Pre-Baselworld 2018 – Bell & Ross BR03-92 Horoblack and BR03-94 Horolum

Last year, the Parisian brand Bell & Ross brought us new releases in its BR03-range, with one very clear concept: back to basics. The “Horo” line focused on simple, striking square cases, micro-blasted matte finishes and a totally utilitarian look and feel – a concept also shared by the new BR03-92 Nightlume. This year, Bell & Ross introduces two new members; the BR03-92 Horoblack and the BR03-94 Horolum – and again, legibility is key.

Bell & Ross is renowned for its bold, square watches, and the Horo-line underlines that perfectly. The iconic shape is instantly recognisable and has been the base for numerous variations since its creation in 2005 – from simple and toolish time only watches to an ultra-complicated sapphire cased tourbillon watch. With the Horo-line though, it is back to basics, with clean, uncluttered dials, large hands and the utmost legibility.

The Bell & Ross BR03-92 Horoblack

The time and date functions of the Bell & Ross BR03-92 Horoblack are housed in a greyish steel case, which is the result of micro-blasting the surface with tiny glass particles. It results in a clean, flat finish, free of reflections. Matching it with a steel dial that has received the same finish, it becomes a monochromatic watch, blending the case seamlessly with the dial.

The sandwich construction of the dial, with a SuperLumiNova insert on the lower deck, is something we’ve seen on last year’s Bell & Ross BR03-92 Horolum too but revisited today in a black and grey colour scheme. The watch is powered by an automatic Sellita-based movement. The Bell & Ross BR03-92 Horoblack comes on a black rubber strap with a pin buckle, is limited to 999 pieces and will cost EUR 2,990.

The Bell & Ross BR03-94 Horolum

The second new watch launched under the “Horo” moniker of Bell & Ross is the BR03-94 Horolum. Again, a 42mm wide square case in micro-blasted steel, large rectangular pushers with a matching micro-blasted steel dial and the signature sandwich construction. The hour markers at 12 and 6 o’clock are cut out to reveal the luminous insert underneath, and Bell & Ross has opted for baton markers for the rest. Taking inspiration from aviation, as with many of the square Bell & Ross watches, the BR03-94 Horolum features a distinct green lume for the bottom insert of the sandwich dial, which is also applied on the hands.

The addition of a chronograph function is a logical step for an instrument watch like this. The two recessed subdials match the rest of the dial in look and feel and don’t seem to distract from the general theme of the watch. The Bell & Ross BR03-94 Horolum is powered by an ETA-based automatic chronograph movement, comes with a greyish-green calfskin leather strap, is limited to 500 pieces and will cost EUR 4,990.

Availability

Both watches, in limited editions (999 and 500 pieces) are already available through the Bell & Ross online boutique (along with alternative straps if desired) but are considered Baselworld 2018 releases. More information on Bellross.com.