The mythical endurance car race the Dakar Rally, once known as the Paris-Dakar, kicks off on January 3rd for the 2026 event which is taking place in the sands of Saudi Arabia this year. Bell & Ross is riding along in the event celebrated for its tough terrain. Known for its watches designed for extreme conditions, the house is the official timekeeper for the Defender Rally team which will be participating in Dakar 2026, the first round of the World Rally-Raid Championship. The Dakar Rally is regarded as the ultimate testing ground for precision, robustness and legibility in terms of timekeeping. 
The house will be equipping the team with the BR-X3 Black Titanium timepiece.

The BR-X3 Black Titanium watch from Bell & Ross will accompany the Defender Rally team during the Dakar 2026. Photos courtesy Bell & Ross. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

« The BR-X3 Black Titanium, with its iconic ‘circle within a square’ design, perfectly embodies this philosophy: precision, legibility and robustness in the most extreme conditions. We are proud to partner with Defender Rally, a team that shares our passion for adventure and our commitment to performance, and to see our watches accompany the drivers throughout this iconic race. » said Carlos Rosillo, Co-founder & CEO of Bell & Ross. The BR-X3 Black Titanium is a fusion of innovation, robustness and precision. Its grade 2 titanium construction, COSC-certified manufacture movement and optimal legibility make it an instrument suited to the challenges of the Dakar Rally, where every second counts and conditions push both human and machine to their limits, particularly here in the Saudi desert. 

The house of Bell & Ross all began back in 1994 when two friends Carlos-A. Rosillo and Bruno Belamich began to turn their passion for watchmaking and aviation into precision timekeeping instruments.  With a Franco-Swiss heritage, Bell & Ross quickly became a reference in the field of professional aviation watches, catering to extreme professionals as well as individuals seeking functional and distinctive watches. The watchmaking company is present in over 80 countries through an international network of 600 retailers and 25 exclusive boutiques. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette. https://www.bellross.com/eu/en-gb/store