Time for some whimsy today, with Bell & Ross’ addition to their Flight Instruments Collection in the form of the BR-03 Gyrocompass. The watch transfers the position of a plane in flight into a vertical graphic representation on the dial.

The concept was introduced a decade ago – a watch which looks like a compass. This new one is in line with Bell & Ross’ launch of a redesigned BR-03, which comes with a reduction in diametre and lug width, different rounded corners, design changes to the core dial, and a new movement.

In 2013 Bell & Ross launched the Aviation Collection which with three cockpit-inspired instrument models called the Heading Indicator, Airspeed, and Climb. The Heading Indicator (aka BR01-92), a limited edition of 999 pieces, had a dial with three concentric discs for the hours and minutes, and a centre seconds disc. The cardinal points of West, East and South were marked but North was the yellow hour marker doing double duty.

This updated version is more easily read at first glance. It has hands rather than rotating discs, and the seconds ring has moved from the inside of the dial to the outside. The black dial has a cross-hair design with the cardinal points. In lieu of an hour hand is a large yellow Super-LumiNova aeroplane whose nose points to the current hour. The minute hand has a large white arrow at its tip and the central seconds hand has its counterweight lumed. The date window’s backdrop is black, to blend in with the dial.

The new BR-03 Gyrocompass comes in a matte black micro-blasted ceramic case measuring 41mm x 10.6mm and with a water resistance of 100m.

Powering it is the automatic Bell & Ross Calibre 302 which beats at 28,800 VPH and has a power reserve of 54 hours.

Coming on a black rubber strap with a PVD stainless steel pin buckle, you also get a second black synthetic fabric strap.

The new BR-03 Gyrocompass is in a limited edition of 999 pieces and has an Australian RRP of $6,700.

[Photo credit: Bell & Ross]

Categories: Bell and Ross, Limited Editions, Watch Profile, watches