Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver White Bronze

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Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver White Bronze

BR 03-92 Diver White Bronze
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The beauty of the abyss
La Cote des Montres - May 11th, 2023

Paired with a pearl white dial, the bronze case of the new BR 03-92 Diver White Bronze, evokes the glorious hours of the first underwater explorations with a modern flair. It’s a new chapter in the Bell & Ross nautical odyssey.

To explore the marine world, a very precise and equally effective equipment is needed. But since style is not forbidden, the new Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver White Bronze watch features a bronze case and a pearl white dial.

Conquering the depths

When it comes to underwater matters, Bell & Ross has had in-depth expertise since 1997 when it first released the Hydromax, its first diver’s watch. With this model the brand achieved a world record for perfect watertightness to a depth of 11,100 metres made possible by perfectly filling the case with a patented transparent fluorinated oil thanks: a major innovation.

Ten years later, a second diver’s watch emerges, with the BR 02 collection dedicated specifically to the underwater world. With its barrel-shaped case, this family of watches is recognisable at first glance. Technically speaking, the BR 02 is equipped with a helium decompression valve and an ultra-resistant domed sapphire crystal: essential elements for saturation diving.

But not all the diver’s watches of the Bell & Ross collection are round. As of 2017, Bell & Ross took on a new aesthetic with the arrival of the BR 03-92 Diver model. Part of the BR 03 family of instrument watches for professionals and civilians alike, in true watchmaking fashion, it perfectly reinterprets the functionality of fighter plane dashboards, featuring the signature signature “round within a square” case.

In 2018, Bell & Ross added a remarkable new variation by cutting the 42 x 42mm square case in bronze: a material historically linked to the maritime world. Long renowned solely for its robustness, the material is now seeing its distinctive tint and patina celebrated by watch enthusiasts and collectors.

Bronze

a material that evolves

Invented nearly 2,000 years before ago, bronze is a classic material in the nautical environment, a non-ferrous metal alloy consisting mainly of copper. From the beginnings of underwater explorations, equipment for the first modern divers consisted of bronze elements. It’s no coincidence that the iconic diver’s helmet is now engraved on the back of BR 03-92 Diver watches in hypoallergenic stainless steel.

Bronze watches are like fine wines: they evolve over time and acquire a patina unique to each wearer.

The alloy used for the BR 03-92 Diver White Bronze is CuSn8, composed of 92% copper and 8% tin. Its tone is visually quite close to the classic fittings of old sail boats and classic yachts, while overlapping with the types of bronze so prized today by contemporary designers and architects.

A certified
diving watch

Above all, like all the instrument watches in the BR 03 family from Bell & Ross, the new BR 03-92 Diver White Bronze was conceived and designed as a professional quality tool for divers. In order to meet their expectations, it complies with international standard ISO-6425, which states that a “diver’s watch” is a “watch designed to withstand diving in water at depths of at least 100 metres and equipped with a secured measuring system”. Under water, the indices must still be visible at a distance of 25cm in the dark. A diver’s watch must also be magnetic-resistant, shock-resistant and, of course, resistant to salt water.

Complying perfectly with all of these demanding specifications, the new BR 03-92 Diver White Bronze is an underwater instrument worthy of its name according to Swiss standards.

With a case perfectly water-resistant to 300 metres, this model is available in a limited edition of 999 pieces and houses a 25-jewel BR-CAL.302 mechanical self-winding movement, beating at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz).

An intrinsic modernity

With its sophisticated, neo-retro allure, the new BR 03-92 Diver White Bronze doesn’t hide its modernity. Along with a sophisticated construction of four parts assembled with screws, its technical details speak for themselves. The one-way rotating bezel in polished bronze stands out, fitted with a brown aluminium ring. Then there’s the screw-down telescopic crown, completed by the soft iron cage that protects against magnetism.

But there’s one element in particular that really captures the attention: the opaline silver dial with its soft, pearly hue. It combines perfectly with the bronze case, yet with a subtle contrast effect: its warm, smooth reflections working in harmony with the red-tinted shades of bronze. In no way nostalgic, this elegant, refined diver’s watch is just as much in its element in modern city life as it is deep under the waves.