Bell & Ross
Pilot Chronograph by Sinn - Boite et papiers d'origine

1994 Bell & Ross vintage pilot’s watch full set — an automatic-winding pilot chronograph produced in the early years of the brand, during the period when Bell & Ross outsourced production of their watch collection to the German military watchmaker Helmut Sinn. This model, following in the footsteps of the Type 21 watches from the 1980s, features a 1990s-style notched and indexed stainless steel rotating bezel and screw-down pushers to ensure improved water resistance. The chronograph includes a calendar function with a date window at three o’clock on the dial.

A specialist in the manufacture of military watches, Sinn produced this aviation chronograph for Bell & Ross based on the design of issued timepieces used by the French Air Force in the 1970s (such as Dodane Type 21 & 22 and Auricoste chronographs). The dial features three totalizers: on the left, a small running seconds counter that only stops when the Hack-watch function (synchronization via the crown) is activated; the other two counters — a 12-hour register at the bottom and a 30-minute register at the top — operate via the central chronograph seconds hand.

The dial is indexed with a 60-minute railway track and luminous hour numerals indicated by raised dots, enhanced with Tritium (noted by the “T Swiss Made T” marking at the bottom of the dial). The rotating bezel is marked minute-by-minute for the first quarter hour, then every five minutes thereafter. The bezel edge is textured for easy handling, even with gloves.

The watch is sold with its original steel bracelet, equipped with a folding clasp and safety lock, and includes all its links. The timepiece is in perfect condition and comes with its original box and documentation. From a collector’s standpoint, this stunning pilot’s watch represents the original DNA of Bell & Ross — a professional-grade timepiece manufactured to strict quality standards. A robust and reliable pilot chronograph, it’s a remarkable acquisition, particularly for collectors interested in military or aviation themes, as the original Sinn-sold model was used by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) in the 1990s, mainly by the crews of the Panavia Tornado strike fighter.