SpotlightCockpit And Chronometry: The Limited-Edition Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon
Adding to the growing list of BR-03 watches, the Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon comes housed in a 41mm micro-blasted black ceramic case and is powered by an automatic movement
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Nobody brings an aircraft dashboard onto the wrist like Bell & Ross, and the new BR-03 Horizon is solid proof of that. Outlandish and animated, the watch packs an artificial horizon indicator integral to an aircraft’s dashboard. The BR-03 Horizon continues the trend of producing BR-03 watches in limited quantities, just like its siblings BR-03 Gyrocompass and BR-03 Patrouille de France 70th Anniversary, limited to 999 pieces each. The 41mm Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon is housed inside a micro-blasted black ceramic case and propelled by an automatic engine.
For The Skies Above: The Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon
The ultimate instrument-watch collection, the BR-03 range receives the Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon, featuring a 41mm black ceramic case. As a conceptual representation of the actual instrument, the aircraft dashboard is recreated in a sphere divided by a line. The top half of the dial in blue represents the sky and the dark bottom part symbolises the earth. This dial design features an aircraft depicted at the coaxial, with its wings represented by two red lines. It further displays two key pieces of information often used by aircraft pilots. The outer ring displays the lateral tilt angle, which in an aircraft shows the pilot how much the wings are tilted to the left or right, while the central indicator shows the pitch through which the pilot learns to what degree is the nose of the aircraft pointed up or down.
The two hands are precisely aligned to the finely graduated inner bezel, providing clear, at-a-glance readings. Effortless timekeeping has been at the heart of BR-03’s design DNA, and so it proves again with the latest Horizon, be it the large white hand indicating the minutes or the large black and white striped hand marking the seconds.
Adding to the ease of timekeeping, the central disk that forms the dial hosts a large central indicator arrow that serves as the hour marker. The blue portion of the dial is luminescent, which helps the wearer to read the time quickly at night. Encouraging the 100m water resistance is the protective anti-reflective sapphire crystal that seals the case. The Horizon BR-03 comes paired with an interchangeable black rubber strap or an orange Velcro strap.
The Ace Movement
The Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon is powered by the Calibre BR-CAL.327 automatic movement, which enables functions like hours, minutes, and seconds and generates a 54-hour power reserve. Last year, Bell & Ross reimagined the BR03 collection, which was updated both aesthetically and technically. The BR-03 still presents the signature circle in a square shape, but also in a 41mm case, just like the latest BR-03 Horizon.
For the Flight Instruments collection by Bell & Ross, aircraft instruments are a huge inspiration, which results in appealing, practical aviation watches with a unique character.
The Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon In A Nutshell
- Case: 41mm in diameter; micro-blasted black ceramic
- Crystal: Sapphire with anti-reflective coating
- Water resistance: 100m
- Dial: Hours indicated by a blue and black disc; white minute hands; black and white seconds hands; red
decal to indicate the horizon - Movement: Calibre BR-CAL.327; automatic mechanism; 54-hour power reserve
- Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds
- Strap: Black rubber and orange synthetic fabric; steel pin buckle with matt black PVD micro-blasted finish
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What are aviation watches?
Aviation watches are specialised timepieces designed for pilots and aviation professionals, but they strike equally well with enthusiasts and collectors who value their practical functionality and cockpit-inspired aesthetics. They are indispensable flight instruments, given their focus on core features like legibility, durable construction, and precise timekeeping. Some aviation watches may also feature various functions, like a chronograph or GMT.
- What is an artificial horizon indicator in an aircraft?
The sole purpose of cockpit instruments is to help pilots navigate the skies accurately. An artificial horizon indicator on an aircraft’s dashboard is one such instrument. Earlier, aviators relied heavily on natural elements for navigating varied scenarios, like poor visibility at night. With the artificial horizon indicator, a key gyroscopic instrument, aviators now can control the aircraft’s altitude and tilt, as this indicator shows the angle of pitch or dive in relation to the horizon.
- Why is the Bell & Ross BR-03 collection iconic?
The Bell & Ross BR-03 collection, incepted in 2010, takes direct design inspiration from aircraft cockpit instruments, featuring a distinctive square case with four corner screws and other aviation-themed elements. This functional, aeronautical aesthetic appeals to both aviation enthusiasts and the brand’s patrons.
