The international watch show attracts the best in watch making from around the world and some of the finest and most innovative designs are on display at the Basel World 2012. Bell & Ross, the French watch manufacturer has created a range of watches inspired by aviation and aeronautical instruments. The most innovative however is the BR 01 Horizon watch which has been designed to look almost exactly like the altitude indicator in an aircraft cockpit. It is with the help of this instrument that the flight engineer and the pilots monitor the aircraft’s position relative to the horizon.
The watch is not only inspired by the aeronautical instrument but its graphic design emulates the instrument as closely as possible. The design is very different from any luxury watch you might have seen so far. The dial has been created on two levels. A white horizon line marking the 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock axis separates the two dials. A bridge at 12 o’clock conceals the attachment of hands. Two hands of different shapes provide instantaneous legibility of the hours and minutes. A window created at 12 o’clock ensures visibility when they disappear below the bridge of the raised dial.
The case of the watch is made from stainless steel and has an anti-glare, matte black carbon finish. The strap of the watch is made from black rubber and black heavy-duty canvas. The hands of the watch are covered in photoluminescent coating to ensure clear visibility in any light condition. This is the first watch from Bell & Ross in the aeronautical instrumentation inspired range of watches and we can look forward to many more innovative designs. It is a limited edition creation and production of only 999 pieces has been planned.
