I will be the first to admit, the wider Bell & Ross catalog can be a bit difficult to tell apart, as there are minor variations across a basic design. That said, it does also speak to the strength (and popularity) of the design that it can be iterated in this fashion, with minor changes (such as a sandwich dial) mixed in to freshen things up.
It’s, in my opinion, a fantastic achievement in balancing various design elements and topics as well as boldness and wearability. “Balance” is a word which I kept returning to if considering various aspects of the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver. The result is a solid, elegant dive watch having a look and character quite unlike any other that I know of, and it is just plain interesting to wear.No matter how good, gratifying, or first a brand’s watches are, a genuinely “iconic” model is something most watch brands won’t ever be able to convincingly claim — from its very nature the term can be correctly applicable to only a restricted number of watches. I attempt to avoid even using the word, but I believe many watch enthusiasts will agree that Bell & Ross’ square-cased, aviation-themed watches dependent on the dashboard instruments of old airplanes will qualify. The plan is closely correlated with and suspended in air, but Bell & Ross has branched out to plenty of different genres or styles with the square case as the foundation. While the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver could get lost among so many other variations on the theme, taken alone it’s effective as a persuasive dive watch.
Then again, I’ve long been a fan of this particularly iconic design, and have a thing for sandwich dials as well, so it was really a winning formula for me. I’m sure if you, dear readers, disagree with me, you won’t be shy to speak out in the comments below, and I welcome that. For now, I think the dial on the Bell & Ross Desert Type is my favorite to-date from the brand. No, the color palette may not be the most visually exciting, but it fits the theme and should make for a fairly flexible (if casual) watch. Bell & Ross haven’t released pricing information yet, but we will let you know as soon as they do. bellross.com