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Bell & Ross BR-03-92 Horoblack Limited Edition 42mm Stainless Steel
Ref. BR03-92-S-03801
The BR 03-92 Horoblack arrived in 2018 as a limited run of 999 pieces, and its purpose is narrow: a square instrument watch that refuses to reflect light from any surface. Every external steel part — case, bezel, crown, buckle — carries the same matte micro-blasted finish, and the dial adds a second layer of discipline. Rather than applying lume to conventional hands and indices, Bell & Ross cut the numerals and batons from the upper grey plate to expose a lower plate finished in black Super-LumiNova beneath. Black pigment emits less than standard green or white formulas, so the glow at night is dim and deliberate — stealth rather than beacon — while daylight contrast comes from the texture difference between the two plates. It is a coherent idea, carried through without compromise. Square cases always measure large against their stated diameter, but 9.8mm of thickness and short angled lugs keep this one genuinely flat on the wrist, sitting closer to a dress watch in profile than most things rated to 100 metres. The movement inside is a Sellita SW300-1 architecture — slim, hacking, with a quick-set date — which suits the case proportions and has a long service record for reliability. Strap changes use countersunk hex screws rather than spring bars; the two hex keys come in the box, and it makes swapping rubber for leather a deliberate act rather than an accidental one.
- Reference
- BR03-92-S-03801
- Brand
- Bell & Ross
- Collection
- Instruments
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 9.8mm
- Lug width
- 24mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Square
- Dial
- Grey
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- ETA 2892
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 38 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 Back in Stock (4,868), Stainless Steel Watches (3,133), Automatic Watches (1,750), Rectangular & Square Watches (474), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (369) and Grey Dial Watches (256).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 38-hour reserve means winding it after a day off
Bell & Ross BR-03-92 Horoblack Limited Edition alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | BR03-92-S-03801 | SRQ037J1 | CM3090C-L1J-BK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,250 | £2,350 | £1,950 |
| Case size | 42mm | 42.5mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 38 hours | 45 hours | 38 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for 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 38 hours fully wound — so it will usually stop if you leave it off overnight.
What size strap does it take?
24mm. 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.
Is 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.
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