Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. Bell & Ross Vintage BRV2-93 GMT (With Live Pics)
The essential complication for a pilot's watch now incorporated in the Bell & Ross Vintage collection.
Just like the hallmark circle-within-a-square BR01 or BR03 models, the recently updated Vintage collection by Bell & Ross remains first and foremost a pilot’s watch. Apart from the chronograph, what could be the next most relevant complication to have on such a watch? Well, the answer is a GMT function, of course. Aware of that, Bell & Ross presents the Vintage BRV2-93 GMT with a 24-hour central hand and a rotating bezel – the perfect watch for travellers and pilots crossing time zones.
After the successful launch of the three inaugural models – time-only, time-only with rotatable bezel, and chronograph – followed by several limited editions and variations around the model – Steel Heritage, Military, BellyTanker or Garde-Cotes – it’s time for Bell & Ross to add new functionalities to the Vintage collection. Being a pilot’s watch, the natural evolution was to add a GMT function to this watch, creating a functional traveller’s timepiece.
The recipe used by Bell & Ross on this Vintage BRV2-93 GMT is simple but efficient. Take an existing model, add a central 24-hour hand for the GMT function, a splash of colour for legibility and replace the 60-minute scale on the bezel with a two-tone 24-hour scale to create another adjustable time zone indicator. Simple really, but what else do you need on a GMT watch? Nothing and that’s why this new Bell & Ross Vintage BRV2-93 GMT is just spot on. Essential, functional, utilitarian and sporty.
The base is the same as all the existing models in the recently redesigned vintage collection. This new GMT version is based on the 41mm 3-hand Vintage BR V2-92 and shares the same case, bracelet or strap, and overall design for the dial. Once again we come across a well-proportioned, well-designed and well-built watch. The black dial with large military-inspired numerals and indices and the pilot-style hands are legible and functional. The case, satin-finished and polished, is well-protected and offers 100m water-resistance.
What changes then on this new Bell & Ross Vintage BRV2-93 GMT? First of all, the movement is slightly different and now features an additional time zone display – the movement is based on the well-known and reliable ETA 2893-2. The large orange arrow hand indicates the second time zone and features a quick correction with one-hour increments and is independent of the rest of the display. This watch actually features 3 different time zones:
- white central hands: local time on a standard 12h display with date linked to this time zone
- orange arrow hand: second time zone to indicate home time when travelling or a 24h indication when using it as a day/night indication
- bezel: bi-directional bezel with a 24-hour scale which enables reading of the second time zone but also displaying a third time zone. Rotating it clockwise subtracts hours and anti-clockwise adds hours. Grey section indicates daytime and black background night-time.
The Bell & Ross Vintage BRV2-93 GMT, as most models in the Vintage collection, can be worn on a black rubber strap with a steel pin buckle or on a stainless steel bracelet with polished and satin-finished surfaces. It is now available from official retailers as well as on the brand’s web-shop. Prices: EUR 2,900 on a rubber strap and EUR 3,200 on a steel bracelet. More details on bellross.com.
6 responses
Your technical specs are copied from B&R’s website, which is unfortunate because their website is awful. For example, this description says the “push buttons” are screw down. There are no push buttons on this model, and thus I question the veracity of the specs provided. The reason I mention this is because the description also indicates there is an “independent hour hand”. I would love it if that were true. Can you tell us if the movement has been modified to make the hour hand, in fact, independently adjustable or is this like a standard 2893-2 where only the GMT hand is independently adjustable with a quick set date instead of a quick set hour hand? Thanks.
Like Dufrensne I would also like to know the specifics on the movement and if the main hour hand is truly independent and this is a travelers GMT as opposed to an office GMT.
It is extremely frustrating how many GMT watch reviews/articles/whatever fail to clarify this extremely important detail.
@Dufresne and Scotes… the ETA2893/A2 is a nice movement, but in my opinion fails in terms of its GMT functionality. The 24-hour hand is independently adjustable, so not like for instance a ROLEX GMT-Master II where the normal hour hand can be adjusted with 1-hour increments.
Get a Tudor…
Its functionality is the same as independent 12h watches. What differs is the method of setting operation. The 24h hand makes one revolution a day, just as it does with others, so ironically, it is a failure to suggest this is a failure. There is no failure except in the assessment.
Also why would I want a Tudor? They are overpriced, and the GMT model has a reputation for flakiness, and Tudor ownership is rapidly becoming the shibboleth to man-sized internet groupthink.