A true instrument-watch with a second time-zone function, the Bell & Ross BR-03 GMT Compass can also indicate direction thanks to its two-tone bezel and compass-style graduated dial.
Essential to navigation—at sea, on land, and in the air—the compass remains a key feature of modern dashboards, making it a natural addition to a collection inspired by cockpit instruments.
The 42 mm x 12.3 mm case is crafted from stainless steel, alternating satin-finished and polished surfaces.
The four screws at the corners recall aircraft cockpit instruments, a signature detail of the BR‑03 line. Water resistance reaches 100 metres / 330 feet.
The watch features a bi-directional rotating bezel with a 24-hour scale and a two-colour anodised aluminium ring: blue indicates daytime hours, black marks nighttime hours.
Protected by a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, the dial’s compass motif is fully functional.
With its degree scale, it can be used to find direction on a sunny day, combining the compass rose graduation with the 24-hour GMT hand that indicates a second time zone.
The GMT hand is diamond-shaped, evoking a traditional magnetic needle, while the four cardinal points (N, S, E, W) are marked on the flange at the 6, 12, 18, and 24 hour marks.
To determine direction using the Sun:
A. Set the GMT hand to local solar time (not official time).
B. Lay the watch flat, parallel to the ground.
C. Point the GMT hand toward the Sun.
D. Read your direction on the dial’s scale (0°–360°) relative to the cardinal points.
The black hour and minute hands are filled with white Super-LumiNova X1, glowing green in the dark, complemented by a black-and-blue seconds hand and a two-tone red-and-white GMT hand with twin arrows.
Inside, the BR-CAL.303 automatic movement operates at 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and offers a 54-hour power reserve, ensuring reliability and precision.
The BR-03 GMT Compass comes with a black rubber strap and an additional Velcro fastening. Limited to 500 pieces (ref. BR0393-COM-ST/SRB), it has a suggested retail price of €4,900 / US$5,000. bellross.com
