Though it’s been largely using the same design language since 2005, Bell & Ross has since become a household name in the watch world. That year, the brand released the BR-01, a simply designed timepiece that left a mark on anyone who viewed it. It sported a minimalist 46mm square case with a circular dial and looked like a cockpit instrument. The next year, the French watchmaker debuted the BR-03, a smaller 42mm version of the BR-01. Now, after 17 years of being the brand’s most popular model, the BR-03 is getting an update.
Sometimes the difference between a comfortable watch and an uncomfortable watch is mere millimeters. For Bell & Ross, that difference was just 1mm. The new BR-03 for 2023 has dropped down to 41mm, which also gives the lug width a drop from 4.5mm to 4mm. It may seem marginal but when you’re wearing something on your wrist all day, these fractions matter. Not to mention, the faceted profile now curves slightly for easier wearability, while the rounded corners on the case are notably larger in radius. Available in eight colorways for its debut, the new BR-03 also features a slightly slimmer hour hand and more legible hour markers and indices. Perhaps the most noticeable change comes with the date window, which has moved from the 6 o’clock spot to 4:30.
The movement gets an update here as well, with the Sellita-based caliber 302 going from 38 hours of power reserve to 54 hours. As for the colorways mentioned, we’ll get four options with micro-blasted black ceramic cases, each with a different dial color, including the all-black Phantom variant. The other four will feature brushed and polished stainless steel cases with several sunray or gilt options for the dials.
To peruse your options, head over to Bell & Ross’ website, where the new BR-03 41mm are now available, ranging in price from $3,600 to $4,300.
