Bell & Ross is a French brand that is revolutionizing the watch industry with its unique collections. With the manufacturing policy and design sense of the two co-owners, Bell & Ross has developed a series of models that overwhelm the established names, despite their young age. In this issue, we will introduce the charm and standard models of the brand ” Bell & Ross “, which is creating a new innovation in the watch industry!
Sponsored by
About Bell & Ross
Bell & Ross is a young and new watch brand that has only been in existence for less than 30 years. Most watch manufacturers that are currently considered first-rate have a long history of over 100 years or their founder’s origins as a watchmaker. In a watchmaking industry where tradition and past achievements tend to lead to brand faith, Bell & Ross has won a reputation by competing head-on only with the attractiveness of its products themselves. The four basic principles of watchmaking are “legibility,” “functionality,” “high precision,” and “water resistance,” and the company has developed a collection that is full of functional beauty, with each detail having its own meaning. The company breathes new life into the watch industry with its attractive lineup, which includes the “BR” series, a masterpiece with an unprecedented case design, and the “WW” series, a military watch with a vintage look.
bellrossHistory of Bell & Ross
Bell & Ross is founded by two best friends from high school
Bell & Ross is a French brand founded in 1991. Co-founders Carlos Rosillo and Bruno Belamich were friends in high school. When they met again in 1990, they hit it off over a conversation about watches. Both Carlos and Bruno had a passion for watches. They decided to establish a brand based on their belief in “making the best watches. The following year, their eponymous brand “Bell & Ross” was born on rue Saint-Honoré in Paris, France. The “&” logo symbolizes the union of their talents as well as their ideal of a watch that combines tradition and modernity.
bellrossBell & Ross attracts attention through its partnership with ” Sinn “, the leader in military watches
Bruno was attracted to the functionality and taste of military watches among many other types of watches. He was particularly attracted to watches made by ” Sinn,” a brand that is pioneering new avenues in the watch industry with its numerous cutting-edge technologies. The two had just launched Bell & Ross when they flew to Germany to study watchmaking at Sinn, which is so precise that it is actually officially adopted by professionals in the police special forces and rescue squads. Helmut Zinn, the founder and president of Zinn at the time, shared their enthusiasm. He proposed a joint watchmaking project and the ” Bell&Ross by SINN ” was produced. This was an unusual collaboration between one of the world’s most prestigious manufacturers and an emerging brand that had yet to achieve any success. 1991 saw the release of this model by Zinn, which made Bell & Ross a young brand that was attracting attention from the global market. The cooperation between the two brands continued for some time after Helmut Zinn left the company in 1994.
bellrossBell & Ross becomes a Swiss-made brand through a capital tie-up with Chanel
In 1998, the first original model under the Bell & Ross brand name, ” Vintage “, was launched. Bell & Ross, which was struggling with cash flow during this period, caught the attention of CHANEL for its style of competing head-on with the tradition-oriented watch industry, despite the brand’s short history. In 2002, Bell & Ross became independent from Zinn and established its own factory near La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the center of watchmaking. The company still has a good relationship with CHANEL, which has also spared no expense in capital cooperation as a French brand, and the two companies share a production department at the watch factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
bellrossBell & Ross becomes one of the leading brands with watches full of functional beauty
In 2005, Bell & Ross launched the “BR01” and “BR03,” two professional aviation watches. In 2007, the diver’s model “BR02″ was added, and the BR series became the mainstay of the Bell & Ross collection. Vintage WW1” and “Vintage WW2” series, inspired by the military watches of World War II, were introduced to strengthen the lineup. The company now offers high-end models with complications such as chronographs and tourbillons, as if to prove that it is a first-class manufacturer. The founder, Carlos Rosillo, now serves as CEO, while Bruno Bellamich leads the brand as artistic designer and co-owner. In just over 20 years, the company founded by a group of “watch-loving” classmates who were not watchmakers by ancestry has grown to become a top brand on par with established manufacturers.
bellrossThe “BR” collection, the mainstay of Bell & Ross watches
The square type BR series, a symbol of Bell & Ross
The first BR series, the BR01 and BR03, were introduced in 2005 and made an impact on the world. The idea of using the instrumentation of an airplane cockpit as the design of a wristwatch was definitely something that had never been done before in history. The original design and the BR01’s huge 46mm case had a tremendous impact, attracting not only military personnel and military fans, but also the fashion industry. Ralph Lauren fell in love with the BR01 at first sight and used it extensively in his company’s advertising visuals.
