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Watch What-If: Bell & Ross BR01 Heritage

admin — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:05:39 +0000

"Watch What-If" is a special column on aBlogtoRead.com that asks the playful question "what if an iconic watch you know and love was offered in a different style?" The idea embraces a good timepiece's core design and has fun by offering new colors and material concepts to stimulate your senses. These ideas may be provocative, artistic, or just plain silly. This is about fun, Photoshop, and the celebration of wrist watch design and experimentation. The original design we work off will always be at the bottom of the article. The designs are brought to life by Beau Hudspeth who does the artwork and concepting after he and I choose the models and styles to focus on. Ideas and comments are more than welcome. Enough response may even lead to a round two of design. You are also encouraged to suggest watches that make it into the Watch What-If section here on aBlogtoRead.com.

Watch What-Iffed: Bell & Ross BR01-92 Heritage

Art & Concepting in collaboration with Beau Hudspeth.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Bell & Ross BR02-94 Marine Chronograph Watch Review

admin — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:03:00 +0000

Bell & Ross is not what I would call an underdog brand, but their BR02 dive watch certainly has been an underdog. Not appreciated to its full extent, this is a really cool timepiece that deserves a bit of extra attention. I don't recall the exact year the BR02 made its debut, but it was on the coattails of the BR01 at the height of its popularity. Moving their attention from the air to the sea, Bell & Ross wanted to release a novel diver watch instrument.

Previous dive pieces in their collection such as the Hyrdomax were quartz-based and filled with oil. An attractive piece, the Hydromax was perhaps too tool-like and had too many style references to when Bell & Ross watches were more closely associated with Sinn. The idea of the BR02 was to make a dive watch version of the BR01. You can still get Hydromax watches today and they are water resistant to 11,000 meters (yes) - though compared to the "big Bell & Ross" image created by the 46mm wide BR01, the Hydromax was rather medium sized at 40mm wide.

Being a dive watch fan the BR02 immediately caught my attention when it was released some years back. One thing that was unique is the fact that it has a tonneau-shaped case. Probably the only dive watch with this case style that I can think of. Bell & Ross offered a unique look as well as something that genuinely felt like a diving instrument. Nevertheless, the unorthodox style might have been a bit too strange for some people seeking a more conventional look. I can appreciate that, as off the wrist the BR02 is certainly a "different" looking watch.

On the wrist however the tonneau-shaped case begins to sell itself. The dial is still round and the case feels natural on the wrist. Cases such as those also tend to compliment one's wrist visually. References to the BR01 are clear. There are the four large screws on the case as well as the dial which is inspired by the aviator look of the BR01. Having said that, the dial does feel appropriate for a dive watch and does not feel misplaced.

To make it a true diver Bell & Ross gave the BR02 an internal rotating bezel, an automatic helium release valve, as well as 500 meters of water resistance. The watch came in both three-hand and chronograph variant, while additional styles were added over the years. The large polished steel case is chunky feeling - as a good diver should be. The attached rubber strap is custom for the case and integrates nicely with the design. Best of all it is very comfortable and does not feel like a weight on your wrist. This is good because like the BR01, the BR02 is a large watch. It is almost 50mm wide including the crown and pushers, and about 49mm tall. Thickness is 17mm. With a large domed sapphire crystal it makes for a handsome and aggressive look.

Even being so domed the thick amount of AR coating on the crystal makes legibility high. Only at extreme angles is there going to be dial distortion. Wanting to look as much like a serious instrument as possible, the minute hand on this chronograph model is outlined in orange to match a couple of other elements on the dial. You'll also notice that Bell & Ross used different colors of lume for the hour and minute hand to amplify underwater legibility in the dark.

This chronograph version uses an ETA 2894 automatic movement which has been modified to have the 12 hour counter removed. It makes for a cleaner look on the dial but also gives the chronograph 30 minutes of timing capacity. The date indicator is very cleanly and covertly designed into the dial between 4 and 5 o'clock. Even though there is a lot going on the dial, it is still very legible. I further appreciate the internal bezel operating crown to be located at 10 o'clock, which makes it easy to use while the watch is on the wrist. All crowns and pushers are nicely done being partially rubber-coated and screw-down.

