The 2015 Bell & Ross WW1-97 Heritage BRWW197-HER-ST/SCR delivers the familiar mix of a well-calculated design, which is both elegant and masculine, and a bullet-proof mechanism, which is both reliable and accurate. All of them are offered at a relatively affordable price which makes this new creation one of the best choices in the “Value for Money” category.
Overall Impression
Bell & Ross is quite prolific when it comes to the styles and shapes of their timepieces. Besides their signature box-shaped Aviation family that often features the most outrageous design (including, but not limited to, stylized skulls,) there is also an expressive Marine line, and a vast collection of Vintage and Heritage models inspired by timekeepers from the 1940s, 1930s, and even earlier years.
This new WW1-97 Heritage Automatic, for example, is inspired by a whole generation of timekeepers designed around pocket-watch calibers and, in some instances, were normal pocket watches with wire lugs welded to their cases on customers’ requests.
The devices were, of course, impressively large, but that was okay, too, since they were most often ordered by pilots and the military that didn’t care a lot about looks but was more concerned with reliability and accuracy.
Bell & Ross, with its decades of experience, has brushed and polished the collection to a point where it just can’t go wrong: although telling one their model from another sometimes requires a great deal of concentration, they all look wonderful making it especially hard to resist putting a huge dent to your family budget when you have a computer with internet access, a credit card and a serious desire to burn some money in the stove of your vanity.
Case & Strap
At 45 millimeters in diameter, the case predictably consumes almost all available space on an average wrist. Even the short wire lugs that seem to be welded to the stainless steel body don’t help a lot when it comes to making this timepiece more comfortable to wear for a normal person: its overall lug-to-lug length is still around 52 millimeters.
Of course, it doesn’t look ridiculously large like some recent “aviators” that are styled after pre-WWII chronometers that were supposed to be worn over heavy leather jackets’ cuffs, but it is still fairly massive.
Well, large size has its advantages, too. For example, the oversized setting/winding crown is a lot more ergonomic than similarly proportioned jobs on smaller watches. The mildly distressed-look strap is, too, wider than on many “aviators” and will probably feel more convenient for a majority of owners although I would prefer the strap to be equipped with perforated padding to make it even more comfortable on hotter days.
Mechanism
As some may have already guessed, the WW1-97 Heritage shares its underpinnings (and basic dial layout) with the 2011 Vintage WW1 Reserve de Marche collection. It, too, is powered by the same modified ETA 2897 automatic movement. Now called Caliber BR-CAL.307, it still features the same 42 hours of power reserve and is built on the same 21 jewels.
Being essentially the well-known ETA 2892 with a power reserve add-on module attached to it, the mechanism is known for its impressive reliability (given you don’t forget to service it at scheduled intervals) and adequate accuracy. Some specimens are so good that they can put to shame a lot more expensive chronometers with official COSC certificates and other paperwork behind them.
Perhaps, the only thing that this family of mechanisms lacks is an extended power reserve: these days, 42 guaranteed hours after being fully wound doesn’t sound particularly impressive. Well, for a relatively “affordable” luxury watch that is offered at $4500 MSRP (you can find one online at just above $2000 though,) this is still more or less acceptable.
Dial
Perhaps, it is the dial that may become the stumbling block for some potential customers. Yes, it makes an impression of a meticulously crafted object with its stylized Arabic numerals featuring finely brushed surfaces that help the polished leaf-shaped hour and minute hands even better stand out against the matt-black surface of the dial.
The beige-colored chapter ring, power reserve scale, central-seconds hand, and, of course, the “Bell & Ross” logo, too, looks contrast providing the case with that extra feeling of depth that you rarely see with most vintage-styled aviators.
But even the superior contrast doesn’t allow me to give this WW1-97 Heritage Automatic 5 out of 5 stars in this brief review.
While it is extremely clean and easy to read in normal lighting, it, unfortunately, lacks any sort of lume on its main elements making reading it at night not an easy task. If you look at it just like another dressy accessory that also happens to be styled as a pilot’s watch, you may be fine with this design. However, if superb legibility in any lighting scenario is a priority for you, this may be a major drawback.
Pricing & Availability
As I have already mentioned, the WW1-97 Heritage Automatic (ref. BRWW197-HER-ST/SCR) is currently offered at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $4500, which makes it a lot more interesting compared to, say, IWC Pilots Mark XVII with its MSRP of $4900. The collection was originally presented last spring at the Baselworld 2015 trade show and is now readily available on all major markets.
See also: Bell & Ross WW1 Argentium Hand-Wound
Photos: Bell & Ross
WWR verdict
Originality 4.5/5
Build quality: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Legibility: 4/5
Value for money: 5/5
Bell & Ross WW1-97 Heritage BRWW197-HER-ST/SCR specification
Price: $4500 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber BR-CAL.307 (base ETA 2897), Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 21
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve
Case: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 45.00 mm
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic, brushed metal
Hour markers: Railway-style chapter ring
Hands: Polished metal
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Black alligator leather strap with polished steel pin buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Sapphire