Looking to pick up a GMT watch for my collection and ran across bell and ross. Does anyone have opinions on this brand? Worth the price? Quality builds? Doesnt seem like they have the heavy-weight name as Omega, Tag, and other watches in this price range but I really dig their BR123 designs. Perfect in every way for me.
Suggest you search "Bell and Ross" across these forums. There have been a a few posts about this particular brand.
There is a reason why their dealer network is shrinking and they tend to be on high discount... If they can pivot away from being a made up brand with gimmick square watch faces that mimic airplane instruments they might have a chance. That being said the BR123 from the classic collection is not a bad looking watch, and if you can find one under 2,500, its not a horrible deal. The GMT version would not be bad under $2900, shades of explorer II but a fairly well executed watch at 42mm https://www.bellross.com/our-collections/vintage/br-123/vintage-br-123/br-123-gmt-24h the 126 flyback at about 8K they are smoking crack. I would avoid the instrument and marine collections at all costs, as they went massively out of style about 4 years ago..
Very helpful. Shrinking network hmm. That's concerning. What was the reason for this? Overpriced gimmicks?Yea avoiding the instrument and marine. Not feeling those designs.
Mostly due to the bulk of the line being the square watches that are now out of style. Not a lot of reason to put watches that don't sell in cases.
Not a fan of their square cockpit model but this new blue dial BR126 aeronavale from the brand is quite striking. Priced too high imo and i would much rather getting vintage chronograph for the same money.
I will just add that it's a well built Watch with an ETA movement. Absolutely do not buy one new. Don't expect it to be worth much of you decide to sell it. Lots of better options.
I like what they're doing design-wise. No, they're not a storied brand with the history of Omega or Rolex, but they are quite adept at taking iconic watch types (the sports chrono or the diver, for instance) and putting out a watch with something that is clearly imbued with their own design language. I have their BR V2-92 that they released this year at Basel on my list of diver watches I'd like to acquire:
very helpful responses thank you all. definitely will take the second hand route. too bad of its faux history though. good thing i asked. I would have been fooled easily.
I have a Montblanc Timewalker GMT. I bought new on impulse because I love the pens. My first mechanical watch. It's pre Minerva and worth a third of what I paid for it. ETA movement. Nice watch but Noob tax. Keep shopping!
just went to a AD and tried on some BR "vintage" series watches. Pretty nice stuff and im loving it even more. That GMT is what i need! Too bad about their rep
To be clear...They don't have a "rep" ... They are a new entry level luxury watch line with a faux pedigree. If you love the watch, buy it. My MB still makes me happy when I wear it. It the watch a POS? Hell No!
I think the message to be absorbed here is, if you can be patient, the watch you have your eye on might be had for a fraction of the price on the used market one or two years from now.