I still consider the BR02 collection to be under-appreciated, not because people don't like them, but rather because they simply don't get a ton of attention. On the wrist they really shine and offer a unique dive watch experience. Unlike most Bell & Ross watches which are often winners at first glance, the BR02 needs a bit more time to appreciate, and I recommend you put one on your wrist to see how the shape translates itself on you. This particular model is the BR02-94 Marine Chronograph and retails for $5,400.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Bell & Ross WW1-92 Military & Heritage Watches Hands-On

admin — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 07:09:09 +0000

You know what Bell & Ross needed? A good pilot watch. Boy, I'll say their collection was missing one of those. THANKFULLY the brass over there figured it out and came up with these nice timepieces for flying. Our hearts can rest easily now... phew! In all seriousness, these are additional pilot watches for the brand which prides itself on its pilot and aviation styles timepieces.

What is really interesting is how the WW1-92 watches are part of a collection that look nothing like these two models. Look at a Bell & Ross WW1-97 for example and you won't recognize the collection as something that would include the WW1-92. You can see a review article of mine on the other WW1 watches here to see what I mean. That all the WW1 (which stands for Wrist Watch 1) collection pieces don't look the same isn't per se a problem, but rather an amusing quirk if anything You just sort of need to understand that they are all part of the WW1 collection that Bell & Ross touts as being their homage to the first wrist watches.

Rather than looking like wrist watch versions of pocket watches (like the other WW1) pieces, these are early aviator style and look like something off the first airplane dashboards. Though the cases of all the WW1 watches are the same. The WW1-92 watches come in 45mm wide steel cases with one being PVD coated. The WW1-92 Military is in polished steel while the WW1-92 Heritage is done in PVD gray (which gives the watch a more aged look). The models have either a white and black dial, or that now familiar aged tan and black with matching strap. Personally I love the combo of that orangey brown and black, on black case and matching orangey brown strap. Always a winning look for me. In this case the WW1-92 Heritage does not quite have a black case as it is dark gray. This modifies that look a bit but still looks very nice.

Even at 45mm wide, Bell & Ross plays tricks to make the watch feel smaller on the wrist. This includes short lugs which are also curved down. With a flat caseback, the watch will be comfy on most wrists, but probably look a bit large on the smallest wrists out there (which does not include my wrist). The case has a domed sapphire crystal and is water resistant to 50 meters. Overall I appreciate the largeness of the case with the dial design. It is also nice how despite the case is large, the strap wideness is not too great. Another interesting point about the lugs is that they actually hide a spring bar for attaching the strap. This vastly increases the ease of replacing the strap in comparison to some other watches that use loop style lugs.

The dial design is all aviator but with Bell & Ross's typical sense of polish and grace. There have been 1001 ways of doing classic aviation watch dials, and here Bell & Ross chose what I call the "double dial" design. Here there is a dial for the hours within the minute scale dial. This was originally intended to improve legibility by giving the hour hands its own track. I think it works for the most part, but dials such are this aren't too common. What Bell & Ross also likely wanted to do was avoid too much comparison to IWC as well as offer something unique among their existing collection of aviator styles watches. Whether you agree with it or not, many people judge new pilot style watches against what IWC offers. I think we can agree for the most part that the WW1-92 Military and Heritage models do not look like something available from IWC, and are also visually distinct from what Bell & Ross already offers.

Inside the watches are Swiss ETA 2892 automatic movements. To keep up with appearances the dials do not include the date. Bell & Ross is wise not to use an exhibition caseback (which they do rather rarely now that I think about it) as the movement is much smaller than the case. Proportionally everything seems to work on the WW1-92 models. My personal favorite is the WW1-92 Heritage as I love the colors and that sexy tan strap. Though the Military model with its polished steel case and more conservative dial might prove a more flexible daily wear.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Bell & Ross BRS Watch Review

admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:02:21 +0000

A few years ago Bell & Ross released their first women's version of the BR 01 style watch called the BRS (which I first discussed here). The idea of the watch was to be a smaller, more fashion oriented version of the BR 01 done in ceramic. Available in black or white ceramic, it is hard to argue that Bell & Ross wasn't at least partially influenced by the success of the Chanel J12. Lovely in its design the BRS cannot really be categorized as strictly a woman's watch, but that is the intended market as I see it.

