Bell & Ross Rafale Khanjar Watch BR 03-94

French watchmaker Bell & Ross merges reliable functionality with classic minimalist design, creating timepieces that are as striking as they are rugged. Whether they’re donning the sleek, mysterious Bell & Ross Phantom — the design of which is inspired by stealth bombers — or the pragmatic BRV192 Military, wearers of Bell & Ross watches know they’ve got a trusted asset strapped to their wrists that also just happens to hold great visual appeal.

Bell & Ross began in 1992 as a university project between two good friends Bruno Belamich and Carlos A. Rosillo. The brand derives its moniker from the first few letters of each of their last names. They drew inspiration directly from aviation and military specs, as these two fields demand the highest level of performance from all tools that they employ. The duo wanted to create a timepiece that stood out in terms of appearance, but it also had to withstand extremes of temperature, impact and pressure. They also desired for their brand to be the one that military, aeronautic and diving experts preferred.

Belamich and Rosillo’s university project quickly morphed into a full-blown company. Today Bell & Ross consults expert divers, aviators and even bomb-disposal professionals to aid in their design. Once a schematic is complete, master watchmakers build the prototype at the production facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds and models that fit the bill are pushed on to production. Although Bell & Ross is largely known for its robust aviation and quartz dive watches in black coated steel and that feature durable alligator skin straps — the Hydromax model won the world record for water resistance in the late 1990s — the brand has created numerous styles to meet a range of needs for the everyday wearer.

Find Bell & Ross watches on 1stDibs.