Bell and Ross Aviation BRS92-BL-ST

Bell & Ross has updated its classic square shaped aesthetic for its new release watches, the BR 03-92 Horograph and BR 03-92 Horolum, unveiled in the run up to this year’s Baselworld. The pieces are an evolution of the brand’s style, with Bell & Ross claiming inspiration for the Horograph from the artistic works produced at the famed German art school, Bauhaus—simple, modern and functionalist.

Fifty Fathoms, Submariner and Seamaster are names that need little introduction. The first, the famous and the fruitful, this trio has ruled the roost since they appeared on (and started) the scene, sparking an industry that still commands a loyal and almost religious following. That industry is of course diving, and since Jacques-Yves Cousteau's genius idea of packing air in a can and taking it underwater (without it fizzing out all in one go like a rocket) it has become one of the fastest growing sports of the century. But, like our mothers told us, its time to share; time to let someone else have a turn. So here we have the alternatives, the new kids on the deck, to see whether they have feet big enough to fill the well-worn boots of their ancestors.

As mankind has explored increasingly extreme environments, horology has always strived to keep pace. From climbing Everest to diving deep into the Marianas Trench, watchmakers have had to find ingenious new ways to construct timepieces that will endure unforgiving conditions - and space travel is no exception. Ever since Yuri Gagarin slipped the surly bonds of Earth on 12 April 1961, watches have accompanied cosmonauts and astronauts into space, made by such illustrious brands as Tag Heuer, Rolex and Omega, to name a few.

Watches and motorsport have fitted together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle since the very beginnings of the sport. There are several famous watch and race car partnerships - and Bell & Ross has now become a member of the ranks.