Bell & Ross Unveil the PW1 Répétition Minutes Pocket Watch

By Valerie Jack | February 13, 2013

Luxury watchmakers Bell & Ross have unveiled the PW1 Répétition Minutes pocket watch. Inspired by the pocket watches of the 1910s, the PW1 is a compact, portable time piece much like those used by pilots during the first years of aviation.

This fob watch begins with a 49mm-diameter polished Argentium case attached to a long chain, with a “barleycorn” guilloché caseback which opens to reveal the ingenious Répétition Minutes mechanism at its heart. The manual-winding movement, created by Dubois Dépraz, has a running time of approximately 56 hours. In a nod to its historical inspiration, the PW1 Répétition Minutes marks time like the clocks of the past – the hour is not read, but heard. The large complication mechanism indicates the hours and minutes musically on request. A low-pitched sound is emitted for each hour, followed by a series of double low-pitched and high-pitched sounds for each five minute period that has passed. The ruthenium dial features a sunburst with domed finish, as well as indications for hours, minutes and seconds.