Bell & Ross
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Watchmaking |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Bruno Belamich, Carlos A. Rosillo |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Swiss Made watches (Aviation, Marine, Vintage collections) |
| Owner | Chanel (minority stake since 2002) |
Bell & Ross is a French watchmaker headquartered in Paris with its production facilities located in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Established in 1994, the brand focuses on creating Swiss Made timepieces tailored for specialized professionals such as aviators and divers.
History and production
The inception of Bell & Ross traces back to a university initiative by Bruno Belamich (Bell) and Carlos A. Rosillo (Ross). Initially, manufacturing was handled by the German company Sinn. However, following Chanel’s acquisition of a minority stake in 2002, production shifted to Switzerland. A landmark release came in 2005 with the BR-01 model, distinguished by its square-shaped cases inspired by cockpit instruments, which has since become emblematic of the brand. Bell & Ross categorizes its watches into three main collections: Aviation, Marine, and Vintage, each differing in case dimensions, design, movement type, and dial configuration.
Associations
Since 1992, Bell & Ross has been providing pilot watches to the French air force and holds the position of official timepiece supplier to both the Escadron de Chasse 2/4 La Fayette and the French space program.
In 2016, the company formed a partnership with the Renault Sport Formula 1 Team, resulting in exclusive edition watches celebrating this alliance. This collaboration persisted when Renault transitioned to the Alpine F1 Team, with Bell & Ross introducing the Alpine F1 Team Watch Collection.
Records
The Vintage 123 Heure Sautante, launched in 1992 by Bell & Ross, was pioneering as the first jumping hour watch equipped with a power reserve indicator.
In 1994, the Bell & Ross Space 1 became notable as the first automatic chronometer worn during space missions.
The 1998 Hydromax 11 100 M model set a Guinness World Record for water resistance in wristwatches, capable of withstanding depths up to 11,000 metres underwater.