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The history of BELL AND ROSS
The history of BELL AND ROSS
Bell & Ross began as a university initiative in 1992 between two lifelong friends, Bruno Belamich (Bell) and Carlos A. Rosillo (Ross), who shared a vision of creating efficient and durable watches. They revolutionized the world of horology as we know it today with their basic concept of 'function shapes form.'
In terms of inspiration, the ampersand-logoed French brand has drawn from the history of aviation and the military specifications and technological advances that accompany it; as a result, each product that rolls from the assembly line is produced with the highest visual and performing qualities.
Early variants, such as the Space 1 (the first automatic chronometer to be worn in space) and the Bomb Disposal Type (a piece of wrist armour that made the arduous task of defusing bombs considerably simpler), attracted the attention of aficionados.
Not only does the firm want their timepieces to look attractive, but it also wants them to be used as a tool and constant ally for individuals who work in jobs that need them to survive high temperatures, rapid accelerations, or dangerous pressures. So, while developing watches with best utility, Bell & Ross enlists the knowledge of pilots, divers, bomb disposal specialists, and astronauts — the BR 01, for example, is inspired by the aesthetics of airline cockpit clocks (a circle within a square).
Furthermore, the label assembles a team of experts with complementary skill sets to ensure that it meets the expectations of its users – designers, engineers, and master watchmakers are all brought together and guided by a single utilitarian and ergonomic-style motto: never let the essential be compromised by the superfluous.
The master watchmakers create, build, and fine-tune each Bell & Ross timepiece in the manufacturing center in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and only the toughest quality controls are used to ensure high-quality, regardless of how complicated the mechanism is.
Bell & Ross has earned a reputation for usefulness, precision, water resistance, and legibility as a consequence of its research and development process, and it is now the official supplier of the Space Lab Mission, the French Air Force, the Lafayette Escadrille, and many other extreme professions.
The Vintage line, which debuted in the label's early years, pays homage to significant times of great aviation adventure, notably to the aviators who were the first to view the timepiece as an advantage on their missions.
Its contemporary design reflects usefulness in its most basic form, and because the series is based on military DNA, each model is designed to satisfy a set of military criteria. They're also waterproof, making them perfect for use in wet conditions.
A watch from this brand often has a circular casing and a variety of complexities, such as a dual time zone and tiny second hands.
Despite producing a plethora of exceptional watches since its inception over 26 years ago, the Hydromax 11 100 M (the world-record winner for water-resistance in 1998), the Vintage Heure Sautante (a classic timepiece with a jumping hour – a movement designed by Swiss master watchmaker Vincent Calabrese), and the BR 01 Red Radar are three styles that epitomize the mechanical sophistication and technical innovation of the brand (a non-conformist piece of wrist armour that provides a radar-inspired way of reading time).
It's no surprise that Bell & Ross has become the benchmark by which other companies are judged by combining sophisticated styling with Haute Horlogerie skill.
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