Bell & Ross, a brand with Franco-Swiss roots, established itself in 1994 through the partnership of two friends, Carlos-A. Rosillo and Bruno Belamich. Their shared enthusiasm for both watchmaking and the demanding world of aviation set the course for the company. From the outset, the mission was clear: to create timepieces that met the strict requirements of professionals operating in extreme environments. This focus on functionality, precision, and readability under pressure allowed Bell & Ross to quickly carve out a significant niche, becoming a benchmark name for professional aviation watches.
The brand's defining moment arrived in 2005 with the introduction of the BR 01. This watch was a radical departure from traditional watch design. Inspired directly by the instrumentation of an aircraft cockpit, it famously translated the "circle within a square" aesthetic from a flight panel gauge to the wrist. This bold, utilitarian design became the brand's unmistakable visual signature, a core piece of its identity that would inform future collections. This philosophy of "From the cockpit to the wrist" was cemented, proving that a watch could be both a high-performance tool and a distinct piece of design.
Courtesy of Bell & Ross
This foundational concept has since been iterated upon and expanded. The brand’s identity flows through its primary collections, including the BR 03, which offers a more wearable, urban interpretation of the original instrument watch; the BR 05, which adapts the "circle within a square" concept into a sleeker, integrated-bracelet design for city life; and the avant-garde "X" line, which serves as the brand's experimental, high-performance division. Bell & Ross has also cultivated prestigious partnerships with organizations like La Patouille de France and the Rafale Solo Display, reinforcing its deep, authentic ties to the world of aviation.
The "X" designation in the Bell & Ross lineup is significant. In aeronautics and aerospace, "X" is the code given to experimental projects, prototypes, and technologies that push the boundaries of what is possible. For Bell & Ross, this translates into the BR-X series, a platform for innovation in materials, movement, and construction. This line takes the foundational BR-03 concept and pushes it to its technical and aesthetic limits, resulting in timepieces intended for watch aficionados who appreciate bold design and sophisticated engineering.
Within this experimental family, the BR-X3 line represents a new chapter, reinventing the iconic BR-03 through an innovative case construction and the integration of an in-house, manufacture movement. The collection launched as a trilogy of advanced instruments, each exploring a different high-tech theme: the stealth-inspired BR-X3 Black Titanium, the space-flight-suit-themed BR-X3 Blue Steel, and now, a new model that explores the captivating dimension of night flight.
The new Bell & Ross BR-X3 Night Vision is the second major saga for the BR-X3, expanding the series by directly adopting the visual language of night-display systems found in advanced aircraft. This watch is a direct nod to the glowing green phosphorescence of a cockpit's head-up display (HUD), a tool that projects critical data into a pilot's line of sight, allowing them to maintain situational awareness in total darkness. The BR-X3 Night Vision is designed to be a professional instrument for these hypothetical nighttime missions, translating that specific, functional luminescence into a wearable format.
Courtesy of Bell & Ross
The most immediate and striking feature of the BR-X3 Night Vision is its case. Measuring 41 mm wide and 13.3 mm thick, the case employs a complex "sandwich" construction, featuring multiple components and materials. The two main plates, which form the top and bottom of the square chassis, are crafted from an exceptional high-tech composite called LUM-CAMO. This material is a fusion of carbon fiber with a potent luminescent resin. In daylight, this creates a swirling, organic camouflage pattern of black and mottled green, giving the watch an aggressive, military-tech appearance.
The true nature of the LUM-CAMO case is revealed in darkness. When the lights go down, the luminescent resin embedded within the carbon fiber matrix activates, causing the entire case to glow with a bright, fractured green light. It is not a uniform glow, but one that follows the camouflage pattern, creating a truly unique and vivid nocturnal signature. This goes far beyond simple dial legibility; the watch itself becomes a glowing artifact, perfectly embodying its "Night Vision" name.
This multi-component case design is engineered for robustness. The two LUM-CAMO plates are securely fastened by four through-screws, which are themselves housed in protective cylinders. For this specific edition, these cylinders are made of photoluminescent green rubber, adding another glowing element to the watch's profile in the dark. Sandwiched between the main plates, the middle case is machined from Grade 2 titanium, which is then micro-blasted and coated with a black DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) finish for scratch resistance and a stealthy look.
Further details on the case reinforce its tool-watch credentials. The bezel is made of black rubber, offering a tactile grip and some shock absorption. The screw-down crown is also made of Grade 2 titanium with a black DLC finish and is protected by a substantial matching crown guard. On the side of the case, a decorative pillar made of luminescent green rubber adds another flash of color and light, breaking up the black mid-case and tying the entire design together.
The dial of the BR-X3 Night Vision is as complex as its case, built with a three-plate construction to create a sense of depth and technicality. The base layer is a tinted sapphire crystal, which is topped by a luminescent applique, and finally a black micro-blasted insert. The entire assembly is skeletonized, allowing a view of the manufacture movement ticking beneath. This open-worked design is dominated by a prominent X-shaped bridge, highlighted in green, which frames the mechanical components.
Courtesy of Bell & Ross
The entire dial assembly is protected by a top crystal of anti-reflective sapphire, which itself has been given a green tint. This, combined with the smoked sapphire base of the dial, enhances the "head-up display" aesthetic, making the wearer feel as though they are looking through a specialized optical lens. The green tint of the crystal deepens the dial's color palette and complements the green luminescence that defines the watch.
