Following in the footsteps of the Bell & Ross WW1 Jump Hours Power Reserve watch replica that was presented early this year, the new WW1 Argentium keeps getting smaller and smaller.
Although different alloys of silver are quite popular among jewelers all over the world, serious watchmakers do not seem to be especially fond of the metal. However, the Swiss-based watchmaking brand Bell & Ross has fairly recently updated its WW1 collection with the new Bell & Ross WW1 Argentium model. As the name implies, the watch is crafted using their proprietary “argentium” alloy of silver and some other, unspecified metals.While the first members of the family were presented in deliberately over-sized bodies whole 45 millimeters in diameter, the power reserve version was reduced in size to 42 mm and this model in silver now measures only 41 millimeters.
Although the movement usually serves as a good base for all sorts of decor, this particular specimen was for some reason hidden behind a solid-argentium case back cover. As a sort of compensation, Bell & Ross decided to decorate the cover with a very finely done Barleycorn guilloche motif.
For this model, the Swiss watchmaker used the good old ETA Peseux 7001 caliber: a hand-wound engine, which is extremely popular among independent watchmaking brands that use the ebauche to power their “slim” timekeepers (well, even such 400-pound gorillas as Blancpain and Omega use them as bases for their Caliber 7001 and Caliber 651 respectively, so, as you probably have already started to suspect, the mechanism is quite good). Although its mainspring is not very long, the movement beats at a pretty slow pace of 21,600 vibrations per hour, so it is still good for whole 42 hours: a de facto industry standard for mechanical Bell & Ross WW1 Argentium copy watches in this price range.
See also: NOMOS Glashuette Tangente Alma Mater Special Edition Wempe 100
Photos: Bell & Ross
Bell & Ross WW1 Argentium Hand-Wound watch specification
Price: $5900 (MSRP)
Movement: Manual, ETA Peseux caliber 7001, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 17
Movement frequency: 21,600 vph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Movement decoration: No data
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds
Case material: Argentium alloy
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 41.00 mm
Case height: No data
Lug width: No data
Dial: Silver or Ruthenium
Numerals: Arabic
Hour markers: Applied
Hands: Leaf-shaped
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Grey leather strap with pin buckle in Argentium
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Case back: Solid, engraved with Barleycorn motif
So far, the Bell & Ross WW1 Argentium is presented in two versions: one with a solid silver dial and another with a ruthenium-one (it’s probably ruthenium-plated) with the latter looking like a more interesting choice, since the darker-tinted metal offers a more contrasting background for the leaf-shaped silver hands, as well as applied hour markers and Arabic numerals.
From where I stand, the size seems to be ideal for the watch that, while being sold as a heir to pre-war pilot’s Bell&Ross replica watches that were large and heavy, looks dressy and elegant and more suitable for a business suit rather than for a bomber jacket.