Slightly retro and conventionally shaped, the Bell & Ross Vintage line is a popular counterpart to the brand’s better-known, all-square BR 01 and 03. The Vintage collection gets three new models at Baselworld 2020 – namely a time-only, GMT, and chronograph – including the BR V2-94 Aéronavale Bronze limited edition.

Notably, the new BR V2 watches are offered with a type of elastic fabric strap secured by a small hook, often known as an “MN” strap. That’s short for Marine Nationale – the French navy – and reputedly comes from the fact that such straps were originally fabricated by from parachute webbing by French navy personnel, who were said to have been issued watches without straps.

Named after l’Aéronavale, the air arm of the French navy, the BR V2-94 limited edition is inspired by the colours of the French navy’s dress uniform. So the dial is a dark, metallic blue, matched with gold-plated hands and hour markers, and a bronze case. And bezel is fixed and features a blue, anodised aluminium insert that allows for measurement of elapsed time.

The 41 mm case is made of CuAl7Si2 bronze, an alloy that’s almost all copper, save for 7% aluminium and 2% silicon. Over time, the alloy acquires a brownish surface oxidisation, in contrast to the green verdigris of more common bronze alloys.

And like the other BR V2 chronographs, this is powered by an ETA 2894-2, which is an ETA 2892 base with a chronograph module on top.

The other additions to the line will be part of the regular collection. Both are powered by variants of the ETA 2892, and also offered with a matching steel bracelet.

The first is the BR V2-92 Military Green, which has a 41 mm steel case and a khaki-green dial with large hour markers printed in Super-Luminova. Notably, the date disc is tone on tone, so it easily blends into the dial.

And the other is the BR V2-93 GMT Blue, a typical GMT watch with a second hour hand and bidirectional rotating bezel for indicating a second (or even a third) time zone.

Key facts and price

Bell & Ross BRV2-94 Aéronavale Bronze
Ref. BRV294-BLU-BR/SF

Case diameter: 41 mm
Material: Bronze (CuAI7Si2)
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: BR-CAL.301 (based on ETA 2894)
Features: Time, date, and chronograph with 30-minute register
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 42 hours

Strap: Elastic canvas “MN” style

Limited edition: 999 pieces
Availability: From end-April 2020
Price: US$5,200, or 7,800 Singapore dollars

Bell & Ross BRV2-93 GMT Blue
Ref. BRV293-BLU-ST/SF or /SST

Case diameter: 41 mm
Material: Steel
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: BR-CAL.303 (based on ETA 2893)
Features: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and additional 24-hour hand
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 42 hours

Strap: Elastic canvas “MN” style or steel bracelet

Availability: From February 2020
Price: US$3200 on strap; US$3,500 on bracelet (or 4,600 and 5,100 Singapore dollars respectively)

Bell & Ross BRV2-92 Military Green
Ref. BRV292-MKA-ST/SF or /SST

Case diameter: 41 mm
Material: Steel
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: BR-CAL.302 (based on Sellita SW300-1)
Features: Hours, minutes, seconds, and date
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 42 hours

Strap: Elastic canvas “MN” style or steel bracelet

Availability: From end-March 2020
Price: US$2,990 on strap; US$3,300 on bracelet (or 4,300 and 4,800 Singapore dollars respectively)

To find out more, visit Bellross.com.