Following in the footsteps of the recently launched BR 03-93 GMT, Bell & Ross has released its latest luminous experiment. Using a now relatively familiar case design and configuration (via the Vintage collection chronograph style seen in the base BR V2-94 design), the new BR V2-94 Full Lum nonetheless presents a novel take on the look with its contrasting, super-luminous style. The watch comes as a follow-up to 2020’s luminous novelties, most notably the BR 03-92 Diver Full Lum and BR03-92 HUD Limited Edition, the former of which, like today’s model, also uses multiple contrasting colors of lume to produce its namesake “Full Lum” look.
While not as significant as the first external-bezel, square-GMT from the brand, it does nonetheless signal Bell & Ross’ continued interest in both uncommon colorway options within its greater catalog and the use of highly luminous, contrasting dials to create these unique colorways. This model joins an already diverse set of watches currently offered within the BR V2-94 Full Lum series and the larger Vintage collection produced by the brand. While stark in its look to the outside viewer, it fits right at home in the context of Bell & Ross’ other creations.
Taking a closer look at its details, we first come to a familiar case silhouette, as seen in other V2-94 chronographs. With a case diameter of 41mm, 100-meter water resistance, tapered lugs, screw-down pushers, and a fixed bezel with an anodized black insert, it feels like a sturdy, diver-adjacent chronograph working to channel a novel take on the classic tool-watch format.
For the straightforward look of the case, it’s once we get underneath the domed, anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal that we see the true star of the watch. With a dial completely painted in luminescent green, even in full light, the surface has a bright, attention-grabbing style. Then, when introduced to low-light conditions, the style really shines, with the black paint starkly contrasting to the bright Super-LumiNova green. Reading the time is a highly legible exercise, accented in small degrees – though most noticeably at the nine o’clock 30-minute chronograph sub-dial – with a contrasting lume color.
As for its other, less luminous details, the configuration of the dial is in line with previous BR V2-94 Full Lum chronographs by the brand, complete with oversized Arabic numerals on the top and bottom of the dial, large sub-dials at the other two quarter-hour positions, a small non-luminous date window at the 4:30 position, and aviation-inspired hands at the center of the face. It might have been interesting for Bell & Ross to add one non-green element, possibly in a red-tipped seconds pointer or something along those lines, but the brand may have decided the style of the look was stark enough and left it be.
As for its movement, Bell & Ross stuck with the standard BR-CAL.301 they have used to great effect in the series (the caliber is based upon the ETA 2894-2 and provides 42-hours of power reserve). Like the mechanism used in the previously released GMT, this automatic chronograph caliber helps provide easily serviceable, no-nonsense mechanical power to the watch, helping keep the focus on the functionality of the highly luminous wearer.