This year, Bell & Ross is introducing the first BR 03 series model that utilizes gold in its construction. It is new BR 03-90 Steel and Gold watch which runs on a self-winding mechanical movement that includes two complications: an oversized date and a power reserve indication. The latest timekeeper from the Aviation series by Bell & Ross has its square housing predominantly made of steel. However, it also possesses a bezel and a crown made of pink gold and this combination of two materials looks exceptionally successful and appealing. BR 03-90 Big Date and Power Reserve model in steel and gold comes with a golden brown leather strap and costs around $7,300.
bell & Ross BR 03-90 Steel and Gold Watch
Speaking in the technical sense, the latest Bell & Ross model does not really bring anything spectacular or new when it comes to the B 03 series of the Aviation collection of pilot’s watches. Even BR 03-90 Grande date et Reserve de marche model (which is actually reproduced here in a slightly different version) has been around for three years. Previously, we have seen the watch in a variation with a steel housing, a black dial and a rubber strap in the same color. However, the second new version of this particular model is the premier one that introduces gold in its construction. This applies not only when it comes to this specific model, but also to the entire range of B 03 watches.
Successful Steel and Gold Combination
Still, even B 03-90 Steel and Gold model has the most of its square and modest sized housing (with both the width and the length measuring to 42 mm) made of stainless steel with a satin-polished finish. The square case with four screws visible on the front side is however in this instance supplemented with a fixed round bezel and a crown made from 18 K rose gold. Its use is not that extensive to raise the price of the watch way too much (though it is still some $2,500 more expensive than its all steel predecessor). Additionally, its restrained golden elements make the watch appear more high class that the precious iteration, as well as much more harmonious than the majority of bi-metallic watches, regardless of the brand. The construction of the novel timepiece also includes an anti-reflective sapphire crystal and secures water resistance to 100 meters.
Apart from the golden elements of the housing, additional golden accents are visible on the newcomer’s opaline colored dial. Over here, gold is used for the making of its applied hour markers and the two present Arabic numerals, as well as to outline its pair of indications – the big date with two windows and the power reserve display which are placed at the top and the bottom of the dial, respectively. Finally, gold is utilized for hour and minute hands which are skeletonized and filled with SuperLuminova coating for improved visibility.
Bell & Ross BR 03-90 Steel and Gold model is coupled with a golden-brown stamped calfskin strap with contrasting stitching. Its leather strap locks with a pin buckle made of satin finished steel. Finally, it should be said that the watch runs on Soprod 9090 self-winding mechanical movement.
