Tap the image to enlarge
Bell & Ross Space 3 GMT Chronograph 41mm Stainless Steel
Ref. 324-S
The Space 3 belongs to a period most Bell & Ross collectors treat as a footnote but should not: the decade between 1992 and 2002 when the brand worked in close partnership with the German manufacturer Sinn, long before the square cockpit-instrument case became its signature. This is a round watch, compound-curved and built for function, with flush chronograph pushers sized for gloved hands and a telescopic crown that screws down level with the case flank so nothing snags on equipment or clothing. The signal-orange chronograph seconds hand and anti-glare matte dial place it firmly in the aerospace tradition it was designed to serve. Sixteen millimetres of thickness is a known consequence of the Valjoux 7750 architecture — it stacks tall — but the sharply dropping integrated lugs bring the lug-to-lug span to just 43mm, which means the watch hugs the wrist more closely than the thickness suggests it should. The recessed crown removes the last point of friction. On early examples the tritium lume has aged to a warm ecru against the black dial, which reads as character rather than neglect. The GMT chapter is set via a corrector on the case flank, keeping the crown free for the main functions and the interaction deliberate rather than accidental.
- Reference
- 324-S
- Brand
- Bell & Ross
- Collection
- Space 3
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 16mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- BR-CAL.324
- Functions
- Chronograph, GMT, Date, Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 43mm
- Power reserve
- 42 hours
Learn more about Bell & Ross
Bruno Belamich, a designer, and Carlos Rosillo, a business graduate, founded Bell & Ross in 1992 as school friends with a shared interest in professional instruments. The early watches were made in partnership with the German manufacturer Sinn, which shaped the brand's technical bias.
Its identity crystallised in 2005 with the BR 01. The design takes an aircraft cockpit instrument — a round dial in a square bezel, secured by four visible screws, with oversized luminous numerals — and puts it on a wrist at 46mm. It is one of the few genuinely new watch shapes of the last thirty years, and it remains the brand's entire visual signature.
The functional argument holds up: legibility, water resistance, and anti-magnetic construction to specifications drawn from aviation requirements. Bell & Ross watches have been issued to French bomb disposal units, air force pilots, and special forces divers.
The range has since expanded in both directions — the smaller BR 03, the vintage-styled BR V line drawing on 1940s military chronographs, and the BR-X experimental series with tourbillons and skeletonised movements.
The company is based in Paris for design and Switzerland for production, and has partnered with Renault's Formula One team and the Alpine marque. Chanel took a significant stake in 2004.
- 1992
- Bruno Belamich and Carlos Rosillo found Bell & Ross.
- 1994
- Early production runs in partnership with Sinn.
- 2005
- The BR 01 brings the cockpit instrument to the wrist.
- 2011
- The vintage-inspired BR V line launches.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (3,133), Automatic Watches (1,750), Chronograph Watches (1,199), Sports Watches (800), Dive Watches (572) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (369).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 200m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- 43mm lug-to-lug keeps the 41mm case wearable
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
Worth knowing
- 16mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Bell & Ross Space 3 GMT alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 324-S | 2731-ST-20001 | 173377304157 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,450 | £1,436 | £1,450 |
| Case size | 41mm | 42mm | 43.5mm |
| Water resistance | 200m | 100m | 300m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 42 hours | 38 hours | 38 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 200m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 42 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 43mm, which suits wrists from roughly 15cm (6 inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
More Bell & Ross watches like the Space 3 GMT
In stock, and close on style and price
