Bell & Ross Vintage PW1 & WW1 – Leaving a Piece of Time in the Present
Get steampunk cool with Bell & Ross vintage PW1 & vintage WW1. Reflecting an archaic design reverent to the military motif of the 1920s and earlier, the PW1 is a pocket watch brimming with 19th century steel conglomerate chic (all you need is a monocle to complete the look) while the WW1 is its wristwatch equivalent. Bell & Ross has always paid homage to military watches of yore, this latest collection sees them going even further back into the past for a series that reflects the brand’s DNA while still in line with modern sensibilities.
The PW1, abbreviated from Pocket Watch 1, is made for chronograph purists. Staying so true to its historical context that the pocket watch utilises manual winding. On the other hand, the Vintage WW1, shorthand for Wrist Watch 1, was designed after wristwatches that were first worn for practical use by French soldiers during the first World War before then being tested by pilots later on after its technical reliability was given approved. It served as the missing link between pocket watches and modern wristwatches.
The PW1 & WW1 collection comes in three designs;
The Vintage PW1
The large PW1 fob watch is attached to a long chain. Its immaculate finish and “barleycorn” guilloché caseback enhance its allure. This collector’s item is intended only for true purists who will appreciate its manual winding movement.
The Vintage WW1
Unique to the Vintage WW1 line, the horns replicate original wire handles that were soldered to the case which, when combined with the elegance of the straps, evoke the design of the first wrist watches, yet are ergonomically adapted for the comfort demanded by today’s men. Available in three movements: a version with power reserve indicator (WW1 – 97), a large date version (WW1 – 96) and a version with large date and power reserve indicator (WW1 – 90). Each model comes with an alligator strap and steel pin buckle that sets off their timeless elegance.
In its authentic Military version, the WW-92 features a matte grey steel case and a distressed strap. With its black case, the WW1 – 92 Heritage model reinterprets the styles of the past- the sand-coloured index markings convey the effects of age and the leather strap acquires a patina over time. Both models have an hours, minutes and seconds movement.
The hour, minute and second graduations have been separated to promote readability and emphasise the minutes on the large face. This reading is inspired by the so-called navigation or observation watches used by military pilots to calculate their direction or speed. The fluorescent triangle at 12 o’clock enabled the pilots to instantly get their bearings, even in the dark.
The Vintage PW1 and Vintage WW1 are available at all Bell & Ross retailers. Find more info on their watches here.