Bell & Ross Takes Flight With High-Performance Timepieces
The French-Swiss watchmaker expands its aviation-inspired universe with three bold new releases, each blending advanced materials, luminous design and mechanical precision.
2 min
Bell & Ross has re-engineered its iconic BR-03 line with the launch of the BR-X3 series, a new generation of professional instrument watches designed for those who live at the edge of performance.
The new models — the BR-X3 Black Titanium, BR-X3 Blue Steel and BR-X3 Night Vision — take the brand’s signature “circle within a square” aesthetic into more experimental territory, merging technical mastery with striking design.
At the heart of the BR-X3 line is the BR-CAL.323 calibre, a self-winding mechanical movement developed by Kenissi for Bell & Ross, offering a 70-hour power reserve and COSC-certified precision.
Each piece is built around a multi-component 41 mm case that uses advanced materials including titanium, steel, carbon fibre, and luminescent resin, with a 5-year warranty across the range.
Three Takes on Flight
The BR-X3 Black Titanium focuses on lightness and strength, combining micro-blasted titanium plates with a perforated rubber strap for comfort.
The BR-X3 Blue Steel channels the colour of the stratosphere, with polished and satin-finished steel, anodised blue aluminium pillars, and a sunray blue dial inspired by space flight.
Completing the trilogy, the BR-X3 Night Vision pushes into nocturnal territory, its LUM-CAMO carbon-fibre case infused with photoluminescent resin for readability in total darkness — a 250-piece limited edition referencing the green glow of aircraft head-up displays.
A Partnership Born in the Skies
Unveiled at the 2025 Paris Air Show, Bell & Ross became the official partner of the Rafale Solo Display, the French Air and Space Force’s official flight demonstration unit.
To mark the collaboration, the brand released the BR-03 Chrono Rafale Solo Display, a 500-piece limited edition that embodies the precision and performance of the fighter jet it honours.
Housed in a 42 mm micro-blasted black ceramic case, the chronograph features the BR-CAL.301 automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve.
Its matte black dial incorporates aviation-inspired details — a yellow dotted line around the date window, orange chronograph hands, and the Rafale Solo Display insignia.
The watch comes on a black rubber or ultra-resilient fabric strap, both built for durability under extreme conditions.
Precision Meets Passion
Since its founding in 1994 by Carlos-A. Rosillo and Bruno Belamich, Bell & Ross has built its identity around precision timekeeping for professionals — from fighter pilots to deep-sea divers.
The BR-X3 and BR-03 Chrono Rafale Solo Display extend that lineage, fusing experimental design with the technical sophistication expected of modern instrument watches.
For collectors and aviation enthusiasts alike, these new releases represent Bell & Ross at its most daring — and most authentic — where mechanical innovation meets the thrill of flight.
A resurgence in high-end travel to Egypt is being driven by museum openings, private river journeys and renewed long-term investment along the Nile.
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A resurgence in high-end travel to Egypt is being driven by museum openings, private river journeys and renewed long-term investment along the Nile.
2 minAbercrombie & Kent says demand for Egypt is rising sharply across its key markets, with the destination now ranking among the company’s top performing regions for 2026.
The luxury travel group reports strong year-on-year growth across the UK, US and Australia, spanning private journeys, small group itineraries and high-end celebration travel.
Some Egypt itineraries in the US market have more than doubled compared with last year, while forward bookings already extend into 2027.
Industry observers point to a renewed confidence in Egypt as a destination, underpinned by significant cultural investment and a growing appetite for deeper, more personalised travel experiences.
One of the main catalysts has been the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, located beside the Giza Plateau.
The museum, the largest in the world dedicated to a single civilisation, brings together the full collection of Tutankhamun’s treasures for the first time and has reignited interest in Cairo as a standalone cultural destination rather than a gateway stop.
Abercrombie & Kent’s Senior Vice President, Egypt, Amr Badr, said: “The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum has been transformative – we’ve seen a significant surge in enquiries since November, and the calibre of traveller is remarkable.
“These are culturally curious guests seeking genuine immersion rather than surface-level touring.
“They’re booking private after-hours access to the museum, arranging consultations with Egyptologists, and approaching Egypt with the same intentionality they’d bring to any major cultural pilgrimage.
“Egypt has always been extraordinary, but 2026 feels like a renaissance moment – the perfect convergence of world-class infrastructure and a new generation discovering why this civilisation has captivated humanity for millennia.”
According to Abercrombie & Kent, British travellers are increasingly pairing museum-led experiences in Cairo with classic Nile journeys, while demand is also rising for private dahabiya charters and bespoke river itineraries.
In Australia, repeat high-spend travellers are returning to Egypt for milestone celebrations, often opting for private touring and exclusive access experiences.
The company is responding with further long-term investment along the Nile. Later this year it will launch Nile Seray, a new luxury riverboat that will feature in a private journey debuting in 2026.
A second vessel has already been commissioned, signalling confidence in sustained demand for high-end river travel in the region.
Egypt occupies a central place in the company’s history. Founder Geoffrey Kent first introduced Nile cruising to the brand in the late 1970s with the SS Memnon, laying the foundations for what has since become one of its most enduring destinations.
Nile Seray is now accepting reservations for departures from October 2026, with four-night voyages priced from USD $3,125 per person.
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