Bell & Ross has a deep-rooted fascination for designed for aviators. These are inspired by aircraft instrument panels and have been highly regarded in the BR 01 and, of course, the BR 03 models. Now, the French-Swiss watchmaker is growing its commitment to the design legacy with the launch of two new watches: the BR-X3 Black Titanium and Blue Steel.
Landing with the same circle within a square aesthetic, the BR-X3 does add a sophisticated and contemporary touch to the otherwise iconic design. What has changed: the case shape perfected for years now comes in titanium and steel versions, which are outrightly unlike and will appeal to a different set of people. This we say not just because of the choice of materials, but the distinct color choices on offer as well.
Designer: Bell & Ross
The style and substance
BR-X3 Black Titanium, as the name would suggest, features a microblasted titanium case. The case is paired with a matte black dial, which complements the similarly colored sandwich construction that resides between two plates forming the case. The BR-X3 Blue Steel, on the other hand, comprises a stainless steel case housing with a blue dial that has a polished finish and a sunburst flair.
Both the variants feature a 41mm case, which is ideal for the square cases that generally wear large. Coming back to the sandwiched construction, the watches have two main plates; one forming the top casing, while the other forms part of the caseback. Between the two plates – held together firmly by four screws each – is the watch-color complementing layer, which adds style and depth to the otherwise straightforward design.
The power and pricing
The dial on either of the BR-X3 Black Titanium and Blue Steel, is not very complicated. You may expect a chronograph and a skeletonized dial, but it is pretty simple and to the point. You get an analog power reserve at 9 o’clock and an altimeter-like date counter at 3. Hours, minutes and seconds are the other elements on the dial, irrespective of your color choice. Of course, the large crown – also sandwiched between the two plates – with ‘&’ logo is pleasing, what you cannot help but notice is a black or blue (depending on the watch color) rim just below the round bezel.
The BR-X3 is powered by an in-house BR-CAL.323 mechanical movement. Developed in collaboration with Kenissi, it is a COSC-certified movement with a very promising 70 hours of power reserve. The caseback of the watch is also as interesting as the dial or case. The see-through caseback reveals a working open-worked rotor, which is visually appealing. The watch is 100m water resistant, and comes paired to a black rubber strap matching the watch color. The BR-X3 starts at $8,300.
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