With this 2021 Bell & Ross BR 03-93 GMT, the Swiss brand finally adds a nice square-shaped, multiple time-zones “aviator” to their extensive product range.
Bell & Ross
Buyer’s Guide: 15 Best Pilot’s Watches to Choose From
Looking at our stats, I see that demand for recommendations regarding diving watches is a seasonal thing with most visitors coming in summer and then gradually declining till Christmas only to start growing again in early January. “Pilots” are different animals: I have an impression that people are always interested in “aviators” regardless of the time of season. So, for your reading pleasure, a choice of fifteen timekeepers from under $200 to more than $10,000 as priced by online retailers that I find worthy of being considered while shopping for your new (or maybe your very first!) pilot’s watch this year.
Bell & Ross WW1-97 Heritage Automatic (ref. BRWW197-HER-ST/SCR)
The 2015 Bell & Ross WW1-97 Heritage (ref. 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 that makes this new creation one of the best choices in the “Value for Money” category.
Bell & Ross BR03-94 Tornado Chronograph
Bell & Ross has finally re-introduced its BR03-94 model. Called BR03-94 Tornado Chronograph, it features the same functionality, but is now dedicated to the legendary Tornado multi-purpose jets that are still in use by Italy’s Air Force.
Bell & Ross WW1 Argentium Hand-Wound
Although different alloys of silver are popular among jewelers all over the world, serious watchmakers aren’t especially fond of the metal. However, Bell & Ross has fairly recently updated its vintage-styled WW1 collection with the new Bell & Ross WW1 Argentium model. As the name implies, the watch uses their proprietary “argentium” alloy of silver and some other, unspecified metals.
Bell & Ross BR 01 Horizon Automatic
Renowned among watch enthusiasts for their huge, square-shaped pilot’s watches, the Swiss watchmaker Bell & Ross has recently extended the model range with the new Bell & Ross BR 01 Horizon. Presented at Baselworld 2012 and modeled after a real navigational instrument, the new model sports the most unusual dial design.
Bell & Ross BR03-90 Grande Date & Reserve de Marche
It came to our attention that Bell & Ross will soon start selling a new version of their BR03 model. Presented in the same stainless steel body, the 2012 BR03-90 Grande Date & Reserve de Marche now sports the well-known Soprod 9090 chronometer movement.
Bell & Ross Vintage WW1-92 Heritage
The brand, which is known for its mid-priced tool watches, has recently presented the new Bell & Ross Vintage WW1-92 Heritage “aviator” that mimics the design of legendary WWII timepieces worn by German pilots. As one can always expect from a vintage-styled pilot’s watch when it comes to legibility in any lighting conditions, the design is almost flawless: crisp and sharp, it lets you read the watch in no time.
Bell & Ross BR 01-92 Ceramic
In March 2011, during the Baselworld 2011 trade show, Bell & Ross has presented its new BR 01-92 Ceramic automatic pilot’s watch.
Bell & Ross BR 123 Vintage Original Carbon
Bell & Ross has issued another iteration of its cash-cow — the vintage-styled BR 123 Vintage Original Carbon (ref. BRV123-BL-CA/SRB) “aviator”. The model has undergone several face-lifts, and now the medium-size 41.00 mm round case is delivered in a black PVD-coated stainless steel.
Bell & Ross Vintage Original BR 126 Black Officer Chronograph
Being biased towards chronographs (at least, when it comes to so-called ‘aviators’,) I must admit that I am almost in love with this mirror-polished Bell & Ross Vintage Original BR 126 Officer Chronograph. Offered in a refined mid-sized body that is inspired by pilot’s watches of the pre-WWII era, this iteration of the BR 126 model brings you a convincing combination of a relatively clean, easy to read dial and a slightly modified version of a Swiss-made automatic movement that is known for its reliability and precision.
Bell & Ross Vintage Original BR 126 Chronograph
Bell & Ross has updated its Vintage line of “aviators” with this new Vintage Original BR 126 Chronograph that now comes in a round stainless steel case and features an elegant egg-shell-white dial. Fairly compact by today’s standards, this aviator may get some well-deserved attention from persons seeking for a nice vintage-styled pilot’s watch that doesn’t look like you just stole a hockey pluck.
Bell & Ross Instrument BR01-92 & 94 Carbon Fiber
Bell & Ross has recently released a new addition to their Instrument family of “aviators”: the laconic three-hander Instrument BR 01-92 Carbon Fiber and a bit more complicated Instrument BR 01-94 Carbon Fiber that features chronograph functionality. As you probably have already gathered from the names, both watches have their massive square-shaped bodies crafted not from some vulgar steel or titanium, but from ultra-lightweight and corrosion-resistant carbon fiber material.