Aviation-inspired watches are what Bell & Ross does finest. Whereas the BR-05 has garnered outsized consideration for the model, I’ve at all times been keen on its Instrument collection of sq. watches. For me, these are the core of the model, drawing direct inspiration from cockpit instrument panels. Throughout the Instrument assortment, Bell & Ross has launched quite a few Flight Instrument watches. These restricted editions every flip bizarre watch dials into facsimiles of a selected flight instrument. There have been 14 prior Flight Instrument watches, together with dials based mostly on a compass, a HUD, a radar display screen, a radio compass, and a gyrocompass (sure, that’s three compasses). The releases have adopted an annual sample since 2019, and for 2024 the model has launched the Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon, modeled on an perspective indicator.
The brand new BR-03 Horizon has the identical case as the remainder of the BR-03 automatics, which was slimmed down from 42mm to 41mm final yr. The case measures 10.6mm thick and is created from strong matte black ceramic for a really tactical look that the model has lengthy favored. Actually, it’s downright bizarre to see a BR-03 in metal. There’s a knurled crown, a flat sapphire crystal, and the watch will get a 100m depth score. The Horizon will come geared up with a black rubber strap, as is the model’s wont, and in case you haven’t worn certainly one of these watches, I can inform you that the flared strap makes all of the distinction. The flare of the strap is designed to satisfy the outer fringe of the lugs fully mitigating the blocky design, making it fairly nice on the wrist. Along with the rubber strap, a vivid orange Velcro strap will likely be included (my expertise with these has been much less ideally suited).
The dial, after all, is the place this watch will get thrilling. Among the restricted Flight Instrument watches don’t do a lot besides change the bottom dial. Some change into fully unreadable, seemingly offended by the notion {that a} watch ought to present the time. At a look, that’s the case right here, however additional inspection reveals a intelligent dial and hand configuration. Mirroring the substitute horizon format seen on perspective indicators, the rotating dial has a sky-blue prime half and a black backside half, each with (non-functional) pitch indicator traces, bisected by a set, floating illustration of a airplane’s wings and fuselage in orange and black. Hours are proven by the black arrow on the rotating dial (mimicking the roll indicator), minutes by the white hand, and seconds by the full-width black and striped hand.
The dial is surrounded by a black and white chapter ring with Tremendous-LumiNova matched on the minute hand. To make sure all-condition legibility, the sky can be lumed, which I feel is a pleasant shock and exhibits some nice forethought. I do want the model had gone and lumed the white stripes on the seconds hand, although. That may’ve been fairly enjoyable.
Underneath the strong caseback, the watch runs the BR-CAL.327, which relies on the Sellita SW300-1. This has change into the go-to for Bell & Ross three-handers, with good purpose. The watch has a 54-hour energy reserve at 28,800 vph and permits a thinner chassis than the SW200. On prime of that, you get reliability and virtually common serviceability.
I feel this can be one of many higher current examples of the Flight Instrument watches. All of those watches appear to play with the boundaries of readability, and I suppose that’s no completely different right here. However I feel the model has gotten artistic with out an excessive amount of sacrifice, and the blue and orange supply a pleasant pop that isn’t typically seen in Bell & Ross watches. The Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon is priced at $4,500 USD and is restricted to 999 items. For extra info, please go to the Bell & Ross web site.
