We all know Bell & Ross as the creator of square-shaped aviation watches. But, as of late, we can’t deny their unwavering dedication to diving instruments too. With their latest release, the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Tara watch, the Swiss watchmaker announces a new partnership with the France-based Fondation Tara Océan, an officially recognized public interest group with an aim to advance our knowledge of the ocean.
Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Tara Limited Edition - Credit Bell and Ross
Since 1992, Bell & Ross has been equipping pilots and divers with their robust wrist-based instruments. Their BR 03 Auto collection symbolises their passion for aviation, supplied to explorers and elite military units. Then you have the BR 05 and their Alpine Racing lines dedicated to use on land while the BR 03 Diver sets its sights on underwater explorers. It’s a well-rounded portfolio to say the least, and the latter collection expands today as part of a new partnership for the Swiss watchmaker.
Bell & Ross is combining forces with Fondation Tara Océan, an initiative with an aim to explore our seas and deepen our understanding of the world beneath the waves. For the past twenty years, the organisation has been a steadfast advocate for pioneering oceanic research, analysing marine biodiversity and the contribution of climate change and pollution. The partnership brings a new dimension to Bell & Ross’ commitment to marine conservation and highlights their philosophy that ocean and man are intimately linked.
Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Tara Limited Edition - Credit Bell & Ross
To be exact, Bell & Ross are sponsoring the schooner Tara, a veritable floating laboratory with a crew of 14 people researching more than 270,000 nautical miles at sea. The entire Tara Océan crew is wearing watches from Bell & Ross’ diver’s collection which will no doubt be offering plenty of water resistance and reliability in their sea-based adventures. The new Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Tara Limited Edition is a fitting addition to the line-up, standing out with its full blue ceramic case and matching blue dial and strap.
The specifications of the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Tara watch are a familiar sight. It delivers a 42mm wide, square-shaped matte blue ceramic case with a unidirectional rotating diver’s bezel coloured in blue and orange. The bezel is also ceramic and has a white 60-minute scale perfect for measuring elapsed dive times. A screw down crown with crown guards sits at 3 o’clock, promising a 300 metre water resistance, and pairs with a solid case back engraved with an image of the schooner Tara. It’s limited edition status out of 999 pieces is also noted here.
Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Tara Limited Edition - Credit Bell & Ross
As is expected of a Bell & Ross diver’s watch, the metal dial ensures high levels of legibility. The blue display is set with a combination of round and oblong hour markers and a sloped white printed minutes track. The strong, flat-ended hands are silvered with streaks of glow in the dark Superluminova across their length to match with the rest of the hardware. The seconds hand stands out the most in the daytime, coloured in bright orange with its own luminous lollipop tip. The dial confirms Bell & Ross’ new relationship with the Tara Océan Foundation with both logos appearing at 12 and 6 o’clock respectively.
Powering the central hours, minutes and seconds and subtly placed date window at 4 o’clock is the BR-CAL.302 automatic winding movement. It promises a power reserve of approximately 40 hours, and operates at a frequency of 28,800vph. Completing the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Tara Limited Edition is a blue woven rubber strap and a stainless steel pin buckle with blue PVD coating to blend in with the blue ceramic case.
Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Tara Limited Edition - Credit Bell & Ross
The 999 limited edition pieces of the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Tara watch are available to secure now for a retail price of £4,990. A portion of the profits made from the novelty will go directly to the Tara Océan Foundation.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Bell & Ross
- Model: BR 03-92 Diver Tara
- Price: £4,990
- Material: Matte blue ceramic
- Movement: BR-CAL.302 automatic winding
- Complications: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Dial: Blue with Superluminova hands and markers
- Size: 42mm
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
- Water Resistance: 300 metres
- Strap: Blue rubber
- Limited: 999 pieces
Our Choice of Straps
This is one of those watches that could get away with almost any strap. It has such a number of bright colours as part of its attire so rubber straps in blue, white or orange would look incredible with its diver’s aesthetic. If we had to pick from our own vast collection, we’d choose our ZULUDIVER 270 Italian rubber watch strap. The strength and water resistance of this strap will not only live up to the durability of the Bell & Ross’ ceramic case, but it’s bright orange finish joins in perfectly with the orange detailing on the novelty’s bezel and dial.
Another possible pairing would be our Vintage Tropical Style FKM rubber watch strap in white. Our hard-wearing FKM rubber not only plays the part, but delivers a look inspired by the golden age of diving- the 1960’s. It has wonderful, perforated detailing and a retro, tapered tail. You can swap around both these straps effortlessly with their quick release spring bars.
