With a wide, flight instrument inspired square case paired to a conventional diver dial, the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver has always been something of an unorthodox entry in the luxury dive watch market. For summer 2020, the brand has returned to this adaptation of its signature design for a new variant that turns away from some traditional dive watch cues and embraces the more aggressive night diver aesthetic. The resulting limited edition Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Full Lum creates a more cohesive package than any model in its range before, doubling down on the signature Bell & Ross military aviation-tinged aesthetic while delivering a masculine and usable diver design.
The Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Full Lum’s more unified approach begins with its 42mm black ceramic case. The rounded square shape feels balanced and natural in black, especially as the color helps to minimize some of the watch’s bulk on the wrist. Coupled with a narrow unidirectional ceramic bezel, the full case design looks stealthy and tactical, with the diving elements integrated smoothly into the signature BR 03-92 base. More than just looking the part, however, the Diver Full Lum’s case delivers a solid 300 meters of water resistance. As an added touch, the full diving scale on the bezel is filled with Super-LumiNova to maximize low light legibility.
As the name might suggest, the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Full Lum completely coats the dial in luminous paint. This “night diver” style rarely shows up nowadays but carries associations with several classic designs from the ‘80s, including the iconic TAG Heuer Professional “Night Dive”. Beyond glowing like a torch in low light, this pale green tone helps to reinforce the military instrument feel of the design and set it apart immediately from its more conventional stablemates. However, the clean diver layout of other BR 03-92 Diver models remains here, with its classic mix of applied indices and a set of rather unorthodox black baton hands. While the overall design is rather simple, the attention to detail sets this one apart, with a fine balance of visual weight between dial elements and an all-over lume treatment that extends even to the 4:30 date window.
Like other members of the line, the Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Full Lum is equipped with a Sellita based BR-CAL.302 automatic movement. Performance is a bit under expectations for the price range, with only a 38 hour power reserve and a 28,800 bph beat rate.
Bell & Ross pairs the BR 03-92 Diver Full Lum with an ultra-durable black nylon Velcro strap along with a more streamlines signed strap in black rubber, featuring a dynamic ridged pattern. Although there’s no doubting the fabric strap’s toughness, its rougher appearance might make it a bit too much for daily wear while the rubber offers a cleaner alternative.
With the BR 03-92 Diver Full Lum, Bell & Ross has created perhaps its most cohesive, attractive diver yet, in large part by turning back towards the roots of the brand’s signature style. Only 999 examples of the limited edition Bell & Ross BR 03-92 Diver Full Lum will be made, and are available now through authorized dealers at an MSRP of $4,500. For more information, visit the brand’s website.