Since its origins, Bell & Ross has drawn inspiration from the history of aviation. The company has developed Vintage collections that pay tribute to the most significant years of this great adventure. Each series of watches constitutes a kind of chronological milestone. Putting them together provides a summary of aviation history. Like the watchmaker's other collections, these professional instruments possess military DNA and in fact meet specifications set by the army. Naturally, readability, functionality and precision are priority requirements. These watches are also water-resistant, in order to be able to cope with any intervention in an aquatic environment. For the new generation, the third, the design has evolved further. The identity of the dial has been retained but the case is now more sophisticated. The diameter of the models decreases and the watches are slimmer. Finally, the rounded lugs perfectly complement the strap. The Vintage collection was born at the very beginning of the Bell & Ross brand. This watch collection features a round case, the classic shape of the timepieces. Various watch complications such as chronograph, flyback function, dual time zone, date and small seconds complete this assortment. The Vintage collection scrupulously respects the brand's DNA, being inspired in particular by military codes. It is a sort of equivalent of the BR 01, Bell & Ross' signature watch, but with a round case. With this watch collection, Bell & Ross has established emblematic collaborations and paid tribute to numerous air forces. In 2014, the company produced a unique edition of the Vintage BR 126 Carbon model, exclusively for a Spanish Air Force aerobatic parachute patrol (PAPEA), based in Alcantarilla (Murcia). That same year, the Vintage was declined in a series of three chronographs paying tribute to the air forces of the Second World War. The dials of these pilot's watches feature a coloured cockade, like those on the wings of French, American and British fighter planes of the time. The Vintage Sport Heritage, with its 1960s look, is related to Dassault Aviation's Falcon Mystère 20 business jet. It was developed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this famous twinjet, which was born in 1963. Today, the brand gives this established collection more modernity. The reflection focused in particular on the diameter and thickness of the case. Many details have been reinterpreted in a more sophisticated style with optimised functionality. The pushers are now screwed in and a crown cover has been added. The rounded lugs are a perfect match for the new straps. In particular, the BR V1 has a 38.5 mm diameter case that fits any wrist. and features a retro-style ultra-bombed sapphire crystal. Polished and satin-finished finishes add a refined and elegant touch. The Black Steel sports a dial with essential graphics, with white numerals on a black background: this contrast ensures excellent visibility. Moreover, this type of dial is typical of aeronautics and the Bell & Ross style. The design of the hands is reminiscent of those on aeronautical counters, and the counterweight of the central seconds hand takes on the appearance of a stylised aircraft, an absolute novelty. A detail that will be found on numerous Bell & Ross watches in the future. The BR V2, for their part, have a more imposing 41 mm case, slimmer than the previous generation, just like the BR V1 version. This collection is available with a new polished-satin steel bracelet, giving these variants a more modern and sporty character. The BR V2-92 features a three-sphere mechanism, i.e. displaying hours, minutes and seconds. The bidirectional rotating bezel allows several consecutive short time measurements to be linked. The BR V2-94, on the other hand, is powered by a chronograph calibre and has a fixed bezel with a tachymeter scale. The screw-down pushers and crown guarantee perfect water resistance. These two elegant and sophisticated watches feature polished and satin-finished finishes and are made of 316L steel, which is very solid and resistant to oxidation. Like the BR V1, the BR V2 also feature an ultra-bombed sapphire crystal to optimise the thickness of the cases. The extremely rigorous dials display white numerals on a black background to ensure excellent legibility. They also have a hand that recalls the shape of an aircraft: this stylistic element, the brand's new graphic signature, recalls the aeronautical and military DNA of Bell & Ross. The BR V2 comes in two versions, one with a leather strap and the other with a steel bracelet. The latter has been revisited, with thinner workmanship and more links to make it more comfortable to wear. Robust and suitable for all wrist types, it is equipped with a safety clasp to prevent accidental opening.
