Some names deserve a mention when it comes to luxury military watches. Bell & Ross is one of them. The company was born out of a university project shared between two students. In 1992 Bruno Belamich and Carlos Rosillo shared a vision. They wanted to create wristwatches that balanced functionality with toughness. Air forces, field action, diving commandos and everything military would come together in a unique recipe, driven by German manufacture. At first, the case of every Bell & Ross watch was crafted by the German manufacturer, Sinn Spezialuhren. Some of these early models even bore the Bell & Ross by Sinn lettering upon their dials. Many others, however, were rebranded Sinn designs like the first Chronometer to be worn in space in 1984, the Space 1.
Bell & Ross later began designing its own wristwatches like the Type Demineur, a model that was still manufactured by Sinn but geared towards the French Security Services’ Bomb Disposal Unit. There came a time in 2002, however, when Bell & Ross had the chance to seize the opportunity to have its watches developed in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland, and things changed. In 2005 the Bell & Ross BR 01 watch was developed. It had a design that could instantly be picked out against thousands of Swiss watches and became a true cornerstone to the company’s manufacture. The BR 01 was undeniably a declaration of independence and was soon made available in multiple variations. Bell & Ross for the first time was able to resonate with a particular kind of watch collector. An individual who could appreciate the complexity and mastery behind a very simple design. Its dial was inspired by the dashboard of military cockpits. The round dial surrounded by a square case has four functional screws denoting the four corners at which vintage aeroplane dashboards were designed to screw easily into place in the cockpit.
Bell & Ross also offers a vintage range of timepieces that incorporate three different types of watches that pay tribute to key areas of aviation history and aeronautical adventure. One with a classical dial and round lugs, also known as the first generation. Another with a larger case and bezel, accompanied by angular lugs and a classic BR 01 style. The third generation has retreated in size once more and offers a flatter design. These models meet specifications set by the armed forces such as precision, legibility and performance. Bell & Ross watches from the Vintage collection include the BR V1, BR V2 and BR V3 models.
The Bell & Ross Instrument category is where a diverse range of military watches can be found including the square shaped BR 01, BR 02, BR 03 and BR 04 models. The Bell & Ross BR 05 is a rounded version with an integrated bracelet. A team of designers and specialists in aircraft and space control collaborated to create these timepieces, tailored towards the needs and desires of professionals.
From the beginning, Bell & Ross’ aspirations were always to belong to the world’s elite industry of Swiss watches while meeting the needs of professional pilots with a diverse range of military inspired timepieces. Suffice to say Bell & Ross has achieved this goal and surpassed it time and time again with their ever-evolving catalogue of timepieces. Each one pays homage to the company’s specialist team of aeronautical control panel experts and skilled watch designers.