Bell & Ross experimented with ceramic before the BRS, and since the BRS has continued to offer good looking ceramic watches in various forms. The hard material makes for a good looking case that when polished retains the sheen forever really. The BRS case is a 39mm wide square and is very thin. I believe that originally Bell & Ross wanted to include a manually-wound mechanical movement in the BRS, but later decided that a Swiss quartz movement was best. I tend to agree as women often prefer the convenience of quartz movements, especially if they have a range of watches that they wear.

Unlike the BR 01, the BRS has a removable caseback which shows that the design of the case is different as opposed to being merely miniaturized. Though visually that is how it looks. The iconic square case is here complete with the large screws on the top of the case. You will however notice that the lug structures are different and better designed for the small case dimensions.

The white ceramic BRS is certainly more feminine that this black version and combines white ceramic with polished steel. On a patent leather strap all versions of the watch are rather feminine, but you can alter that look by placing the BRS on a different strap. For example, imagine this black one on a NATO strap and you can see how that can make it more unisex in design.

Water resistant to 50 meters, the case has an AR coated sapphire crystal. Looking at the dial you can see the evolution from the BR 01. The BRS has a more elegant dial with a subsidiary seconds dial. True to the theme, the hands and hour markers are all coated in SuperLumiNova.

For those wanting more of a jewelry look Bell & Ross offers the BRS watch collection (both the black and white models) with diamonds on the bezel. I've seen BRS watches on women "out in the wild" and I really like the look on feminine wrists. It isn't something for everyone though due to the size and style, but I think Bell & Ross makes a rather persuasive argument for a nice looking womens' collection with the BRS. Price as seen here is $2,900.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Bell & Ross BR 01-92 Carbon Watch Review

admin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:08:43 +0000

The BR 01 (BR01) watch collection is probably the most iconic timepiece of the Bell & Ross brand, and one of the most influential timepieces of last decade.Â Exactly where did it come from and why is it so popular? Bell & Ross as a brand is highly inspired by the German brand Sinn. In fact, one of the founders of Bell & Ross worked at Sinn, and early Bell & Ross watches were actually Sinn watches that were dual branded.

Sinn is sort of the anti-Swiss watch in theme. The brand offers high-quality tool and professional-use watches that are reasonably priced and have zero lifestyle marketing behind them. I believe at the time, the new Bell & Ross brand saw an opportunity to market the Sinn concept to a more lifestyle and fashion oriented demographic, while retaining the core look and functionality that made Sinn what they were.

Soon after having success with offering Sinn watches in a new way Bell & Ross quickly started to develop its own personality and was among the first high-end watch brands that I recall ever noticing and lusting for. Born from historic military watches and functional instruments, the brand then (about 10 years ago), and now is still easy to love. A major part of that reason is that the majority of Bell & Ross watches feature very refined designs and dials that are often extremely easy to read. The mission of the brand was to offer a good-looking watch that said the people wearing them had good, but conservative taste, and weren't afraid to get their hands dirty when necessary.

Using Swiss movements, Bell & Ross is a contemporary French company. Even their "vintage" models have a fresh feel, while the brand's entire collection is modern through and through. How did Bell & Ross manage to retain this look while featuring a collection that is mostly aimed at the past for inspiration? I think it has to do with restraint. Design restraint. Most Bell & Ross watch designs are simple at first glance. There are a few key design features that make each piece what it is - without going overboard. I can only guess that this type of design process is difficult because rather than adding features designers often need to strip them away.

I mention all this because in my opinion it is particularly salient to the BR 01 models. The BR 01 is a watch based on the look of an airplane cockpit dashboard clock. Im fact, you could probably use it as one. The square case is modeled after the modular design of cockpit instruments complete with retention screws. Go in any number of airplane cockpits and you'll see where the design came from. The design includes large hands, easy to see hour numerals, and perfect contrast.

The purest BR 01 design when it comes to honoring these plane clocks is the BR 01-92 Carbon. Black coated metal is preferred in cockpits because it does not reflect light that may hinder visibility. Also a black and white dial offers the best contrast for legibility. This model also removes the date window which was offered on other BR 01-92 models. Just the time with seconds - a pure dashboard instrument.

Bell & Ross has always in my opinion expertly shrunken down the plane clock for use on the wrist. Some of the little details are the best, such as the well-rendered hands and four dial mounted screws that match the four bezel mounted screws. The dial is clean and crisp with indicators that are slightly raised due to the healthy amount of SuperLumiNova used for lume.

