Personally, I quite like the V2-92 but I have to say the addition of the text lines reading “Water Resistant” and “100m” take away from the elegant simplicity of the dial. I probably wouldn’t have noticed or commented on it if this was a standalone watch, but next to the V1-92, I have to say I much prefer the dial with less text on it.
It is, in my estimation, a fantastic success in balancing various design elements and themes in addition to boldness and wearability. “Balance” is a word which I kept returning to when considering various aspects of this Bell & Ross Watch Parts Replica BR 03-92 Diver. The outcome is a solid, refined dive watch having a look and personality quite unlike any other I know of, and it’s just plain fun to wear.No matter how great, satisfying, or first a brand’s watches are, a really “iconic” version is something most watch brands won’t ever be able to convincingly claim — by its very nature the expression can be correctly appropriate to only a limited variety of watches. I try to avoid even using the term, but I think many watch enthusiasts will agree that Bell & Ross’ square-cased, aviation-themed watches based on the dashboard instruments of older airplanes will qualify. The design is strongly associated with and suspended in aviation, but Bell & Ross has branched out to lots of different styles or genres with all the square case as the foundation. While the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver could get lost among so many different variants on the theme, taken alone it is effective as a persuasive dive watch.
Finally, the BR V2-92 is the chronograph model, which I personally am very fond of. It’s 41mm wide with the curved lugs and “ultra-curved” sapphire crystal seen throughout this collection. There are two sub-dials, with a seconds counter at 3 o’clock and 30 minute totalizer at 9 o’clock. The anodized aluminum bezel has a tachymeter scale which is so often an eyesore in my opinion, but the font and color blends right in with the rest of the watch and actually looks very nice here.
The movement used in the V2-94 is the automatic BR-Cal. 301, which is their modified ETA-2894-2. It operates at 28,800 vph and gets a 42 hour power reserve, so it just squeaks in at weekend length. This model is available with a steel bracelet or calfskin strap, but I honestly would almost always go with the steel bracelet here. I think it just matches the attitude and style of the watch much better.
Overall, it’s a very attractive and thoughtfully made chronograph in a world of countless options. I think it says a lot about the personality and taste of the person who chooses to wear this piece. Not only is it an outlier (as are all these round watches) in terms of what the brand is known for, it’s a not-cheap chronograph in a world full of iconic and varied chronographs like Omega Speedmasters, Zenith El Primeros, and Breitling Navitimers. Granted, the Bell & Ross is priced less than most of these – we live in a world of plenty when it comes to the second-hand market with these pieces. I think the self-confidence (a phrase I’m intentionally using again in this article) of this watch is something that comes off in spades and would likely describe the wearer, as well.
The Bell & Ross vintage collection got a welcome set of new additions this year, and they all run the gamut in price range for sub-$5,000 watches. The 38.5mm BR V1-92 Black Steel three hand and date watch on a leather strap is priced at $1,900. The bigger 41mm wide three hand and date BR V2-92 Black Steel is priced at $2,900 on a calfskin strap and $3,200 on a steel bracelet. Finally, the BR V2-94 chronograph is priced at $4,300 on a leather strap and $4,600 on a steel bracelet. bellross.com