If you think of Bell Ross as a maker of primarily oversized, square-cased, aviation-oriented watches, youre not alone. However, Bell Ross are also the producers of a growing collection of heritage-inspired aviation pieces which they call their Vintage Collection. Now, Bell Ross have further expanded the 38.5mm BR V range of the Vintage Collection with the new Bell Ross V1-92, an aviation-inspired sport watch with a domed sapphire crystal and BRs Cal.302 automatic mechanical movement.Clearly drawing design cues from aviation instruments and timepieces of the past, the V1-92s dial is glossy black with faux vintage colored Super-LumiNova coated baton hour markers, a minute scale and sub divisions printed in white, as well as white printed minute markers instead of hour markers at five-minute increments. The election to go with prominent minute markers as opposed to hour markers demonstrates BRs dedication to the vintage flyer feel of the piece as well as a nod to historical pilots watches from IWC and Laco. The twelve oclock indicator, a triangle and two dots, is also borrowed from classic pilots watches. A white on black date wheel is visible through a window neatly tucked into the 4:30 position-though its partly cutting off some of the numbers. Sword-style hands, also coated in the vintage-looking Super-LumiNova, are again reminiscent of WWII era pilots watches from makers much older than Bell Ross. At six oclock we find a red circle with M T (to stand for Military Type) printed within to mimic the red colored 3H (which referred to tritium or Hydrogen-3 as a lume source) markings found on older German military watches like those made by Heuer and issued to the German Air Force. A thick, domed, anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal protects the dial and adds some vertical heft to the otherwise diminutive case.Like the rest of the V1 watches in the Vintage Collection, the Bell Ross V1-92 features a very straightforward, brushed stainless steel case in a traditional round shape like those seen on many vintage military watches. A 38.5mm case width keeps things feeling vintage and the modest size should allow for comfortable wear on wrists of many sizes. Ironically, many of the watches the Bell Ross V1-92 seems to draw inspiration from were giant (as large as 55mm) having been designed to be worn over a pilots thick jacket. Bell Ross clearly understand that the modern market has a place for those who appreciate vintage styling with a more wearable presence. The new Bell Ross V1-92 Military also shares its movement with the rest of the V1 series.Bell Ross Cal. 302 is based on the Sellita SW300, a 25-jewel, 38-hour power reserve, automatic mechanical, time-and-date caliber which hums along at a standard 28,800bph. Sellitas SW300, while not as similar as the SW200 and ETA 2824, exists as an alternative to the ETA 2892. While it isnt a ground-breaking piece of haute horology, the Sellita based Cal. 302 should provide years of faithful and accurate service and make for easy servicing when the time comes. A new dial for the existing V1 series, the Bell Ross V1-92 adds yet another popular pilots configuration to the expanding lineup and is the only 38.5mm model with faux vintage colored Super-LumiNova, if thats what youre into. The Bell Ross V1-92 Military is also not outrageously priced at $1,990 USD on a very much aviation-inspired vintage looking brown leather strap. bellross.com [...]