After a season rich of mostly aviation-related launches, it is time for the marine world to welcome a new hero from Bell & Ross: the BR 03-92 Diver Orange which, well, pretty much explains itself.
The new diving watch offers a daring new look with its bright orange dial which happens to highlight even more the robustness and daring looks of the famed square case of B&R. The brand states that this limited edition reference (of only 250 pieces) was designed specifically for their fans and that it will only be available through the brands channels (boutiques and e-commerce, at bellross.com). So you might as well hurry up.
Before getting into the specifics, let’s go back a bit: in 2017, Bell & Ross launched the first iteration of the BR 03-92 Diver, with the hip case concept that featured the now well-known “circle inside a square” theme. Keeping in line with the BR 03 design cues and size (42 mm), the diver was a nice, contemporary follow up to the historic Hydromax of 1997, the watch that went 11,100 meters into the dark and cold depths of the Pacific Ocean.
For both Carlos Rosillo and Bruno Bellamich, the brains behind the French brand’s success, it was paramount to develop a professional diver’s watch with the B&R looks, one with an appropriate hermeticity (200 meters and greater), adequate visibility in the dark, and a rotating, unidirectional bezel (and with a great price to boot)! Now, historically, doing that in a square watch has seldom been done, so this issue opened a door for B&R to demonstrate that their square instruments were ideal for this the feat and well within the technical realm for the brand.
From the beginning, the 03-92 Diver was a hit, as were the distinctive and attractive references that followed it, such as the bronze, black ceramic, and the Full Lum one, the latter one launched only a few weeks ago. But now, it’s “orange crush” time.
The new color scheme is very cool and does not detract a bit from the professional “feel” of the timepiece. Best of all, as a true diver’s watch and like all its brothers, it proudly bears the ISO 6425 certification as a proper diving tool. The screwed-down stainless steel case provides the strength to withstand the pressures of the depths. The crown —fitted wit rubber for a better grip— is equipped with a guard that provides protection against impacts and water intrusion. As a further proof of care in its development and technical abilities, the sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating is a stunning 2.85 mm thick, compared to the usual 1.50 mm on the classic non-diver BR 03-92. The orange dial features appliqué metal indices with Super-Luminova inserts and skeletonized hands.
The Bell & Ross square case is equipped with a 60-minute uni-directional rotating bezel, whose luminescent dot at 12 o’clock. The anodized aluminum bezel, designed for professional use, allows immediate calculation of the time spent underwater. At the spartan rear, the caseback has also being reinforced and has a sturdy feel. Inside the watch, the technicality shines as bright as the dial: the 03-92 Diver Orange is fitted with a soft iron cage to protect it from magnetic fields. As expected, and just like its brothers, the Diver Orange is equipped with a BR-CAL.302 automatic caliber (Sellita-based). Beating at 4 Hz, the movement has a 38-hour power reserve.
The BR 03-92 Diver Orange comes in a water-resistant professional box and is available with two straps. The first is made from woven black rubber and the second is in orange synthetic fabric.
A diver’s watch should be, at the very least, legible, accurate, and reliable. Bell & Ross has found a way to make their marine timepieces unique and distinctive, and this new BR 03-92 Diver Orange is yet another cool example of this.
