Introducing Bell & Ross Unveils the BR-03 Chrono Rafale Solo Display

A new collaboration strengthens the long-standing bond between high-performance watchmaking and elite aviation. Bell & Ross has officially announced its partnership with the Rafale Solo Display, the official flight demonstration program of the French Air and Space Force. 

To celebrate this union, built on shared values of precision and performance, the brand unveils the BR-03 Chrono Rafale Solo Display, a limited-edition chronograph designed as a true instrument for pilots who push the limits of aerial mastery. This timepiece directly reflects the demanding environment of a fighter jet cockpit.

The partnership with the Rafale Solo Display, revealed at the Paris Air Show in 2023, follows earlier collaborations with elite squadrons such as the Patrouille de France. While those previous editions were colorful, patriotic, and celebratory, this new watch takes a different approach. It is less about fanfare and more about a shared philosophy of precision and performance.

The BR-03 case has always been the clearest expression of Bell & Ross’s cockpit-inspired design, its square form framing a perfectly round dial in direct tribute to dashboard flight instruments. For this edition, the 42 mm case is crafted in microblasted black ceramic, a lightweight, scratch-resistant, and robust material. The matte, non-reflective finish produced by the microblasting process is especially crucial for a pilot’s watch, as it minimizes glare under the intense lighting conditions of a cockpit.

The pushers, engraved with “START” and “RESET,” along with the caseback, are made of titanium with a black PVD coating, combining strength with tactical functionality.

The dial of the BR-03 Chrono Rafale Solo Display is a masterclass in legibility. A matte black background provides a high-contrast canvas for clear timekeeping. Large Arabic numerals and bold indices ensure instant readability, further enhanced by Super-LumiNova X1, which emits a vivid green glow for optimal visibility in low-light or nighttime conditions.

Chronograph functions are accented with strategic color coding. Both the central chronograph seconds hand and the 30-minute counter hand are rendered in bright orange, clearly distinguishing them from the main timekeeping hands. The bicompax layout, a 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock and a small-seconds subdial at 3 o’clock, creates a balanced, intuitive display.

Several thoughtful tributes to the Rafale are integrated into the dial. Just above 6 o’clock, a discreet silhouette of the Rafale jet appears, while directly below it sits the official Rafale Solo Display logo. Adding to the cockpit aesthetic, the date window at 6 o’clock is framed by a yellow dotted line, reminiscent of markings found on flight instruments.

At the heart of the watch is the calibre BR-CAL.301, an automatic chronograph movement based on the reliable ETA 2894-2. Beating at 28,800 vph (4 Hz), it offers a power reserve of 42 hours.

Completing the all-black theme, the watch is delivered with two strap options: an open-worked black rubber strap and an ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric strap, both secured with a black PVD-coated pin buckle.

The Bell & Ross BR-03 Chrono Rafale Solo Display is limited to 500 pieces worldwide, priced at CHF 5,800, approximately AED 26,600.

For more information you can visit the official website of Bell & Ross.