Watches
The passionate brand of military history goes on a mission with three new vintage watches.
The secret of the precision of a watch? The hours, minutes, and seconds scroll on his dial when the step is clocked. In other words (in watchmaking) the isochrononie provided by an inner army of mechanical components. The military rigour of timekeeping is fully reflected in the three Bell Ross exploration areas, air, sea and land. This triple source of inspiration is not a cosmetic for the brand, whose stylistic foundation is located in the heart of Paris.
His constant search for readability, functionality and reliability has enabled him to deliver professional watches to several elite French corps: the Air Force, the Navy, submarine carriers, the Civil Security Demining Section and the GIGN.
With its time instruments available to the general public, Bell-Ross remains true to the requirements of military specifications. Of course, one thinks of the iconic BR 01, inspired by aircraft cockpit clocks. Its introduction fifteen years ago was a shock and imposed the archetype of U.S. tool watches: square box size XL (46 mm) and typography of the dial borrowed from the utility label. For founders Carlos Rosillo (former investment banker) and Bruno Bellamich (designer), the choice of DIN and Franklin characters used in aviation and security was a no-brainer.
Read also – Watchmaking: When Bell and Ross are inspired by the legendary aviator bombers
Retro, forward all
Today’s codes and the neo-Venice trend hailed by amateurs surpass the recall of three historic pieces. Round, of course. And on the side of the dimensions an essential elegance: 41 mm. Both classic and modern, they are powered by a high-precision automatic movement. This has been a matter of course since 1997, and the Bell Ross production takes place in the very watchmaking Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds.
Beyond a technique and a time-dependent design, each model of the trio offers a different function and color. Simultaneous display of two time zones on a sun-galvanized blue dial for the BR V2-93 steel traveler, chronograph and differentiation of the color “yellow gold” for the elegant BR V2-94 Bronze Naval Aircraft… Limited to 999 copies, this will make the eye of discerning collectors by recalling the famous “bi-compass” of the 1960s, equipped with two subdials. The rich bronze robustness and ocean blue dial are reminiscent of the prestige of the French Navy’s ceremonial uniforms. An ultrabombed sapphire crystal, known as the glass box, enhances the classic style and resistance of the collector.
Day and night
This dome also equips the BR V2-92 Military Green, whose green khaki mat dial bears one of Bell’s cardinal features: optimal readability. Needles, numbers and indices are covered with Super-LumiNova® C3. A champion photoluminescence treatment in its category: the duration of light reproduction and brightness are significantly higher than with other types of SuperLumiNova. Photoluminescence takes up to eight hours, while charging takes very fast. Bell and Ross have been using it in the LUM collection for several years.
Minimalist
The LUM collection, which opened in 2017, will be anthracite grey with the new BR 03-92 Grey. The strength of the iconic square is combined with the powerful phosphorescence of the SuperLumiNova® C3. The intense green light of the needles, numbers and indices is reminiscent of the lighting of the runways. Polished steel, €2,990.
Baroudeuse
BR V2- 92 Military green. Readable day and night, the anti-reflective khaki dial is surrounded by a two-sided rotating black bezel that allows short-time marking. Steel, €2,700.
Globetrotter
BR V2-93 GMT Blue Steel: a chic and indispensable timepiece for carefree travel. The time of the second time zone reads immediately via the two-tone two-way bezel and the red GMT hand. Steel bracelet, 3,200 euros.