Bell & Ross has designed watches inspired by cockpit instruments since its inception. This expertise laid the foundation for the brand’s partnership with the Patrouille de France in 2021. Limited to just 500 pieces, the new BR-05 Chrono Patrouille de France is the fourth timepiece created for the French Air Force aerobatic team.
The colors of the Patrouille de France are integral to its identity, from its sky blue flight suits to the Tricolore smoke trails used during aerial displays. Bell & Ross incorporated these colors into the BR-05 Chrono. The dial’s light blue sunburst finish echos the pilots’ suits, while the rehaut and subdial centers feature a darker blue similar to the aircraft’s fuselage. The silhouette of the squadron’s Alpha Jet serves as a counterweight on the chronograph’s seconds hand. Alternating satin, polished, matte, glossy, and sunburst finishes accentuate the watch’s architectural lines, while the photoluminescent numerals, indices, and hands ensure legibility in low light. The chronograph’s most notable feature is the squadron’s insignia, with the aircraft executing the ‘Diamond’ maneuver, emblazoned on the dial. This emblem also appears on the watch’s sapphire crystal caseback, revealing the movement.
BR05 Chrono Patrouille de France ($6,900.00-$7,400.00) – bellross.com