The square BR became the “face” of Bell & Ross and still accounts for about half of the company’s product lineup. The “BR01-92 HERITAGE,” which is based on a military aviation watch from the 1940s, and the “BR01 TOURBILLON,” which is equipped with a complication mechanism, are just a few examples of the wide range of variations that have expanded the brand’s fan base. The materials used range from orthodox materials such as stainless steel to titanium, carbon fiber, and gold models. All models faithfully adhere to the basic principles of legibility and functional beauty.
bellrossThe “BR01 10TH ANNIVERSARY” is a 10th anniversary model. Only 500 pieces were produced in a limited edition worldwide.
The tonneau-shaped BR series with authentic diver’s specifications
The “BR02,” presented as a diver’s model, is a full-scale diver’s watch with a tonneau-shaped case. The “BR02-94” series, the current model equipped with a chronograph, all have water resistance to 500 meters as a basic performance feature. While divers’ watches from other brands are generally water resistant to 300 meters, this level of water resistance in a chronograph model is something to take one’s hat off to. The standard model “BR02-92” without chronograph is water resistant to 1,000 meters, which is a professional use specification. The pursuit of the highest standards not only in appearance but also in function is the reason for Bell & Ross’ success.
bellross bellrossThe graceful round BR series
The round BR series was introduced as a vintage line. The current line consists of two models: the “BR123” with three hands, small seconds, and calendar, and the “BR126” with chronograph. Like the BR01, the BR126 is available in a variety of materials and colors, including black carbon, silver, and heritage models. The heritage model is also available in a variety of materials and colors.
bellrossThe new “BR123(126) AERONAVALE” is a particularly impressive piece, and is the result of the more than 100-year history of the French naval air force, AERONAVALE. Inspired by the ceremonial attire worn by its senior pilots, this model is attractive because of its color palette, which is full of noble “blue” and “gold”. The blue dial is typical of contemporary timepieces, but the classic, old-fashioned feel of the watch is achieved through the use of deep colors. The charismatic design sense of the founder, Bruno Bellamich, can be seen in the choice of color. The same deep navy blue is used for the matching leather strap and alligator strap. This is a superb piece with a delicate finish that is not unlike a high-performance watch.
bellrossThe WW series with its unique design
Like the “BR123” and “BR126,” the WW series is part of the Vintage Collection. The large 45mm diameter case is inspired by pocket watches from the 1920s. The large 45mm case is inspired by pocket watches from the 1920s, and also features a motif of military watches from World War II, creating a perfect combination of a classic atmosphere and masculine strength. The “WW1-90 Grande Date & Reserve Demarche” features a power reserve indicator on a small seconds-like subdial.
bellrossWW1-90 GRANDE DATE & RESERVE DE MARCHE
The “WW2 Regulator Heritage” is based on a timer used by bomber crews.
bellrossWW2 REGULATOR HERITAGE (VINTAGE WW2 REGULATEUR HERITAGE)
Bell & Ross is supported by professionals
Bell & Ross was founded with the goal of creating watches that excel in functional beauty based on four basic principles. The project team includes designers and experts in aircraft and spacecraft equipment. The models created by the team, which utilized their know-how together to perfectly meet users’ expectations, have become necessities for elite troops. Today, they are used by astronauts, fighter pilots, military police, police special forces, submarine crews, divers, mine clearance personnel, and a wide variety of other professionals.
bellrossIntroducing the classic Bell & Ross models
Bell & Ross “BR01-92 STEEL
The most standard stainless steel case model of the flagship BR01. The original design of this model, based on the motif of a cockpit, has been a strong favorite since its birth. The case is not only visually appealing but also robust and durable, and is water resistant to 100 meters. It is a work of art that fulfills all of Bell & Ross’ beliefs: legibility, functionality, high precision, and water resistance.
For more information and to purchaseBell & Ross “BR01-92 HERITAGE
The BR01 heritage model was designed and inspired by military watches of the 1940s. The burnished sand-colored indexes give the watch a vintage look that pays homage to history. The belt, printed in a similar color, also has an outstanding military atmosphere.
For details and purchase, click here.
Bell & Ross “BR123 ORIGINAL CARBON
The matte black coated stainless steel case tickles the male heart. The round case with sporty details makes it suitable for a wide range of occasions. The logo placement, “12,” “3,” and “9” index fonts, and the design of the small seconds and hour and minute hands are all unique to Bell & Ross, and give the watch a strong presence.
Click here for details and purchase
Bell & Ross “BR126 AERONAVALE
The Aeronaval exudes overwhelming elegance despite being a military chronograph. The sunray-finished blue dial and gold-colored indexes and hands express the noble coloring that inhabits the formal attire of the senior officers of the French Naval Air Corps. The fixed bezel covered by a blue anodized aluminum ring is also unique to this model. The blue calf strap with ecru-colored stitching is also a perfect match. This is the best “officer’s watch” with a supreme atmosphere.