Bell & Ross, the luxury watch company and ultimate reference for professional aviation timepieces, resumes its origins in high-performance military instruments with a new interpretation of its iconic watch, the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 HUD.

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Its Instruments collection is directly inspired by the aeronautical essential navigation tools of aircraft cockpits, and highlights Bell & Ross’ four fundamental requirements: functionality, legibility, reliability and precision.

Fully in line with this collection, the new Bell & Ross BR03- 92 HUD gets inspiration from the avionics displays of fighter jets equipped with the most cutting-edge technologies.

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In 2005, the Bell & Ross BR 01 was inspired by the cockpit clocks of 1970s airplanes. This iconic watch was designed using high-tech materials and complications reflecting the finest Haute Horlogerie craftsmanship.

Pushing its exploring aeronautical navigation instruments further, Bell & Ross developed and innovated years after years with a collection of exclusive watches.

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All of these models make up the instrument panel of an aircraft and offer both a completely new way of reading time and an uncompromising legibility – an absolute necessity for a professional use. It all started in 2010 with the Bell & Ross BR 01 RADAR, followed by other singular references.

In 2020, as part of its continuing quest for innovation and performance, the watchmakers at Bell & Ross turned their attention on the Head Up Display. This new introduction completes this Flight Instruments family.

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H.U.D. - Head Up Display

The Head Up Display - also known as HUD - is a transparent glass screen that displays all information that are essentials to fulfill a mission, in the pilot’s visual field. For optimal effectiveness, its primary function is to keep the pilot focused on their target ahead without having to take the eyes off his line of sight.

Considered as both a technological and safety-comfort equipment, the HUD takes on the augmented reality concept. With HUDs displaying digital datas onto the windshield, pilots can be alerted about everything from the horizon line, altitude or speed to navigation aids such as the flight path vector – indicating the direction the jet is taking.

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As a result, this high-performance tool puts the emphasis on legibility and will guide the way day and night. In case of low visibility for instance or no matter the conditions, the screen will adjust in brightness and contrast to optimize the ambient lighting.

Although it was originally used in the military field since the 1950’s, the HUD is now also frequently exploited in the automobile industry or civil aviation.

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The military world has always been a pioneer in numerous fields. It has created an unquestionable expertise in the field of avant-garde technology Its innovations have had various applications in civilian life, such as the Internet, GPS or even the first business jets.

An Avant-Garde Instrument A Unique Watch

The design of the BR03-92 HUD embodies the spirit of Bell & Ross’ instrument watches. With a contemporary style, the black matte ceramic case features the iconic “circle in a square” that refers to the silhouette of an aircraft cockpit clock.

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Settling Bell & Ross’ instrumental identity, the design approach of the HUD’s display hides a treasure chest of sophistication. An innovative exercise of the brand’s creative studio, to reproduce with technical and graphic tricks/tips (astuces) this display-type on a scale of a mechanical analog watch.

An Innovative Display: Analogical yet Mechanical

Arranged in tiers, the Bell & Ross BR03-92 HUD is built around superimposed levels. This technical construction was thought and conceived by the designers to create an overlay that echoes the real HUD instrument.

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Thus, the concept of Augmented Reality adapted to a timepiece hinges on 3 layers:

·      The Sapphire Glass

On the first plane, the green-tinted sapphire crystal glass gives the illusion of the digital HUD-type display, using the surface of the disc dial and that of the glass.

4 brackets were printed on the verso of the glass as a reminiscent to the 4 corners of the HUD line of sight.

·      The Hands

On the second plane, the black and green hands reveal the minutes and seconds.

The hands’ center parts were purposely hidden to further increase the digit analogy and the legibility principles of professional aeronautical instruments.

·      The Hour disc and the Dial

On the 3rd and last plane, the hours are indicated by a green triangle marker which appears in the center through an independent concentric disc which is not graduated.

This ultra-light disc was created to ensure that the power reserve nor the accuracy of the watch was not reduced. Furthermore, the disc needs to be sufficiently resistant so as to not become deformed or risk any friction.

The watch also features a small date at 4 o’clock.

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Intense LUM Legibility

There is more than meets the eye to obtain this uncompromising result. Some special coatings are worth noting on this timepiece.

By using the green color, Bell & Ross recreates the graphic style of this instrument as closely as possible. The green on the dial mirrors the computer-type display of the HUD, and the case’s anti-reflective matte black background provides a striking contrast.

The crystal glass is tinted and obtained through a green metallization technique that is applied on its back side. Furthermore, the BR03-92 HUD fits perfectly into the family of instrument watches with the objective of optimum readability under any circumstances.

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To provide an intense green light, the Hours numerals, indices, triangle as well as the minute-circle and hands are coated with green Super-LumiNova C3 treatment. The ladder is also applied on the 4 brackets.

This combination - green-tinted glass on green information - emphasizes the ultra-legibility of the dial and its fluorescent brightness to reproduce the HUD digital green display. A true punch of light - at day and night - well suited for ‘Nights Owls’ and pilots.

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Mission-Oriented for Powerful and Equipped Wrists

Thanks to its augmented display design, the Bell & Ross BR 03- 92 HUD offers watch aficionados a new perception of time by liberating them from the conventional manner of displaying time. By magnifying specificities and singularity, the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 HUD, produced in a limited edition of 999 pieces, will also have designers and aeronautics enthusiasts’ sights set on it.

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This utilitarian approach is completed with both a black rubber and an ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric strap.

Heroic and flirting with state- of-art technology, this new model opens up a vast potential for creativity and new instruments.

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Bell & Ross BR 03-92 HUD

Technical specifications:

·      Reference: BR0392-HUD-CE/SRB

·      Movement: Calibre BR-CAL.302. Automatic mechanical.

·      Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date.

·      Case: 42 mm in width. Matt black ceramic.

·      Dial: Black. Central hour disc with Super-LumiNova marking. Numerals, indices and hands painted with Super-LumiNova.

·      Crystal: Green sapphire with anti-reflective coating. Four right angles painted with green Super-LumiNova.

·      Water-resistance: 100 meters

·      Straps: Black rubber and ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric.

·      Buckle: Pin. Black PVD coated steel.

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The price for the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 HUD Ref. BR0392-HUD-CE/SRB is EUR 3,700.

The watch is limited edition to 999 pieces and will be available from end May 2020.

For more information please visit Bell & Ross Watches Online.