. Utterly different from the rest of the crowd and at the same time genuinely familiar, it was an immediate success. This year, the collection expands with 2 new versions, in blue or in bronze. I spent my summer with the latter and here’s our take on it.
Now that summer is firmly installed in most regions of the world (Northern Hemisphere at least), you might have the temptation to opt for a dive watch of a colourful sports watch. Sure, these watches will be perfectly suitable on the beach, but what if you want to keep things elegant – or what if you’re about to spend your summer behind the desk, working while your ungrateful colleagues enjoy their vacations. For this reason, here are 8 of the coolest sports elegant watches recently introduced. Robust but still discreet, as good for a “weekend-jump-in-the-pool” as for a “boring-Monday-morning-meeting”.