Readability, a core tenet of Bell & Ross, is paramount. The dial features "Baignoire-style" (bathtub-shaped) applique indexes. These are micro-blasted black but filled with white Super-LumiNova X2, which emits a powerful green glow. The large, skeletonized hour and minute hands are similarly filled with the same high-grade luminescent material, ensuring that the primary time-telling function is instantly legible in any lighting condition.
The dial's functions are laid out in a balanced and technical manner. At 9 o'clock, a power reserve indicator displays the movement's remaining energy on a three-pronged, gauge-like sub-dial. This indicator is also outlined in green Super-LumiNova. Opposite it, at 3 o'clock, is a large date window, also framed with luminescence, providing a clear and useful daily complication. This graphic and layered approach to the dial gives the watch a highly technical look, reminiscent of an aerospace control center.
Turning the watch over reveals a black-tinted sapphire crystal caseback, offering a view of the calibre within. This exhibition back showcases the movement, including its specifically decorated oscillating weight. This, too, is tinted green, maintaining the watch's strict color code from front to back. The caseback is engraved with the watch's specifications, including its 100-meter water-resistance rating, which is more than sufficient for a watch inspired by aviation rather than diving.
At the heart of the BR-X3 Night Vision is the Calibre BR-CAL.323. This is a manufacture automatic mechanical movement, specially developed by the respected movement maker Kenissi for Bell & Ross. The move to a manufacture calibre is a significant step for the brand, placing the BR-X3 line in a higher tier of watchmaking and demonstrating a commitment to mechanical sophistication.
Courtesy of Bell & Ross
The performance of the BR-CAL.323 is impressive. It is certified by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC), the official Swiss chronometer testing institute. This certification guarantees its high degree of precision and reliability, after having passed a battery of tests in different positions and temperatures. This is a crucial feature for any timepiece that calls itself a "professional instrument."
Furthermore, the movement provides a substantial power reserve of approximately 70 hours. This "weekend-proof" autonomy means the owner can take the watch off on a Friday evening and put it back on Monday morning without needing to reset the time or date. This is a highly practical feature that enhances the user experience. The inclusion of this high-performance calibre is backed by a 5-year warranty, offering significant peace of mind.
The BR-X3 Night Vision is secured to the wrist with an open-worked black rubber strap. The strap features a series of distinctive vertical vents, which not only contribute to the technical, modern look but also provide comfort and ventilation. This strap design is a departure from the brand's more common solid rubber or leather straps, fitting the experimental nature of the "X" series.
The strap is fastened with a robust pin buckle. This buckle is made from Grade 2 titanium that has been micro-blasted and finished with black DLC, perfectly matching the finish of the case's crown, crown guard, and middle case. This attention to material consistency demonstrates a thorough design approach where every component has been considered.
The BR-X3 Night Vision successfully completes the inaugural trilogy of BR-X3 models. It stands as the most visually aggressive and specialized of the three, finding its identity in the world of nocturnal missions. It joins the BR-X3 Black Titanium, which draws its inspiration from the angular, radar-absorbent design of stealth aircraft, and the BR-X3 Blue Steel, a more contemporary piece whose polished steel and blue accents evoke the look of a space flight suit. Together, the trilogy showcases the versatility of the BR-X3 platform, taking the BR-03 concept from the earth to the sky, and now, into the dark.
Courtesy of Bell & Ross
This timepiece is a clear expression of the "X" code. It pushes the boundaries of the instrument watch concept not just in its technical functionality, with its manufacture COSC-certified movement, but also in its graphic and aesthetic boldness. The integration of LUM-CAMO and the thorough application of green-glowing elements create a watch that is not just legible at night, but is fundamentally about the night.
The Bell & Ross BR-X3 Night Vision, reference BRX3R-GN-CA/SRB, is offered as a limited edition of just 250 pieces. This scarcity ensures its exclusivity and aligns with the experimental, high-end positioning of the BR-X line. The watch is priced at $14,100.
Case: 41 mm wide, 13.3 mm thick. Grade 2 titanium with black DLC micro-blasted finish and carbon fibre inlaid with luminescent resin (LUM-CAMO). Screw-down crown and crown guard in black DLC Grade 2 titanium. Decorative side pillar in luminescent green rubber. Black tinted sapphire case-back. Water-resistance: 100 metres.
Movement: Calibre BR-CAL.323. Manufacture automatic mechanical movement. COSC certified. Power reserve of approximately 70 hours. Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date at 3 o'clock, power reserve indicator at 9 o'clock. 5-year warranty.
Dial: Three-plate construction with tinted sapphire base and black micro-blasted insert. Skeletonised. Black micro-blasted “Baignoire-style” applique indexes filled with white Super-LumiNova® X2 (green emission). Skeletonised hands filled with white Super-LumiNova® X2. Green tinted anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
Strap: Openworked black rubber. Pin buckle in black DLC micro-blasted titanium.
Price: $14,100
Reference Number: BRX3R-GN-CA/SRB
Notes: Limited edition of 250 pieces. The case is made from LUM-CAMO, a composite of carbon fiber and luminescent resin, which makes the case glow in the dark.