The traits might have matched but the partnership wouldn’t have gotten off the ground if BAPE didn’t have a clear idea of what they wanted. “We like to work with people who know what they are doing, whether it’s a fighter pilot, a deep-sea diver or a race-car driver. When BAPE first approached us, they had a strong idea of what they wanted. It wasn’t as if they just came in and asked us to draw a nice watch.”

They came up with two versions of the iconic square-shaped BR03-92 watches. Both boast a 42mm black matte ceramic case and a two-section dial with the upper section featuring cutouts for the numerals and indices. The lower section is coated with Superluminova that lights up the time display in the dark.

Check out: Bell & Ross' BR03-92 Diver, the first square-shaped dive watch

The first version is the 25th Anniversary edition with a black dial and green luminescence. It's paired with a black leather strap adorned with BAPE’s trademark grey camouflage. Limited to 25 pieces, BAPE’s ape logo can be found on the dial and on the strap.

A second version, the Green Camo, features a striking green camouflage dial for a distinctive contrast against the white numerals and indices. This is limited to 100 pieces.

Also see: Another fantastic watch collaboration, this time between Richard Mille and Sylvester Stallone

The fact that both partners have very strong identities of their own made the collaboration a really interesting one. “We inspired each other and we pushed each other out of our comfort zones. I think we pushed them more. At one stage, we even wanted the watch to be in full camouflage. My thinking is always that if we stick too much to what we know, it would become boring. So it's good to work with new people with new ideas.”

Having said that, it's generally no easy task trying to strike a balance that doesn’t dilute either one’s spirit. “At Bell & Ross, we know who we are and we like to have fun. That is the balance that we've always strived for. With a collaboration, it’s also a question of balance - balance between internal and external point of view, balance between modernity and tradition, between trendy and classic, between business and image – and all the while not compromising on who you are.”

Rosillo particularly enjoys the fact that the watches have caught the attention of a much younger audience, including his two sons aged 10 and 12. "It immediately struck a chord with them. They were not happy that I didn't reserve any pieces for them!" he quips.

Will we see more lifestyle collaborations like this from Bell & Ross? “If the project is interesting enough, why not? We love to work with brands that aren't afraid to show who they are,” enthuses Rosillo. “While we have a strong in-house creative team, links like this can lead to something really cool.”

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