A newly announced addition to the Bell & Ross Vintage collection is the Bell & Ross BR V1-92 Racing Bird, a distinctly aeronautical-style piece designed in tandem with its chronograph counterpart. The Racing Bird itself is a concept aircraft designed in-house by Bell and Ross’ design team, while the plane itself remains an idea potentially destined for raceways in the sky. The watches will soon be available in limited quantities to the public. The Bell & Ross BR V1-92 is going to be produced in a limited edition of 999 pieces.

Specifications

Brand: Bell & Ross

Model: BR v1-92

Dimensions: 38.5mm

Water Resistance: 100m

Case Material: Stainless Steel

Crystal/Lens: “Ultra-Curved” sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating

Movement: BR-CAL 302 based on the Sellita SW300-1

Frequency: 28,800vhp

Power Reserve: 38 hours

Strap/Bracelet: Blue calfskin strap

Price & Availability: $2,300 (Limited to 999 pieces)

Analysis

Man, I dig this watch. I love the white dial and dark blue accents. Even the second-hand counterweight shaped like a plane doesn’t bother me. However, I can’t help but notice the very close resemblance to the IWC Mark XVII with the sword styled hands and the triple date window. I’ve always loved that watch, so it tracks that I would like this one as well. I’m not sure if I mind the close resemblance, I just couldn’t write an analysis on the Bell & Ross without drawing the comparison. The comparison actually makes a lot of sense when you consider the Racing Bird’s aviation inspiration, and the actual flieger roots behind the IWC. All that being said, I think that Bell & Ross did deviate just enough to create something that looks uniquely theirs.

Summary

I think these heritage releases are interesting from Bell & Ross. They seem on the surface like cool watches and I could totally see myself picking one up at some point in time. Like I stated earlier, however, I think B&R should lean a little heavier on their design team to come up with an aesthetic language unique to themselves. While I do think that they made this watch their own, the likeness to other notable pilot watches was immediately apparent to me, and I imagine it will be to others as well. The Bell & Ross BR V1-92 will be available for $2,300 in a limited edition of 999 pieces. bellross.com