WW1 GUYNEMER TRIBUTE TO FLYING ACE
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VINTAGE COLLECTION
WW1 GUYNEMER
TRIBUTE TO FLYING ACE
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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VINTAGE COLLECTION
From its origins, Bell & Ross has been passionate about the history of aviation and its heroes.
Loyal to its values, the firm is commemorating the Centenary of the Great War by paying
tribute to a legendary pilot: Georges Guynemer.
Directly inspired by the first wristwatches worn aboard aircraft at that time, the Vintage WW1
celebrates a top gun of early aviation.
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VINTAGE COLLECTION
GUYNEMER – PILOT, PIONEER AND KNIGHT OF THE SKY
In 1914, at the outbreak of the First World War, aviation was in its was awarded the Legion of Honor on his 21st birthday. His talent and
infancy. The first attempt at take-off was in 1890 with Clément Ader skill allowed him to influence the design of combat aircrafts built for
and the first real flight dated back to only 1903 with the Wright the army, including the SPAD, which became a formidable plane thanks
brothers. Louis Blériot may have crossed the channel in 1909, but to his contributions. He took part in the battles of Verdun and the
when the balloon went up in Europe, flying remained a feat reserved Somme and was injured several times. He took to the air on September
for a handful of pioneers. Georges Guynemer was among them. 17, 1917, at the head of the Cigognes squadron, having been promoted
to captain, with a total of 53 confirmed and 35 probable victories. It
Born in 1894 with a weak constitution, he was declared unfit when he was to be his last flight. He was aged just 22. Legendary hero, fallen
asked to enlist in the army. He made his first entry into the nascent at the height of his glory after three years of incessant combat. It
air force as a trainee mechanic. Having become passionate about was with this ultimate citation that the French Air Force would induct
flying, he qualified as a military pilot in April 1915. Assigned to the Georges Guynemer into the pantheon of flying aces…
«Cigognes» (stork) squadron, he made a name for himself at the
controls of a Morane-Saulnier Type L, which he christened “Vieux The École de l’Air, created in 1935, adopted Georges Guynemer’s own
Charles”. motto «Faire Face» (Overcoming). His example continues to inspire
trainee pilots today, through a quotation engraved on a plaque on the
Fighter Group 12’s N3 squadron, which was formed in Reims in edge of the runway at Air Base 701 in Salon-de-Provence:
1912, adopted the stork as its emblem when the unit was assigned
to Alsace at the outbreak of hostilities, the bird being very common “Until you have given everything, you have given nothing”
it that region. Some pilots even told of having been followed in flight
by storks, to which they swore an unbreakable bond. Captain Guynemer
Initially assigned to simple observation tasks, Georges Guynemer
became a fighter pilot in his own right by shooting down his first
enemy aircraft on July 19, 1915. Now flying a more powerful Nieuport
10, he soon established himself as one of the best French aviators and
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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VINTAGE COLLECTION
WW1 COLLECTION: THE PRESENT INSPIRED BY TIMES PAST
In 2011, Bell & Ross chose to pay tribute to the pocket watches worn respected this history lesson by following the PW1 with its WW1
on the battlefield during the 1914-1918 War. With its imposing 49mm models.
diameter and elegant polished case, the Pocket Watch 1 encapsulated
the style of timepieces from the period. With its soldered wire handles and large open dial, reducing the
bezel to its simplest form, the WW1 (Wrist Watch 1) has asserted
Pocket watches were gradually replaced by wristwatches aboard its place as the direct descendant of the first wristwatches worn by
aircrafts, so that pilots could read the time more easily. Bell & Ross pilots in the 1910s.
A WATCH THAT GUYNEMER COULD HAVE WORN
In creating the Vintage WW1 Guynemer, Bell & Ross authentically While the second hand contains a blue color according to watchmaking
transcribes the finish and spirit of watches of the period. tradition, the domes crystal evoking antique watches has been cut
using modern techniques from hard-wearing sapphire.
A case with a distressed «gunmetal grey» steel finish; opaline dial;
sand-colored numerals and hands as on antique dials; wire handles; A mechanical movement with automatic winding operates this watch,
narrow, natural leather bracelet with the patina of time and over-size produced in a limited edition of 500 pieces.
grooved crown (a souvenir of the time when aviation pioneers had to
handle their watches wearing thick flying gloves) all give the Vintage
WW1 Guynemer a truly authentic look.
Its retro look is perfectly in keeping with the character of this watch,
lent additional bathos by the silhouette of a stork at 6 o’clock. As well
as this emblem, which pilots considered a good-luck charm, a portrait
of Georges Guynemer is engraved on the rear of the case. The figures
on the dial also pay tribute to him since their design matches the “2”
appearing on the legendary pilot’s planes.
PW1 WW1
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VINTAGE COLLECTION
THE LONG FLIGHT OF THE STORKS
In 1916, his squadron commander told Georges Guynemer that he With the Vintage WW1 Guynemer, Bell & Ross
was «the most brilliant of his storks». This was a great complement, pays a spirited tribute to an exceptional man,
since the unit – which had displayed the silhouette of the bird on the
as well as to all the Cigognes squadron pilots
side of its planes since 1914 – had already secured its place in legend
through the courage and exploits of its pilots.
who covered themselves in glory.
When the armistice came on November 11, 1918, the squadron, now By unveiling this watch on the Centenary of
officially known as SPA 3, had become one of the most famous in the Great War, Bell & Ross also intends to
all French military aviation for its 178 confirmed victories (and 204 honor all pioneers of aviation.
probable).
The Cigognes squadron returned to do battle in the sky in 1940,
when its pilots made up the 329th Squadron of the Royal Air Force.
Equipped with Spitfires, then P47 Thunderbolts, the 1/2 Cigognes
fighter squadron was formed in 1945 and deployed a year later in
Indochina. Now flying from 116 Air Base in Luxeuil-Saint Sauveur
and equipped with Mirage 2000-5Fs, the unit celebrated its 100th
anniversary in 2012 with an event sponsored by Bell & Ross.
In 2014, the stork, which accompanied Georges Guynemer during
his daring exploits, adorns the dial of the watch dedicated to this
knight of the skies…
© ANTHONY JEULAND / SIRPA AIR
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VINTAGE COLLECTION
WW1 GUYNEMER
WW1 GUYNEMER CASEBACK
Technical Specifications
Movement: self-winding mechanical Crystal: anti-reflective domed sapphire.
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds. Water resistance: 50 meters.
Case: 45 mm diameter. Shot-peened steel with grey PVD finish. Strap: natural calfskin.
Dial: opaline. Index and numerals with beige superluminova. Clasp: Buckle tongue. Shot-peened steel with grey PVD* finish.
Skeletonised blued hours and minutes hands filled with
superluminova. Blued seconds hand.
*PVD: Physical Vapor Deposition
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Italy: +39 02 2900 8307 Portugal: +351 21 724 93 00 · Spain: +34 696 088 977 · UK: +44 20 7331 1421 · USA: +1 203 604 6840
For all other International enquiries, please contact Bell & Ross Paris headquarters: +33 1 73 73 93 00 or website: www.bellross.com
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