redwatch

Switched back to the Bell & Ross for today

Lume is pretty bad actually. The "pearl" is quite bright but the hands and the 12, 6 & 9 are pretty dim at best.

Hard to tell to be honest. I'll check on that and get back to you. Interesting that the gen negative LCD in your pic also looks quite dim. I guess that is how it is supposed to be.

Seems like a perfectly good test piece to start learning how to fix this stuff yourself, I'd say This won't be the last rep or gen watch that comes through that has flaws.

Thanks folks! This is a real winner here. @Tom - thanks for the info on the ETA movement. I wasn't aware of that, but it explains a lot. As for the DLC coating, it's not that hard to repaint the white bezel markings. It's a pretty easy process actually. I kind of gambled on the PVD case hoping that it would be a better finish than the standard rep PVD finish, but unfortunately it wasn't. If anyone is considering this one, and wants a true to gen look, buy the SS version and have it DLC coated. B - if you go to the B&R website, click on E-Boutique on the top menu, then select accessories. They have a stainless and carbon finish buckle option. You can also get an olive colored nylon strap with carbon finish buckle or a white nylon strap with SS buckle (if that suits your fancy) Bell & Ross even offers up a nice little wrist measuring tape for free if you need one You can find that here

Very very nice!

Happy Tuesday RWG!!! Wearing my newly acquired SOXA for Tuesday

I am just thrilled about this one. A one of a kind, Ronin custom built, SOXA Searambler Thanks Ronin for being so kind to decide to sell it off to me

Switched over to a new acquisition

Still rockin the B&R Type Aviation

Demsey

Probably this one again for Sunday: Review is here

NIcely done R!!! Good to have you around these parts! Here's to the next 3,000!!!!

BR03 Aviation review can be found here

Review is now available here

Bell & Ross. A watch company synonymous with aviation style watches. A style that presents such a magic homage to the large instrument clusters found in airplanes. Started in 1992, this american based company headed by Swiss designers Bruno Belamich and Carlos A. Rosillo. They started life being made by German watchmaking company Sinn. That partnership ended in 2002 and they started their own independent production in their facilities La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Their aesthetic appeal is based on four basic principals: optimal water resistance, highly accurate Swiss mechanical movements, clear visual indicators and special functions intended for specific uses. This brings us to the BR03 Aviation. Clearly they met those basic principals in leaps and bounds with this watch. Similar to the Breitling Aerospace, Bell & Ross used the quite brilliant ETA 988.333 quartz movement with analog style hands and a two line, multifunction reverse LCD display. Each of the functions are activated and used through the crown, just like with the Breitling Aerospace. Pushing the crown in allows you to scroll through the functions such as chronograph, alarm, timer, and different different time zones. It might seem awkward if you haven't used a watch like this before, but it is rather simple to be honest. The outlined (skeleton) hands on the watch are attractive, and serve nicely to not hinder the view of the LCD windows too much. Now this is all fine and good, but you are all wondering: "how is the rep"??? In a word: fantastic! Obviously since it uses the exact movement that Bell & Ross and Breitling both use, there is really nothing to discuss here. All of the functions are exactly the same and quite a bit of fun. I will say this.... this is the first watch that I have ever needed to consult the manual just to figure out how to set the time!!! It is not very obvious at all. But, that being said, the box set is quite brilliant. It comes with the manual (thankfully) as well as an extra canvas strap. Included with this is a superb pair of bell & ross strap changing tools. They are very well made and fit the allen head screws on the strap bars perfectly. The rubber strap is quite nice and smells quite good too. The canvas strap, on the other hand, is a total piece of crap. Its almost an inch (that's 25.4mm for you metric folk) smaller than the genuine strap that I bought when I ordered the watch. (Note: for those of you who didn't see my earlier post a few weeks back, you can actually buy genuine straps directly from Bell & Ross.) Anyways, back to the replica. The case is quite nice. Materials and workmanship are excellent. As usual, the PVD finish is a little too shiny, and since the genuine is actually coated using a DLC process, the PVD finish is completely wrong. Comparing the finish of the case to the finish of the buckle on the genuine canvas strap, it becomes painfully obvious how off the PVD finish really is. I may have to send this for a little beadblasting and DLC treatment sometime down the road. The crystal appears to be sapphire and the AR coating is not too bad. I have noticed that the crystal seems a little more sensitive to oils and debris and, like the finish of the case, could stand to be redone by our resident AR expert. But for now, it will do just nicely. The Negative LCD Display is nice, but I do not think it is a bright as the genuine. Now you are asking me: "I thought this was the genuine movement??" Yes, it is the genuine ETA 988.333 quartz movement, however, the little screens that go over the movement that create that Negative LCD effect are a part of the dial, which is, of course, a replica. I suspect there is a big difference in the quality of the polarizing material used and that is contributing to making the display that much harder to see. One comment about the dual functions. In the manual, it states that there are different rotation speeds when turning the crown to change settings and functions. It states: "slow or quick depending on display to be changed (for example: in <<time-set>> position, quick rotation is used to change hours. Slow rotation is used to change minutes). N.B. The difference between the 2 rotation speeds is not easy to manage. For the "sharp" or "short" movment, several attempts will be required before getting used to the movement required." They are not kidding here. The "sharp" movement is almost like trying to snap your finger while holding the crown. The speed needed to change the hour setting is ridiculous! And from what I have read, not uncommon with this movement. But...once you figure it out, it's really not that bad. There are several functions made available with this watch. In fact, there are 8 different display modes: Off (no LCD display at all), Alarm, Chronograph, 2nd Time Zone, Timer, Perpetual Date, Seconds & Date, and finally, Digital Time (shows same time as analog hands). The bezel is nicely finished and feels decent. Similar to other replicas, the click stop doesn't quite line up so when it is at its standard 12 o'clock position, you have to turn it a smidgen to get it to line up correctly. From the pictures I have seen, it looks as though the font used is correct, but a little thicker on the rep than on the genuine. Not a huge deal breaker for me at all, but I thought I should point it out. Now then..... on to some pictures: Here is the genuine DLC buckle and strap: Box Set & Contents: And the wrist shot: All in all I am very, very pleased with this rep. This is my all time favorite Bell & Ross watch, and this replica fits my urgent need to own one quite nicely

I've heard that as well!!

Just a little shout out to some great members to say that you are all missed around here Hope you are all doing well and life hasn't gotten in the way too much to prevent you guys from popping in to say hello!

This one for Saturday:

Well here it is folks! The BR-03 Aviation PVD has arrived!!! More pics and comments to follow over the next few days.

Got a little something in the mail today

Wow!!!! What a great community project!! Well done guys! And to Ronin, you may have found a brilliant movement here!!! The 1675 looks incredible and that Jubilee definitely sets it off. There is nothing more comfortable to me than a jubiliee bracelet! Congrats!!!

Bill....is there a timeline here? This should be entertaining to say the least

Looking good Ronin! Loving that Searambler!!! Spinnaker for me for Friday:

Those pro sledders are crazy! I've seen them do some crazy stuff with those dogs & sleds!