"Shrunken down" is of course a relative term as the BR 01 is still a 46mm by 46mm wide square cased watch. When it first came out there was a lot of skepticism as to who might wear such a watch. The "big watch" craze wasn't quite mainstream yet, and it look a lot of wrist time for people to be convinced that Bell & Ross was on to something. Nevertheless, Bell & Ross still released the slightly smaller BR 03 model a few years later to satisfy more wrist size preferences. Interestingly enough, as wide as the watch is, it feels very thin at 10.5mm thick. This low wrist profile is a major benefit of the design.

Personally I love the size and would choose the BR 01 over a BR 03 any day of the week. Other equally educated people might say just the opposite. The steel case is PVD coated black and water resistant to 100 meters. The sapphire crystal is AR coated for viewing ease. More little touches like the grating texture on the screw-down crown with engraved Bell & Ross logo are welcome bits. The large flat watch sits very comfortably on the wrist, which also means that while it is large, it won't slide around.

One of the most clever design elements of the watch is how the straps integrate the lugs for a single, seamless look. The straps gently taper and are faceted (on the rubber versions) to help visually reduce the size of the watch. It is a quite refined and visually elegant strap design, while also being very simple. Also offered in leather, nylon Velcro, and other straps, the best strap for the BR 01 is still probably the rubber strap. Beautiful in it design, the strap is matched to a sexy buckle and is effortlessly easy to wear and comfortable.

Inside the BR 01-92 is a Swiss ETA 2892-2 automatic movement. Most BR 01 watches make it very clear which movement is inside of them. The BR 01-94 for example has a 2894 automatic chronograph movement while the BR 01-97 has a 2897 automatic with power reserve movement, and so forth. A number of brands out there use basic ETA movements and try to disguise the caliber names with their own lexicon. Bell & Ross seems to have little interest in this practice and I applaud them for focusing on what counts. They are not a watch movement maker but a watch maker. They use reliable industry tested movements inside watches of their own design, and don't mean to confuse anyone in the process.

I've said a lot of good things about the BR 01-92 Carbon watch and overall BR 01 collection because I have followed the evolution of this collection since its debut several years ago and have continued to really like it. When it comes to watches the true test of merit is time. That might sound painfully cliche, but only time separates good designs from trendy designs. Bell & Ross has proved to me that with the BR 01 Instrument it is hip to be square. Quality and execution are very good, and if you think like me you already know that you like the look of it. Price for this BR 01-92 carbon ref. BR 01-92-S-00009 is $4,200 retail.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Bell & Ross BR02-92 Carbon Fiber And Phantom Watches

admin — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 07:31:06 +0000

Bell & Ross has not forgotten about you BR02 lovers! The BR02 is Bell & Ross's most modern dive watch and a piece that, I think, has gone too far under the radar in the last few years. It makes sense that with all their focus on vintage/heritage/original aviation pieces there wasn't very much room in the spotlight for a thoroughly modern Bell & Ross diving watch.

Here is a bit of attention for the collection, though, in the form of two new pieces that borrow heavily from some of the coolest BR01 watches from a few years ago. I am glad that Bell & Ross looked to the BR01 All Carbon Fiber and BR01 Pro Titanium watches as a design direction for these BR02 watches. You can see what I mean by clicking on those links.

The two new watches are the BR02-92 Carbon Fiber and BR02-92 Phantom. I'm pretty sure you can tell which is which. The hands and hour indicators are very modern compared to the rest of the collection while still very legible. I think these are some really neat looking watches. The Phantom dial is especially interesting given the use of a clos du Paris style pattern on the face. These are like little repeating pyramids and not something I have seen before on any black and black watches.

You'll recall that the BR02 has a 44mm wide steel case (PVD black-coated for the Phantom model) and is water-resistant to 1000 meters. The case has an internal rotating bezel and automatic helium escape valve. The tonneau style case is unique among dive watches and I have to say that while unorthodox in design, these sit very well on the wrist - I would gladly have one as a daily wear. These sharp designs offer a bit of new life for the BR02 collection even if Bell & Ross is borrowing from themselves. The BR02 Carbon Fiber and BR02 Phantom watches should be available soon.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Bell & Ross BR01 Casino Watches

admin — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:09:51 +0000

In addition to the piece unique watch that Bell & Ross has created for the Only Watch 2011 watch auction, it looks like they will have a few of these "Bell & Ross BR01 Casino" watches for sale. The Only Watch 2011 version has a black and gold dial and is done in all 18k pink gold (some is PVD coated black) . The standard version will be more traditionally toned like a roulette wheel.

