Bell & Ross BR03-94 Chrono Heritage Ceramic automatic man’s watch in squared matt black ceramic case with black dial and sand coloured indicators, featuring 30-minute chronograph and date, and presented with tan calfskin leather, and fabric strap with tang buckle.

With styling lifted straight from aviation, and the front mounted analog instruments used in aircraft cockpits, where clarity and ease of reference are of paramount importance, the BR03-94 Chronograph series is designed with the professional aviator in mind, and with its no-nonsense dial and matte black case, it looks as if it would be equally at home among a busy instrument cluster.

Since its foundation in 1992, Bell & Ross have unwaveringly fixed their focus on practical and dependable wristwatches for airborne and military professionals. Assembled using high quality manufactured components and Swiss ETA movements, with clearly defined dial indications their watches, in their unique and highly distinctive case designs have won many highly competitive State contracts.

The BR-03-94 Chrono Heritage Ceramic, from the Bell & Ross Aviator collection combines the series’ robust and functional fundamentals with an ‘aged’ vintage feel, in a very cool iteration of this iconic piece.

The Bell & Ross Aviator’s signature squared case is manufactured in hard wearing, scratch resistant black ceramic, bead blasted to leave a smooth matte finish, with circular graining on the bezel. Beneath the sapphire crystal, the black dial too has this matte effect, resulting in a smart uniformity of texture across the upper surfaces of the watch.

Constant small seconds are displayed in the subdial 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.

A light tan calfskin leather strap and the use of off-cream paint for the dial’s markings and hands pretty well captures the appearance of a vintage Bell & Ross B03-94. In fact it suggests that this piece is not so much a dedicated professional, instrumentalthough of course it is but its social, casually attired sibling instead.

Inside, the self winding movement is enclosed behind the ceramic caseback. which is embossed with motif, numbers and technical spec.