 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Watch manufacturing |
| Founded | 1992, in Paris, France |
| Founder | Bruno Belamich Carlos Rosillo |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Wristwatches |
| Website | www |
Bell & Ross is a French watch company based in Paris with manufacturing in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. [1] Founded in 1992, the company has specialized in Swiss Made watches for professional users such as divers and pilots. [2]
Bell & Ross was founded in 1992 as a university project between Bruno Belamich (Bell) and Carlos A. Rosillo (Ross). [3] The company's watches were originally produced by the German company Sinn, but the partnership was dissolved in 2002 soon after Chanel became a minority shareholder, and production was subsequently moved to Switzerland. Starting with its model BR-01 in 2005, the company began producing square watches meant to resemble instruments found in aircraft cockpits, [2] The company's square-cased BR models became its most well-known design. [4] The company divides production among three types of watches: Aviation, Marine and Vintage. [5] The types of watches differ by the size and shape of the case, the movement, and the dial layout. [2] [6]
In 1992, Bell & Ross started supplying pilot watches to the French air force. [7] [2] The company is the official watch supplier to the Escadron de Chasse 2/4 La Fayette and the French space program. [3]
In 2016, Bell & Ross began working with the Renault Sport Formula 1 Team. [8] This partnership lead to Bell & Ross creating special edition timepieces to signify their relationship with Renault. As Renault rebranded to Alpine F1 Team, Bell & Ross remained with Renault and released the Alpine F1 Team Watch Collection. [9]
The Bell & Ross Vintage 123 Heure Sautante was the first jumping hour watch with power reserve. It was introduced in 1992. [1] [10]
The Bell & Ross Space 1 was the first automatic chronometer to be worn in space in 1994. [3] [11]
In 1998 the Bell & Ross Hydromax 11 100 M set the Guinness World Record for wristwatch water-resistance at 11,000 metres below sea level. [1] [3]
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