This photo montage (OK, montage light – three images) gives you’re a really good idea of the design influences behind the Bell & Ross BR series of aviation watches. It is also a good way of seeing a brief history of airplane instrument panels.
The first Bell & Ross BR01 watch focused on the middle era, while the quartz BR watch came second - and now the BR Heritage is the newest in the collection. At first glance, the BR Heritage looks a lot like the standard BR01 (or BR03) watch line. When you put the two together, you can easily see the differences. Aside from the vintage colors, the hands and indexes are a bit different. The BR Heritage goes Panerai style minimalist having less indicators on the dial. The hands – equally as effective – are more classically instrumental in design.
The BR Heritage will arrive in two model sizes, the 46mm wide BR Heritage BR 01-92, and the 42mm wide BR Heritage BR 03-92. Each comes with the (very slick looking) new branded thick leather strap. The case itself will have a different finish as well. Instead of the more modern machined look as the original line, the BR Heritage will have a bead-blasted carbon powder coating on the steel case – giving it a vintage aircraft instrument look. Inside the watch is still the ETA automatic mechanical 2892-2 movement.
Overall the new look is pretty nice. The strapping new strap (had to say that) is a nice addition to the line, but I wonder if the new look of the BR Heritage is enough to attract existing Bell & Ross watch collectors. The watch maker is actually at a bit of predicament right now. They have a winning formula with the BR-01 series of watches. The line will eventually get a bit stale and need sprucing up, but do you really want to mess too much with a winning formula? The challenge is keeping fans excited while preserving the core elements they value in the watches. Bell & Ross is probably doing the best they can right now, and we will see what they come up with in the future.
Technical specifications
Movement: Automatic mechanical ETA 2892.
Models:
- BR 01: hours, minutes, seconds.
- BR 03: hours, minutes, seconds. Date.
Case:
- BR 01: diameter XXL 46 mm.
- BR 03: diameter 42 mm.
316 L glass bead blasted steel with black finishing type “carbon powder coating”. Screw in crown: BR 01.
Dial: black. Numbers, index marks and hands covered
with a sand-colored photoluminescent coating for night reading.
Glass: anti-reflection sapphire.
Water resistance: 100 m.
Bracelet: printed natural leather or heavy-duty synthetic fabric.
See Bell & Ross watches on eBay here.
See Bell & Ross watches on Amazon here.
 STRAP FIT BELL & ROSS BR01 & BR03 GALUCHAT !!!!!!!!  US $109.95
|
 Mens Bell & Ross BR01-92 Limited Edition Watch + Box US $1,725.00
|
 BELL & ROSS PHANTOM BR03-92 42MM PVD WATCH AWESOME! US $4,950.00
|
 BELL & ROSS BR 02 ORANGE LP DIVERS WATCH BOX PAPERS US $1,595.00
|
 BELL & ROSS BR01 Watch Buckle Clasp and Band Strap US $51.00
|
 Bell & Ross BR01-92 Limited Edition Red - LNIB! US $2,900.00
|
now in stock at wavejewellery.com or visit one of the stores in manchester or kendal cumbria the lake distict
According to Bell & Ross, the limited edition “heritage” is not offered in the 42mm size (BR 03). It is only offered in the BR 01 which is a 46mm. I wish that it was offered in the smaller size, and made quite a process of searching for it, but unless Bell & Ross is outright lying about it (to Tourneau who spoke to them directly about this), or ignorant of their own product line, it does not exist. Do you have some unique information about plans to release the watch in the 42 mm? If so, I would really appreciate hearing back from you. I have purchased the 46 mm but will return it if there are plans to produce the 42mm version in the near future. Thank you.
Hi Ted,
I got those details from Bell & Ross. It is possible that they can come out with anything. Sorry for any confusion.