One of my favourite Bell & Ross designs of recent times is the Desert Type. That combination of black case and cream dial is pure hotness, and it’s a colourway that suits the brand’s military aesthetic to a tee, so I was very happy to see a ceramic cased chronograph introduced at Baselworld.
What makes this such an appealing watch (in the video I call it weirdly sexy – something I stand behind) is that it’s all about muted contrasts and matt tones. The flat ceramic, the dial and even the soft beige calfskin strap. All the elements are working together, creating a watch that knows what it’s about and projects a calm confidence. The dial, with sunken subdials and, for the first time, sandwich-style construction, is a nice touch too. A much richer offering than a simple printed dial.
You may have noticed we’re all about the Bell & Ross AeroGT collection this week. After all, who didn’t spend their childhood creating jet-inspired cars, and imagining a world in which they could exist. Seriously, how much fun must B&R have had working on the AeroGT – and extending the concept out into two very cool watches. We’ve already reviewed the the three-handed BR03-92, but so far we’ve only given you a quick taste of the chronograph with our 60-second video. Now it’s time for a little more focus.
The BR 03-94 AeroGT is powered by the BR-CAL.319, based on an ETA 2894-2. Interestingly the layout of the chronograph is tricompax, with three subdials rather than the two that usually show up on Bell & Ross chronographs. The finishing of the movement is utilitarian – no stripes, no anglage – just lots of plumb lines and straight machine brushing. And again, it works.