If you think of Bell & Ross as a maker of primarily oversized, square-cased, aviation-oriented watches, you're not alone. However, Bell & Ross are also the producers of a growing collection of heritage-inspired aviation pieces which they call their Vintage Collection. Now, Bell & Ross have further expanded the 38.5mm BR V range of the Vintage Collection with the new Bell & Ross V1-92, an aviation-inspired sport fake watch with a domed sapphire crystal and B&R's Cal.302 automatic mechanical movement.
Clearly drawing design cues from aviation instruments and timepieces of the past, the V1-92's dial is glossy black with faux vintage colored Super-LumiNova coated baton hour markers, a minute scale and sub divisions printed in white, as well as white printed minute markers instead of hour markers at five-minute increments. The election to go with prominent minute markers as opposed to hour markers demonstrates B&R's dedication to the vintage flyer feel of the piece as well as a nod to historical pilot's replica watches from IWC and Laco. The twelve o'clock indicator, a triangle and two dots, is also borrowed from classic pilot's watches. A white on black date wheel is visible through a window neatly tucked into the 4:30 position ?though it's partly cutting off some of the numbers.
Advertising MessageSword-style hands, also coated in the vintage-looking Super-LumiNova, are again reminiscent of WWII era pilot's replica watches from makers much older than Bell & Ross. At six o'clock we find a red circle with "M T?(to stand for "Military Type? printed within to mimic the red colored 3H (which referred to tritium or Hydrogen-3 as a lume source) markings found on older German military replica watches like those made by Heuer and issued to the German Air Force. A thick, domed, anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal protects the dial and adds some vertical heft to the otherwise diminutive case.
Like the rest of the V1 replica watches in the Vintage Collection, the Bell & Ross V1-92 features a very straightforward, brushed stainless steel case in a traditional round shape like those seen on many vintage military watches. A 38.5mm case width keeps things feeling vintage and the modest size should allow for comfortable wear on wrists of many sizes. Ironically, many of the replica watches the Bell & Ross V1-92 seems to draw inspiration from were giant (as large as 55mm) having been designed to be worn over a pilot's thick jacket. Bell & Ross clearly understand that the modern market has a place for those who appreciate vintage styling with a more wearable presence. The new Bell & Ross V1-92 Military also shares its movement with the rest of the V1 series.
Bell & Ross?Cal. 302 is based on the Sellita SW300, a 25-jewel, 38-hour power reserve, automatic mechanical, time-and-date caliber which hums along at a standard 28,800bph. Sellita's SW300, while not as similar as the SW200 and ETA 2824, exists as an alternative to the ETA 2892. While it isn't a ground-breaking piece of haute horology, the Sellita based Cal. 302 should provide years of faithful and accurate service and make for easy servicing when the time comes.
Advertising MessageA new dial for the existing V1 series, the Bell & Ross V1-92 adds yet another popular pilot's configuration to the expanding lineup and is the only 38.5mm model with faux vintage colored Super-LumiNova, if that's what you're into. The Bell & Ross V1-92 Military is also not outrageously priced at $1,990 USD on a very much aviation-inspired vintage looking brown leather strap. bellross.com
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