These watches are based on the Bell & Ross Radar watch from last year. A concept that Bell & Ross keeps playing with. There has been the Radar II, as well as other models based on the BR01 case and dial that uses three moving discs to tell the hours, minutes, and seconds. The movement is based on a modified Swiss ETA 2892 automatic.

Are these 46m wide slowly moving roulette wheels cool in a Casino setting? Of course. Who wants to know the time at the tables anyways (the casino certainly doesn't want you to know). Reading the time isn't super easy, but it is doable. The green "0" is the hour indicator and the moving ball is the minute indicator. The center disc shows the seconds.

While there will only be one of the BR01 Casino Only Watch 2011, I am not sure how many PVD steel BR01 Casino pieces Bell & Ross will make. It is likely not a limited edition piece, but something unique that you won't find all over the place. Actually, according to Bell & Ross, the BR01 Casino will be available excursively in casinos that are either in Las Vegas, Monaco, and Macau. Look for them in October 2011 (the month after the only watch auction ends).

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Bell & Ross WW1 Watch Hands-On

admin — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 07:41:11 +0000

As Bell & Ross retreats into the history of timepieces to create more "vintage, original, and heritage" timepieces, we see an increasingly interesting range of retro designs as only Bell & Ross can do it. This year Bell & Ross has gone all the way back to the origins of the wrist watch with the "WW1." The name means "wrist watch 1," but not so ironically sounds like world war I. This is the era when wrist watches really began - so the name sort of has a double meaning.

The WW1 is a different feeling Bell & Ross, and treads into new territory. The concept of the piece is based on how some of the first wrist watches were modified pocket watches. To compound this idea, Bell & Ross has also released a pocket watch version called the PW1. The pocket watch won't sell as well as the wrist watch, but is a good visual reminder of how you are meant to think of both pocket watch and wrist watch when looking at the WW1.

Like a pocket watch the case is very rounded and pebble-like. This causes it feels less dense than much of what Bell & Ross offers. The steel case is polished all over and curved with a matching curved sapphire crystal. Lugs are done in the style of those that were once melted to the sides of pocket watches to make them wrist watches. Bell & Ross takes pride in this aspect of the watch and I think they did a good job with it - better than Panerai on their Radiomir and retro models. One cool aspect is that it is not a solid bar, but rather looks like one. The middle section is actually a spring bar - this makes changing straps much easier than if you needed to unscrew the bar.

Overall the case is very slick looking, but it would take a bit for me to get used to it. In a sense, this is of the most minimalist designs that Bell & Ross has ever offered.Â This is also not a sport watch. Bell & Ross placed the piece on an alligator strap, and with 50 meters of water resistance - the case isn't that durable. Size of the watch is a neat 45mm wide, though it wears smaller due to the short lugs.

For the dial Bell & Ross really excels again offering that early 20th century period look along with an easy to read face. The iconic Bell & Ross dial is present with thinner indexes and new hands. How many dial styles will there be? Not sure right now, but there will be a few. Like the BR01 when it first came out, there ought to be a few models of the WW1 containing ETA's core 289X series automatic movements. Here you see one with a 2896 (big date) and another with a 2897 (power reserve). This makes me think that Bell & Ross will also have the more basic 2892 model, as well as perhaps others. I actually think a version with a 2895 would look nice (subsidiary seconds dial), as opposed to having the large central seconds hand. UPDATE: The WW1 will come in three styles initially They will have either an ETA 2896, 2897, or 2890. Another version will be released later with a totally different dial and will contain a 2892.

