Bell & Ross returns to motorsport by partnering with Defender Rally for Dakar 2026. At the heart of this comeback: the BR-X3 Black Titanium, a tool watch engineered to survive one of the world’s most extreme races, where precision, legibility, and durability are not marketing claims but operational necessities.
For longtime Bell & Ross fans, this move feels less like a departure and more like a homecoming. The brand previously worked with Renault Sport and Alpine’s Formula 1 teams before focusing on its aeronautical roots, supplying France’s air force and elite units. However, rally-raid is a different beast entirely from the controlled environment of circuit racing, and its technical demands closely align with Bell & Ross’s strengths.
| 📌 Key Facts |
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| 🏁 Event: Dakar Rally & World Rally-Raid Championship 🚙 Partner: Defender Rally (Land Rover) ⌚ Watch: BR-X3 Black Titanium ⚙️ Movement: COSC-certified in-house calibre (Kenissi) 🔋 Power Reserve: 70 hours (3-day indicator) 🧱 Case Material: Grade 5 Titanium 📅 Launch: Dakar 2026 💶 Retail Price: €8,400 |
The watch at the heart of this partnership is the BR-X3 Black Titanium, which Defender Rally drivers will wear throughout the championship. Built from Grade 5 titanium, the timepiece houses a COSC-certified in-house movement developed in collaboration with Kenissi. The movement delivers a 70-hour power reserve, which the brand has translated into a three-day date indicator on the dial.
The relevance of this watch for rally-raid extends beyond simply attaching a sturdy case to a reliable movement. Carlos Rosillo, who co-founded Bell & Ross with Bruno Belamich, describes the Dakar Rally as “a symbol of boldness, exploration, and pushing beyond one’s limits—values that lie at the heart of Bell & Ross’s DNA.” Rosillo positions the BR-X3 Black Titanium as embodying “precision, legibility, and robustness in the most extreme conditions,” a claim that sounds like marketing speak until you consider what drivers actually face during the Dakar Rally.
The Saudi desert stages subject vehicles and equipment to brutal temperature swings, constant vibration, and impacts that would destroy lesser instruments. A watch must remain readable when covered in dust, function reliably after hours of bone-jarring terrain, and survive abuse that makes a desk job seem gentle. The BR-X3’s titanium construction keeps weight manageable while providing structural integrity. The emphasis on legibility allows drivers to read the time easily while piloting a rally vehicle at high speeds.
Bruno Belamich, Bell & Ross’s Creative director, draws a parallel between the brand’s signature square-cased watches and the Defender Dakar D7X-R vehicle. “The functional design of our iconic square watch naturally echoes that of the Defender Dakar D7X-R,” Belamich explains. He notes that both “express a bold, uncompromising character defined by strong lines and purposeful forms.“
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The comparison holds up better than you might expect. Bell & Ross has built its reputation on the “circle within a square” design philosophy, with round dials inside square cases inspired by aircraft cockpit instruments. Similarly, the Defender rally vehicle prioritizes function over flourish, with angular bodywork and a purposeful stance. Neither tries to hide its purpose nor soften its appearance for mass appeal.
This functional aesthetic extends to how Bell & Ross approaches watchmaking more broadly. The brand has consistently focused on creating tools for specific professional applications rather than jewelry. Its partnership with Defender Rally continues this trajectory, following previous commitments in aviation, diving, and motorsport.
The BR-X3 Black Titanium retails for 8,400 euros, positioning it firmly in the serious sports watch category without entering stratospheric territory. For context, this price point is below that of many manufacture chronographs but above that of mass-produced alternatives. You’re paying for the Kenissi movement, COSC certification, and Bell & Ross’s specific approach to legibility and case construction.
Whether this represents good value depends largely on how much weight you place on the brand’s design language and rally-raid credentials. Bell & Ross has never competed with traditional haute horlogerie in terms of finishing quality, instead focusing on practical functionality and distinctive aesthetics. The partnership with Defender Rally reinforces this positioning rather than challenging it.