Bell&Ross: BR-X3 Night Vision

With the BR-X3 Night Vision, Bell & Ross writes the second chapter of the X3 saga, propelling the iconic BR-03 into an even more contemporary and experimental dimension. Inspired by the head-up displays of next-generation military aircraft, this timepiece brings the legibility and efficiency of professional flight instruments to the wrist, merging technology, design, and functionality into a single language. Its architecture—both sophisticated and technical—is engineered to ensure maximum durability and readability in any condition, thanks to the use of cutting-edge materials and innovative construction solutions.

Sophisticated and technical, the 41 mm case of the new BR-X3 line features a multi-component, multi-material “sandwich” construction. This design ensures maximum robustness. The two main plates on the BR-X3 Night Vision, are crafted in LUM-CAMO, an high-tech composite combining carbon fiber with a blend of SLN resin. The plates are fastened with four through-screws housed in protective cylinders. For this special edition, the cylinders are made of green rubber, also photoluminescent, enhancing the watch’s visual properties in darkness far beyond the display of time. The middle case, set between the two plates, is in titanium coated with black PVD. 

Thanks to its design and the presence of green Super-LumiNova, the BR-X3 stands out as a true nocturnal professional instrument. The choice of green is no coincidence: it directly references aeronautical head-up display systems (HUD), also known in the world of fighter pilots as the “Collimateur Tête Haute” (CTH). The BR-X3 fully embraces the philosophy of Bell & Ross professional instrument watches, with a clear affinity with for the world of aviation. The distinctive dial of the BR-X3 Night Vision is enriched by a X-shaped construction with green highlights. Multi-layered, it is skeletonized with the movement visible through a smoked glass. 

Applied to the tinted glass, the photoluminescent green-highlighted cutout pattern is topped with a green-tinted sapphire crystal. The open worked dial gives the watch a highly technical look while showcasing the manufacture automatic movement. On the case back, a green-tinted sapphire crystal reveals the calibre, with its specifically decorated oscillating weight. Notably, the cutout edges—including the 70-hour power reserve indicator and the large date window—are also outlined in green Super-LumiNova. This photoluminescent material is also applied to the numerals, indexes, and hands. Beyond its exceptional nighttime legibility, the dial offers a bold, graphic interpretation of luminescence. A visual signature of the BR-X3, the whole design immerses us into the heart of a cockpit or the darkness of an aerospace control centre. 

Like all the instrument watches in the BR-X3 collection, the BR-X3 Night Vision houses the BR-CAL.323 calibre within its 41 mm multi-material case. This self-winding mechanical movement was specially developed by manufacture Kenissi for Bell & Ross. Its 70-hour power reserve movement is certified by the ultimate authority in precision: the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). 

With the BR-X3 Night Vision, Bell & Ross completes a trilogy of avant-garde instruments that brings the concept of the professional tool watch to its peak, following the BR-X3 Black Titanium and BR-X3 Blue Steel editions. While the former drew inspiration from the stealth lines of military aircraft and the latter evoked the aesthetics of space missions, the Night Vision introduces a new dimension: that of night flight. Embodying the experimental spirit that defines the Maison, the “X” code reaches its ultimate expression within the BR-03 line, where functionality, innovation, and design achieve perfect harmony.
Released in a limited edition of 250 pieces, the BR-X3 Night Vision is priced at €13,900.