The PW1 pocket watch is larger at 49mm wide and comes complete with a chain. The dial is polished differently with a sunburst style, and the caseback is machine engraved. Inside of the pocket watch is a Swiss ETA manually wound 6974 movement. Both the WW1 and PW1 are interesting models, but Bell & Ross has traveled so far back they no longer have any place to go with these retro models. Does this mean we start to look forward again next year? Or perhaps the vintage style collections will examine themselves and history even more as Bell & Ross adds the brand's lineup. Prices for the wrist and pocket watch are $4,500. UPDATE: Bell & Ross decided to amend the pricing on the pocket watch version to $3,000. They did this for a special reason to help promote the pocket watch despite the reduction in revenue of its sales. This has a lot to do with the CEO's big personal interest in pocket watches these days - wanting that DNA to be part of what Bell & Ross is all about.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Bell & Ross BR01-92 Ceramic Watch Hands-On

admin — Sat, 07 May 2011 07:05:53 +0000

A few years ago Bell & Ross began to experiment with ceramic watches. The first real collection was the BRS, a smaller square cased model that was, to an extent, a women's watch. It was thin and lovely and ended up on the wrists of more women than men. There were also ceramic versions of the BR03 - a 42mm wide version of the 46mm wide BR01. Those ceramic models had a lot of different styles and varieties, including those with gloss and matte finished ceramic.

I don't think there was ever a real ceramic version of the BR01 (BR 01) - the original (and best in my opinion) size for Bell & Ross's iconic square watch look. So Bell & Ross finally decided to make one. And it is pretty nice. Somewhere along the Bell & Ross timeline the BR01 collection was given the "Aviation" label. So, technically, I think this watch is the Bell & Ross Aviation BR01 Ceramic. Anyhow, the watch opts for glossy versus the matte ceramic that has been prominently used a lot as people felt glossy ceramic had been over done. That may or may not have been true, but I think that both finishes on ceramic have a place.

Bell & Ross specifically didn't want to offer just a ceramic version of the BR01. They wanted to offset it with a few other special parts. For those not familiar with the collection, the BR01-92 refers to this three hand version with standard date. The "92" in the name refers to the Swiss ETA 2892 automatic movement housed by its unique case.

If I recall correctly, the dial is also black ceramic. What Bell & Ross did differently here is to use brushed metal for the hour indicators and hands. I have to say, it looks really cool. This is one of the best looking BR01 models to come out in a while and is a fashionable sport watch that I think most men would be happy to wear. The brushed metal on the dial against the glossy black ceramic proves to be a successful mix and I highly anticipate seeing this look elsewhere soon.

Also new for the entire BR01 collection is the rubber strap. It is thinner and of a higher quality than seen previously. The design has been updated some and it wears more comfortably - a nice little improvement that few will notice but, when pointed out, will appreciate the upgrade right away. For those of you who have older BR01 watches with rubber straps, I recommend going to Bell & Ross and trying to order the new ones (I assume they are compatible).

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Bell & Ross Diver 300 Chronograph Watch Available On James List

admin — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 08:04:24 +0000

Back in 2003, when the BR01 was a fresh pup, Bell & Ross released this Diver 300 Chronograph watch. There is actually a similar watch called the Bell & Ross Type Aeronavale (of which an image is placed here). The Diver 300 Chronograph is a great looking dive style watch that bridges a look between the modern versus old. True to Bell & Ros style, it is an effortlessly attractive watch with a simple presentation and an eye for details. Functional in feeling, the Diver 300 is a great looking daily wear.

The case is steel with a nice mixture of polished and brushed surfaces. It is 40mm wide, which might be too small for some, and perfect for others. The case is water resistant to 300 meters and has a sapphire crystal. I love how it looks on the metal bracelet. This specific bracelet is on a few other Bell & Ross watches and is truly fantastic. It is a bit hard to see, but the middle link is polished while the outside links are brushed. While the bezel on the Type Aeronavale is black on steel, the Diver 300 has an all steel engraved bezel. An interesting mix of an aviator and diver style bezel in design. When it comes down to it, this is in fact a hybrid between a diver and pilot watch.

You can tell that there are three versions of the dial. White, black, and black with white chronograph subdials. The watch dial looks great. Vintage looking font for the Arabic numerals, with all the necessary marks for easy reading. Lots of SuperLumiNova on the dial. the hands are an interesting mix between the two genres as well.

Inside the watch is a Swiss ETA Valjoux 2894-2 automatic movement. The subsidiary seconds dial has been removed for theÂ bi-compax look. The Type Aeronavale retains that dial. Really just a gorgeous timepieces, and a testament to the polished and refined style that Bell & Ross is thankfully know for offering. Price was originally $3,000 - $4,000. But is available for less online these days.

See this Bell & Ross Diver 300 Chronograph watch available on James List here.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.