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Bell & Ross BR-03 Copper 41mm Stainless Steel
Ref. BR03A-GB-ST/SCA
The BR-03 has always worn the square case format of an aviation instrument panel, and the 2023 41mm generation refines that idea rather than revising it. The previous 42mm BR 03-92 was the template; this is the same proposition with tighter lugs and a slightly smaller footprint, changes that spread the watch across a wider range of wrists without softening its character. The "GB" designation marks the dial treatment: a gilt-copper metallic brushed finish that sits somewhere between industrial and warm, entirely at odds with what you expect from stainless steel and better for it. At 9.65mm the case is flat enough to dress without ceremony, and the brown calfskin strap reinforces the vintage lean of that copper dial. The movement underneath is a Sellita SW300-1 brought up to BR-CAL.302-1 specification, running at 4Hz with a 54-hour reserve — enough runway for a long weekend without winding.
- Reference
- BR03A-GB-ST/SCA
- Brand
- Bell & Ross
- Collection
- Instruments
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 9.65mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Square
- Dial
- Orange
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- BR-CAL.302-1
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Brown
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 54 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 (4,847), Stainless Steel Watches (3,197), Automatic Watches (1,736), Leather Strap Watches (1,049), Rectangular & Square Watches (460) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A slim watch on leather, made for wearing with a shirt.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
Bell & Ross BR-03 Copper alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification |  BR03A-GB-ST/SCA | A25310241K1X1 | M28503-0003 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,650 | £2,760 | £3,050 |
| Case size | 41mm | 42mm | 41mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 54 hours | 42 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 54 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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