Bell & Ross continues to enrich its ever-growing collection of timepieces with three watches that are committed to craftsmanship and functionality
In 1994, childhood friends Carlos-Antonio Rosillo and Bruno Belamich joined forces to establish Bell & Ross, a distinguished timepiece brand. The name is a fusion of the initial syllables from their respective surnames: Belamich and Rosillo. Bell & Ross specialises in crafting timepieces that are both timeless and distinctive.
Their vision centred on creating watches designed for professionals operating in the most demanding environments, including divers, pilots and astronauts. To meet the rigorous demands of these occupations, Bell & Ross meticulously developed a series of watches that embody four core values. First and foremost is legibility, as the priority in their design is to ensure clear visibility of the dial for effortless time reading. Functionality is another key aspect, with each timepiece thoughtfully engineered for specific and practical purposes.
While Bell & Ross originates from France, its manufacturing and development primarily occur in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The aviation industry has heavily influenced the brand’s design philosophy and choice of materials. Leveraging materials such as titanium and carbon fibre, Bell & Ross creates timepieces that cater to the unique needs of pilots and the extreme conditions they encounter while flying.
With almost three decades of its founding, Bell & Ross has not only endured but thrived, expanding its range of exceptional timepieces. We delve into three remarkable additions to their watch collection in this spotlight.
BR 05 GMT Sky Blue
Designed with the busy globetrotter in mind, this timepiece is the perfect companion for those traversing multiple time zones while accomplishing their work. Emphasising duality, it offers a clear and straightforward display of a second-time zone by including a fourth hand. This hand’s large white arrow-shaped tip ensures optimal readability as it instantly indicates the time of the country of origin, courtesy of a 24-hour graduated inner bezel.
Enhancing functionality and aesthetics, the inner bezel features a two-tone satin-brushed and rhodium-plated silver treatment, complemented by a beautiful sky-blue hue. This thoughtful design allows for immediate differentiation between day and night hours. With its ingenious features, this timepiece empowers the wearer to effortlessly sync with different time zones, ensuring they remain punctual and well-prepared on their global journeys.
The BR 05 GMT Sky Blue offers a stainless-steel bracelet, which fits perfectly into the 41mm wide case. Or a blue rubber strap, perfectly matching the tint of the watch, reinforcing its bluish tone. The watch is driven by the Sellita movement, specifically the BR-CAL.325 calibre. Watchmaking enthusiasts can fully appreciate the intricate mechanics by utilising the sapphire caseback, which offers a mesmerising view of the meticulous finishes and the 360° rotations of the oscillating weight.
BR 05 CHRONO ALPINE A523
Bell & Ross and Alpine combine their technical expertise to create a watch that brings the two entities together with a shared passion for precision mechanics and high performance. The BR 05 Chrono is making its competition debut this season in Alpine colours. Decorated with the French flag, complete with the team’s blue, with a display of the Alpine logo as a counterweight to the chronograph hand. All these are offset with a graduated black dial with two counters focusing on readability and functionality, such as a dinner in the city or a business meeting in the Grand Prix paddocks.
The chronograph version possesses a dual nature, seamlessly blending sportiness with a touch of elegance. The design proudly maintains its elegant proportions, featuring the 42mm diameter case that artfully combines a square shape with a circular motif. Meticulously refined finishes alternate between polished and satin-finished surfaces, resulting in a subtle play of light and shadow. This timepiece can be worn with the steel bracelet, boasting flexible and comfortable links, or a sophisticated black leather strap. The BR 05 Chrono A523 model ensures water resistance up to 100m, adding further practicality to its remarkable appeal.
See also: DARE+ accelerates StarHub’s transformation for a new era of digitalisation
BR 03 Cyber Rainbow
This is an exceptional and innovative timepiece; the 2023 edition of Only Watch unveils a watch adorned with various colours. This watch is meticulously crafted and showcases a stunning in-house mechanism that combines beauty and technical prowess. With a fully three-dimensional skeleton movement and a captivating oscillating weight, its technical brilliance takes centre stage.
The bridges, exquisitely fashioned from DLC micro-blasted metal, possess pockets filled with varnish, adding a unique touch of artistry. The micro-blasted metal hands enhance the watch’s aesthetics and are adorned with white SLN for enhanced readability, even in dim lighting conditions.
Bell & Ross’s dedication to craftsmanship is exemplified in the unique black DLC titanium case adorned with coloured varnished pieces, meticulously applied using a specialised process. To ensure harmony with the case, the rubber strap has been varnished with a soft and coloured material, resulting in an eye-catching mosaic pattern.
A special calibre has been meticulously developed exclusively for this extraordinary timepiece, boasting a self-winding system that ensures a dependable power reserve of 48 hours. Drawing attention to the dial’s breathtaking aesthetics, the movement and coloured bridges are the only visible elements, evoking a sense of delicacy and refinement.
Embrace the bold spirit and captivating design of the BR 03 Cyber Rainbow—a true testament to innovation and elegance. This remarkable timepiece invites you to immerse yourself in its audacious allure and embrace its remarkable fusion of style and technology.
