Bell & Ross BR 123 Officer Black (BRG123BLSTSST)

For its 2013 collections, Bell & Ross has borrowed the essential functions of an airplane cockpit to create the BR01 Heading Indicator, Airspeed and Climb watches. Aeronautical inspiration is far more than just an aesthetic nod; it is a guiding thread that inspires the whole design of these models.

The BR01 Heading Indicator has not hands but only three discs for the hours, minutes and seconds. One distinctive technical feature is the fact that because each disc weighs 30 times more than a hand, the discs had to be ultra-light so as not to reduce the watch's power reserve and thus its precision. As far as the glass is concerned, it is engraved with the same yellow aircraft as on the original instrument, of which the mission is quite simply to indicate the plane's course or heading.

The Airspeed is a more conventional three-hand model inspired by an anemometer. It distinguishes itself by a b aesthetic: each quarter displays the colours of an authentic anemometer, while its hands are oversized and covered with a white photoluminescent coating. It is also the only one of these three models to have the minute scale directly engraved on the inner bezel ring.
 

Finally, the variometer, indicating vertical speed or climb, enables the pilot to tell at any time whether the plane is ascent, descent or level-flight mode. In this horological version, the Climb adopts the same contrasting shades of white, black and yellow, while complementing the timekeeping indication with two additional complications in the shape of power-reserve and date displays.
These three new timepieces, propelled by self-winding ETA movements, feature a generous 46 mm diameter. The first 99 in each series will be exclusively available in a collector's set regrouping six instruments: the BR 01 Horizon, Altimeter, Turn Coordinator, Heading Indicator, Airpseed and Climb models.

© Bell & Ross

A new Vintage WW1 Regulateur
On the opposite end of the spectrum from the eminently technical and virile aeronautical line of these BR01 watches, Bell & Ross unveils a regulator-type version of its Vintage WW1. Built on an automatic Dubois Depraz base movement housed inside a 42 mm pink gold case, this model with its extremely pure design features three hands that are not superimposed but instead lined up, thereby corresponding to the layout of a true regulator.
"The BR and Vintage collections form a diptych around which Bell & Ross is structured", points out Carlos Rosillo, CEO, Bell & Ross. "While the BR models are clearly segmented and highly distinctive, the Vintage watches allow us to meet expectations in terms of reinterpreting historical models with a subtly contemporary touch."
 

A partnership with Dassault Aviation
Finally, Bell & Ross has been selected by Dassault Aviation to create a tribute timepiece dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the brand's legendary Falcon jet, which it is still producing and of which it is about to deliver the 2,250th such aircraft. "We've been rubbing shoulders with Dassault for over 10 years, although knowing people and working out a cooperation agreement are two different things", emphasizes Carlos Rosillo. "What is obvious is that we do indeed share a certain number of values and commitments. We both work in both military and civilian fields and when they asked us what we could do for them, a tribute to the Falcon in correlation with the Vintage collections we were working on was a natural choice."
The Vintage Sport Heritage range was thus chosen to welcome this model, which features all the line's key attributes such as its brown dial and chestnut brown leather strap, while its standout characteristics include the silhouette of the Falcon screenprinted at 6 o'clock, and the "50 years of Passion and Innovation Dassault - Falcon" inscription appearing on the back.
Two references, BR 123 (hours, minutes, seconds and date); and BR 126 (complemented by a chronograph) will be issued in 500-piece limited editions.