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Bell & Ross BR 01-92 Compass Watch
by Kyle Stults on August 03, 2010

Fixed hand, rotating discs…

This is a cool new limited edition watch from Bell & Ross, the BR 01-02 Compass. A similar version of this watch was actually previewed a couple of years ago at Baselworld. You will immediately notice that this is not a normal watch — in fact the design is inspired by old school aviation navigation instruments in that the watch keeps time via one fixed point at the top of the dial. It’s actually quite simple if you take a moment to examine it.

What time is it?

10:10 of course!

I really like this concept of telling time. Rather than two hands moving around a dial, the dial — or in this case two dials — move around a single hand (ie a fixed point). Thus there are two concentric disks which independently rotate to reflect the hours (outer dial) and minutes (inner dial). Like this:

Cool, eh? Production will be limited to 500 pieces, available October 2010. Price is approximately $5,500 / £3,400.

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http://www.breitlingsource.com Breitling Source

Been eyeing the BR watches for a while over here… but each time I try one on I feel differently about whether or not I want one. Seems I can’t make up my mind with them.

This one doesn’t do it for me… reminds me too much of the Diesel watches out there that use something like that. It is kind of a cool addition to the line though.

I think I would prefer the standard BR01-92.

Kyle

Yea, I am with you on that. I think it is a very cool watch, but it definitely would not be my first Bell & Ross. Interesting aside — like other BR01-92′s the movement is a modified ETA
2892.

Anyway…thanks for dropping in. I am a big fan of your blog and your reviews.

GoJu

Well, this is a digital read-out (isn’t it?) as opposed to a traditional analog, which is hard to beat (pardon the pun) because with the traditional two hands and a circle, one can tell the time at a glance. Whereas this (compass) watch requires one to focus on the numbers and is less ‘graphical’.
But isn’t there also an irony in the naming of this watch because without the two hands it is not possible to use the watch as a compass (by aligning the hands with the sun).
Or did I miss something fundamental? (Of course I can see that the cursor and the dials make the watch appear to be like a compass).

Kyle

I think time is quite easy to tell on this watch, and I would guess that after a short period of time using it that telling time would be equally as fast as the traditional means.

As for the compass aspect…well you have a point on that. I think it is more a stylistic/design reference than a functional reference. Thanks as always for sharing your astute observations!

Kyle

spooney d

kyle… don’t be so snarky.
so… you’re saying i should buy a $5500 watch…
then retrain my eyes to read it…
so that when i look at every other analog clock on the face of the planet i will then have to readjust
goju is right on but that said the watch is still pretty dope
i also don’t get the patch? what is that? historical? it’s even LESS functional as a compass.

ps. it WOULD be cool if it popped open and there was an actual compass inside

Kyle

spooney d

“snarky” are you serious? LOL–if you have to “retrain” your eyes to read this watch and it then becomes a challenge or requires you to “readjust” to read very other analog clock on the face of the planet, well what can i say but you need help.
you see, it took me about 2.5 seconds to train my eyes how to read this watch, and what**hey**what do you know **I looked down at the analog watch on my wrist on I read the time instantly. No confusion, no readjustment, nothing — 000 extra brain power required. You are making an issue where none exists, but then again maybe I should apologize because maybe I am just extraordinarily gifted.

Now THAT’s snarky.

Kyle

Kir

Popped open…the patch or the watch?
fred

I agree with all of you, it is a crap.
Damian

I just purchased a BR 03 Heritage Chrono. I have a smaller wrist so the 46mm was just a little to big. The watch is extremely comfortable and just a wonderfully crafted timepiece. I would recommend them to anyone.

Kyle

Thanks for your comment and more importantly congrats on your new watch.

Retrosurfer1959

Very cool all the way around. Unusual but still practical
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