Bell & Ross
- Founded
- 1992
- Based in
- Paris, France
- In our catalog
- 5 watches from $3,500 to $7,700
Bell & Ross is the brand with the square watches. Its BR 01 took the shape of a cockpit gauge (a circle inside a square, held by four screws) and made it a wristwatch. That design has become the brand's signature, though Bell & Ross also makes round watches with a vintage military flavor.
History
Bruno Belamich and Carlos Rosillo, two friends from Paris, founded Bell & Ross in 1992. Belamich was the designer and Rosillo handled the business. The name came from shortening their surnames. In its early years the brand worked closely with the German maker Sinn, which produced some of its first instrument watches.
In the late 1990s the founders moved production to La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, while design stayed in Paris. Chanel took a stake in the company. The BR 01, launched in 2005, was the breakthrough: a 46 mm square watch that looked like an aircraft instrument and read just as clearly. Since then the brand has expanded the concept into the smaller BR 03, the integrated-bracelet BR 05 of 2019, and the BR-X5.
Signature models
- BR 03: The square cockpit watch at a more wearable 41 mm, in black ceramic or steel.
- BR 03 GMT: Adds a second time zone hand and a two-tone bezel.
- BR 05: A rounded-square integrated-bracelet watch, Bell & Ross's urban take on the luxury sports watch.
- BR-X5: A more technical version of the BR 05 with a chronometer movement and a more open dial.
- BR V2-92: A round, vintage-styled pilot watch from the "Vintage" line.
What it's known for
Bell & Ross designs are built around clear numerals, high-contrast dials and bright lume, taken from flight instruments. The square case wears larger than its numbers suggest, so it's worth trying on. The brand also makes many limited editions tied to aviation and military units.
Price and positioning
Bell & Ross watches cost from about $3,500 to $7,500 for the main lines, with complicated pieces above that. That's similar to TAG Heuer and Breitling's entry models. Movements are mostly Sellita-based, with in-house-developed calibers on some newer models. If you like aviation design and want something that stands out from round watches, Bell & Ross is the obvious choice.
Bell & Ross watches in our library
- Bell & Ross BR V2-92 Black Steel ($3,500 to $3,900)
- Bell & Ross BR 03 Black Matte ($4,400 to $4,900)
- Bell & Ross BR 03 GMT ($4,700 to $5,200)
- Bell & Ross BR 05 Steel ($5,400 to $6,300)
- Bell & Ross BR-X5 Black Titanium ($7,300 to $7,700)