Bell & Ross BR03-94 Chronograph automatic man’s watch in squared matt black ceramic case with black dial and white indicators, featuring 30-minute chronograph and date, and presented on natural rubber strap with tang buckle.

When Bell & Ross entered the watchmaking arena in 1992, it was because its owners had identified a sparsely populated sector where choice among luxurious yet practical, functional, instrument watches was still limited, and on that basis the Company has grown from strength to strength with their collections of instantly recognizable wrist watches.

Specifically styled on the instruments used in aircraft cockpits, where clarity and ease of reference are key criteria, the BR03-94 Chronograph is designed with the professional aviator in mind, and its no-nonsense dial and matte black case looks like it would be equally at home among an instrument cluster.

The iconic squared case with four retaining screws has become a signature of Bell & Ross over the years, and for the BR03-94 Chrono Matt Black this has been manufactured in hard-wearing and scratch resistant ceramic. Bead blasted to a smooth matte finish its 42mm chassis has a cool and comfortable feel on the skin.

Beneath the sapphire crystal, the black dial is basic but superbly readable thanks to its binary colours, as the white indices and broad, pointed hands are perfectly contrasted, and as the hands are filled with white Super LumiNova it has excellent legibility in daylight or low light conditions.

Constant small seconds are displayed at the 3 o’clock position, and opposite at the 9 the chronograph counter cycles every 30 minutes, activated by the solid snap of the oblong pushers either side of the screw-in crown. A black date disc with white figures means that it’s clear, but not conspicuous between the 4 and the 5.

Turned over, a black back plate is embossed with motif, numbers and technical spec, closing in the self winding movement within, and a reminder of the watch’s functional ethos. Good for 100m underwater, it is presented on another Bell & Ross favourite, the thick rubber strap, and a robust tang buckle seats the watch securely.