Bellytanker is a surprising name for a watch. A bellytanker was originally an emergency drop tank fitted in the belly of fighter planes to allow them to carry additional fuel for long-range missions. The Bellytanker thus became the name of a type of hot rods, that was built inside an aircraft fuel drop tank. These hot rods were used for salt-flats racing and speed record attempts during the years following World War II. Bell&Ross developed its own bellytanker hot rod in recent years. Bell&Ross is however mostly known for its "time instrument of the cockpit to the wrist" square-case watches. The company however released some elegant "classic" two-sub-dial chronographs these recent years. The BR V2-94 Bellytanker Chronograph takes this retro-inspired look developed by Bell&Ross. This is a two-sub-dial chronograph, that I like to call a owl-chronograph.

The watch has a stunning bicolor dial. The dial background is black, which contrasts well with the two gold-color sub-dials. The applied indices and baton main hands are also gold-color. The main watch dial centralised the hour and minute hands as well as the chronograph second hand. The chronograph 30-minute sub-dial is located at the 9 o'clock, whereas the second sub-dial is located at 3 o'clock. The watch feature a discrete date window at 4:30. This window is round and the date is written in gold-color on a black background. The outer circular minute scale is also in gold color.

The 100 M written in red color on the dial is a nice touch and give to it a sporty look. This effect provided by red writing on black dial has been used in some Rolex Submariner and Sea-dweller models. The bezel has a tachymeter black aluminum insert, with printed gold-color numbers.

The case is 41 mm diameter. It is make in Bronze, but it will not age because it has apparently been coated with a specific thin layer preventing oxidation. The watch has screw-down pushers and crown. The dial is covered by a domed sapphire crystal. The watch movement can be seen through the transparent sapphire caseback. "Bellytanker", "Limited edition" and a car logo are drawn on the back sapphire crystal. The watch is powered by a calibre BR-CAL.301, based on ETA 2894-2. This movement has a 42-hour power reserve.

The watch is powered by a calibre BR-CAL.301, based on ETA 2894-2. This movement has a 42-hour power reserve. The watch comes with a black calf leather strap with a bronze butterfly clasp.

This watch has caught my attention. I have to say I am a big fan of the owl-chronograph design. I first thought it was a two-tone chronograph but it is not. The case is bronze only, no steel. I like the contrast of the back dial with the gold-color sub-dials. The watch is currently sold at 4900 euro at retail. The watch is thus in direct competition with the Tudor Black Bay Chronograph Steel & Gold, that also adopts the black-gold color owl-chronograph design. The Bell&Ross chronograph is powered by an ETA caliber, whereas the Tudor one is powered by an in-house movement, so the competition will be tough. I rescently saw the Tudor Black-Gold Chronograph. There are some main difference in the esthetcs of the watches. The sub-dials look larger in the Beel&Ross model and the watch looks shinnier. Let's say the Bellytanker looks more elegant, whereas the Tudor Steel & Gold chronograph looks more rough. To conlude the Black-Gold Bellytanker Chronograph Limited Edition is great release from Bell&Ross. If you are lucky enough to find one in your autorised dealer, I suggest to not hesitate too long.