Description
With the new BR-03 Horizon, Bell & Ross brings to the wrist one of the most emblematic flight instruments on an aircraft’s instrument panel. Indispensable for pilots, the artificial horizon enables them to find their bearings in space. Original and playful, this watch, limited to 999 pieces, completes the collection of concept watches directly inspired by on-board instrumentation.BR-03: the instrument watch familyA collection of instrument watches par excellence, the BR-03 range has been at the heart of Bell & Ross creations since 2010. It expresses the full range of the Franco-Swiss watchmaker’s creativity, bringing aircraft instrument panel indicators to the wrist. A Bell & Ross signature piece, the BR-03 line is known for its shape, with specific elements such as the four screws in the corners of the square case, and recognized for its functionality directly inspired by the world of aeronautics. Last year, the BR-03 Gyrocompass watch gave a horological interpretation of the gyrocompass, another navigation instrument needed by pilots.Bell & Ross today continues the composition of its dashboard of horological instruments with a new timepiece with strong symbolism.A specific displayThe artificial horizon indicator is one of the most emblematic instruments on an aircraft instrument panel. Combining an illustration of the earth and the silhouette of the aircraft, it is the symbol of the instrument flight philosophy. This figurative representation takes the form of a sphere divided by a line. The upper, blue part is the sky, while the lower, dark part represents the earth. In the center, the aircraft appears schematically, with its wings represented by two red lines. The scale on the outside of the dial indicates the aircraft’s angle of bank, while the scale in the center indicates its attitude. The BR-03 Horizon combines the round and the square, two of the brand’s signature shapes, in the same design as this highly symbolic aeronautical tool found in every cockpitA necessary function for pilots: The artificial horizonInstruments were invented to make pilots’ jobs easier. The first aviators could only find their way by sight. For their aerial navigation, aviation pioneers could hardly guide themselves other than by observing natural features, such as mountains or the sea, and often had to follow ground tracks to plot their course. But how could they do this at night or in the clouds, especially at very high speeds? To compensate for the lack of natural information, engineers invented a gyroscopic on-board instrument fundamental to navigation: the artificial horizon indicator. Alongside the anemometer, altimeter, turn indicator, gyrocompass and variometer, the attitude indicator – its other name – is one of the fundamentals of an instrument panel. Thanks to this vertical-axis gyroscope, the pilot can control the aircraft’s attitude and bank at all times, since the instrument indicates in real time the aircraft’s nose-up or nose-down angle in relation to the horizon.Intuitive readabilitySophisticated at first glance, the new BR-03 Horizon watch is intuitive and easy to read thanks to the two fitted hands on the finely graduated bezel. The large white hand is the minute hand. The large two-tone black and white striated seconds hand. The hours are indicated directly by the dial’s central disc. It features a large central arrow to indicate the hours. The blue part of the dial is luminescent, making it easy to read the time at night. Legibility is one of the primary concerns of aeronautical instrument designers. Everything must be obvious to the pilot. Simple but precise. The problem is no different when it comes to designing a watch. For Bruno Belamich, Creative Director of Bell & Ross, the clarity of a dial, even a complex one, is essential.An indicator of present timeEvocative of the aeronautical universe, the BR-03 Horizon is also an element of style and an indicator of a shared passion for aerial adventure. The technical 41 mm case, water-resistant to 100 meters and adorned with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, is finished in black bead-blasted ceramic. This high-performance watch is equipped with the BR.CAL-327 self-winding mechanical movement. Sturdy and inspired by pilots’ equipment, the black rubber strap is interchangeable and can be alternated with an orange velcro strap. Limited to 999 pieces, the new BR 03 Horizon lets wearers know their exact position in time at all times. Finished to the highest Swiss standards, it is also an original timepiece for lovers of design and aviation.
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