Bell & Ross’s collaboration with the Renault F1 team continues even as the team changes name to Alpine F1. For this year, a new BR 03-92 is released in Black and Alpine Blue.
Press Release with commentary in italics.
New: Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Black and Alpine Blue A552
Retail price for the new Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Black and Alpine Blue is SGD 6,300 with GST. Limited edition of 999 pieces.
Commentary
Each year, Bell & Ross comes up with a new collaboration design for their F1 partner. From the early days with Renault in 2016, a new colour scheme based on the livery of the team’s F1 car livery is delivered. Some years, they have released more than one model.
For the first collaboration year with the newly renamed Alpine F1 Team, they released the BR 03-92 A521 Alpine F1 Edition in 2021 but earlier Renault collaborations run deep. We covered the watches since the third year with Renault in 2017, 2018, and also in 2020. Looking through our archives, we seem to have missed the release notes in 2019. But carried full reviews for all the years from 2017 to date.
This year, the second year under the Alpine F1 Team sees the release of the new BR 03-92 in a black ceramic case with highlight accents in Alpine blue. As usual, the aesthetics hit the spot. Reflecting the colours of the F1 car, the elements are picked up, and the linkage between car and watch is clear.
The base watch is the BR 03-92 in ceramic which has seen good market reception since its launch. As a full ceramic case, the asking price is perhaps one of the biggest bang for the buck in this case material category. Tudor had a Fastrider Black Shield in a similar price range, but now discontinued. Most of the competition, for e.g. the Hublot Integral Ceramic or the OmegaSpeedmaster White Side of the Moon come in above the SGD 10k benchmark. True, both these examples are chronographs. Also, the A552 carries a SGD 1k over the regular BR 03-92 Matte Black Ceramic model, which is pretty reasonable for a major collaboration with an F1 brand. In fact, it is about the pricing set by the BR 03-92 Military, which meets additional milspec, and 300m water resistant rating instead of the usual 100m.
Release details
FROM THE TARMAC TO THE CIRCUIT
Since its inception in 1994, Bell & Ross has been telling the time to fighter pilots, drawing inspiration from the precise dashboard instruments of aircraft cockpits.
With the aim of pushing the boundaries of the creative process, the brand regularly set itself new challenges. Hence, in 2016, the decision to join the exciting world of motor racing by collaborating with Renault F1® Team: since then, the avant-garde watchmaker is part of the Formula 1® world, the pinnacle of high-tech and cutting- edge materials. 2021 saw the name of the team change to Alpine F1® Team but the passion and commitment of Bell & Ross remained unaltered as the brand continued to be a proud partner of the Team, sharing the passion for mechanics, precision and speed. Through this prestigious partnership, Bell & Ross continues its quest for performance, excellence and innovation.
2 HOUSES, 2 UNIVERSES,
1 SOLE QUEST
Partners on the circuits, Bell & Ross and BWT Alpine F1® Team are similar in many ways. The engineers of the two Houses are engaged in the same quest for ultimate mechanical performance. Using state-of-the-art technologies and cutting-edge materials, they both manage to achieve maximum lightness while maintaining extremely high resistance. Whether in a F1® car or in the painstaking creation of a timepiece, craftsmanship is at the core of the process, which is another element that ties the brands together.
A COLLECTION RENEWED EVERY YEAR
With each new Formula 1® season, BWT Alpine F1® Team develops a new racing car in response to the latest regulation and innovation demands. A new livery seals the design of this latest technology achievement.
Similarly, each year, Bell & Ross, offers a new collection by reinterpreting different sources of inspiration such as the steering wheel, the chassis and BWT Alpine F1® Team graphics.
This year, the BR 03-92 A522 completes the series of Alpine timepieces, subtly adopting its colour and graphics while meeting the specifications of the team’s drivers. It is called A522, in reference to the current Alpine A522 racing car.
“Beyond the style and the colors, we conceive above all a tool at the service of the driver, an ally at all times” explains Bruno Belamich – Creative Director and co-founder.
BELL & ROSS BLACK AND ALPINE BLUE
This new timepiece with its iconic 42 mm ceramic case, combines resistance, lightness and legibility. Reminiscent of the anti-reflective tints of the dashboards, the matt black also respects the codes of a utilitarian design. The matt finish in addition to reduces reflections for better legibility also provides a soft texture to the touch.
The white and blue dial of this sporty timepiece takes its designs cue from the speedometer of an Alpine car referencing the brand’s signature colour code.
It features large white numerals, coated with Super-LumiNova®, which contrast with the surrounding black, allowing for easy readability, both in daylight and at night. Italic typography conveys an idea of speed and dynamism. The counterweight of the central blue chrono seconds hand takes up the stylised A of Alpine. A mini blue/white/red flag recalling Alpine’s tricolour origins is placed above the date window at 6 o’clock and the Alpine’s signature blue is used to highlight the minute track on the flange.
On the mechanical side, the BR 03-92 A522 is powered by the automatic BR-CAL.302 movement, 3 date hands. Finally, an ultra-breathable micro-perforated rubber strap ensures unrivalled comfort when worn.
Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Black and Alpine Blue Specifications
REF. BR0392-a522-CE/SRB
Movement: BR-CAL.302. Automatic mechanical.
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds and date.
Case: 42 mm in width. 10.40 mm thick. Matt black ceramic.
Dial: black. Alpine logo at 6 o’clock. Applique numerals and hour markers coated with Super-LumiNova®. Skeletonized metal hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova®. Seconds hand with Alpine A-pattern counterweight. Black and blue graduated 60-minute bezel with white marking.
Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating. Water-resistance: 100 metres.
Strap: perforated black rubber and ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric.
Buckle: pin. Steel with black PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition)
