Professional watches are its bread and butter. Since its foundation in 1992, Bell & Ross has been catering to the needs of pilots, special forces, and divers. Just five years into its launch, the French luxury watch brand has already made a name by introducing a watch that features a case filled with incompressible synthetic oil. The Hydromax had an impressive water resistance of 11,100m.
In 2017, Bell & Ross launched the BR 03-92 Diver, a diving watch with a 300m water resistance. It was first presented in steel and later in either bronze or ceramic. The latest iteration was released late in April and it follows the green dial trend with its olive green dial. It stays faithful to the military-technical features the line is known for.
LOOK: The BR 03-92 Diver Military Watch Gets A 2021 Update
2020 has been a year of green dials and this trend continues well into 2021 with verdant versions of some of the most iconic watch models cropping up now and then. Bell & Ross has jumped on the bandwagon with its April release, but instead of adopting the color into an existing design, it has also updated one of its core dive watch concepts.
The new BR 03-92 Diver Military sports a 42mm square case in a matte black ceramic finish—a lightweight, water-resistant material that is also resistant to wear and tear, and fading. It follows the utilitarian theme, a signature of the BR 03-92 line.
Overall, the watch has a serious appearance that looks modern yet distinctly Bell & Ross in execution. It is powered with the Sellita SW300-1 based BR Calibre 302 automatic movement which offers 38 hours of power reserve. The reference is limited to 999 pieces with a retail price of $4,500. It is presented in a water-resistant Pelican box with two interchangeable straps: the one made from woven black rubber with a PVD-coated stainless steel buckle and the other with a khaki green synthetic fiber strap and a Velcro closure system. The latter accentuates the overall military vibe of the watch.
Why You Should Buy a Bell & Ross Watch
Military watches offer the best of both worlds of readability and functionality, and Bell & Ross delivers just that throughout its years in the watchmaking industry. For nearly three decades, the brand has been assisting professionals on their missions with their watches that boast military-technical specifications.
It has established an unrivaled history in underwater exploration, first with the launch of the Hydromax, which held the world record for its 11,100m water resistance. It reaffirmed its functional approach to diving watches with the BR 0292, the brand’s first square diving watch—a precision tool with a photoluminescent coating to ensure readability even in the depths of the water. Today, the brand maintains its esteemed reputation with its wide range of watches split into two categories: VBell & Ross Vintage and Bell & Ross Instrument.
Other BR 03 Instrument Watches to Check Out
1. BR 03-92 Diver Orange Limited Edition Ref: BR0392-D-O-ST/SRB
Not so long ago, Bell & Ross released the BR 03-92 in a boutique and e-boutique-exclusive, limited edition orange dial version. It was limited to just 250 pieces and retailed around $4,000.
The highlight for this edition is the use of bright orange for the dial. It’s a color usually associated with diving instruments and sea rescue missions. It’s further contrasted with black hands and indexes that are filled with white Super-Luminova. Overall, these colors create a perfectly legible dial.
2. BR 03-92 Diver Red Bronze Ref. BR0392-D-R-BR/SCA
Bell & Ross is a brand that doesn’t shy away from bold and vibrant colors. One example is this BR 03-92 watch that is delivered in a case made of CuSn8 Bronze—an alloy that combines 92% copper and 8% tin, and with a pink-gold tone when new. This alloy is relatively stable and will only gain marginal patina over time.
Similar to the green dial BR 03-92, this reference is available in a limited edition of 999 pieces. It is presented in a pair of straps: one made with brown calfskin leather and the other, woven black rubber.
3. 03-92 Golden Heritage 2021 Ref. BR0392-GH-ST/SCA
This reference is one of the two watches released in 2013 under the Golden Heritage collection. It offers the same qualities as the BR 03 line, but the brand swapped some of its military qualities for a more elegant look and feel.
A case in point is its 42mm satin-finished steel case delivered in a wide brown leather strap. Instead of the usual 300m water resistance, this watch is only rated with a water resistance level of 100m.
Takeaway
All these watches retain the elements that made the BR 03 line successful—42mm square case, round unidirectional bezel, and four identical screws. Their dials provide great contrast and a generous amount of luminescent material to ensure maximum legibility even when 300m deep into the waters.
Which of these BR 03 watches appeal to you most? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
