Bell & Ross

Bell & Ross was founded in Paris in 1992 by Bruno Belamich and Carlos Rosillo, growing out of a university project to make watches to professional specifications for pilots, divers and other specialists. Its first models were produced in partnership with the German company Sinn, and the two names shared the dial. Chanel took a minority stake in Bell & Ross in 1998; the association with Sinn ended in 2002 and production moved to Switzerland. The watches are now assembled in La Chaux-de-Fonds while the company remains headquartered in Paris.

The model that defined the brand is the BR 01 of 2005: a 46 mm square case with four exposed screws, a round dial and large numerals modelled on cockpit instruments. The smaller BR 03 followed, and the BR 05 of 2019 added an integrated bracelet. The range is organised into Aviation, Marine and Vintage families, the last including the round BR V chronographs.