Vive l'aviation! An anniversary edition celebrating a legendary fighter pilots' unit.
This year, the world's oldest military aerobatics demonstration team marks its 70th anniversary: Patrouille de France, officially commissioned in 1953. The unit has been performing on Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jets since 1981.
The pilots' homeland is apparent at first glance: airplanes are painted in the colors of the French flag with smoke generators leaving a tricolor trail of white, blue and red in the sky. Only eight planes fly in formation, with a ninth to fill in.
That's the same number of aircraft on the emblem for Patrouille de France, which decorates the BR 03-92 Patrouille de France 70th Anniversary model. The watch Bell & Ross have dedicated to the anniversary and their partnership with Patrouille de France sports the national colors like the aircraft.
Bell & Ross have got the partnership with the French unit spot-on. On the one hand, they've reminded the world of their French connection. The founders Carlos Rosillo and Bruno Belamich went to school together at Lycée Carnot in Paris. On the other hand, they've further underlined their devotion to aviator style.
While expressing who they are, Bell & Ross haven't neglected the story of Patrouille de France. Taking their signature black square case as the foundation (similar to instruments found in the cockpit), Bell & Ross decorated the caseback with an engraving of five airplanes used by the unit’s past and present pilots.
The Thunderjet which have been part of the unit's fleet since 1953, Ouragan, Mystère IV, Fouga Magister and the most recent Alpha Jet.
The colors of the French flag have determined the palette for the dial. The main tone is blue, which is also used for the date aperture between 4 o'clock and 5 o'clock, while all colors are displayed in the emblem and ring circling the dial.
The theme is carried onto the blue calfskin strap with another made of black synthetic canvas fabric. The novelty may tell us about history, but a modern material has been chosen as the case material: micro-blasted black ceramic. The case size is 42 mm × 10.40 mm. Availability of the anniversary novelty is limited to 999 pieces.