Formula 1 is now an important sport for some watch brands as a marketing medium. The reason is clear: Formula 1, as the pinnacle of motor racing, takes place on five continents, is televised in basically every country in the world, and attracts one of the largest television and streaming audiences in the world (probably right behind soccer); in 2019 1.9 billion total viewers tuned in.
The Bell & Ross BR 03-94 R.S.20
Though the 2020 F1 season is currently on hold (it may begin for a condensed version at the end of May if all goes well), Bell & Ross has already sped to the finish line with its 2020 Renault F1 collection, the fifth that it has introduced since partnering with the Renault Formula 1 team in 2016. Both Bell & Ross and Renault are French and both have strong associations with sport, making for a natural exchange of shared values and high-performance technology and attitude.
The Renault F1 R.S.20
R.S.20 is the name of Renault’s F1 car for this season, so it makes sense for the watchmaker to include it in the name of its watch collection (and gives it some extra pizzazz in my opinion). Elements of the car’s design and technology are also reflected in these race-themed watches.
So without further preamble, let’s have a look at those four new chronographs celebrating Formula 1!
Bell & Ross BRV3-94 R.S.20
Characterized by the brand as its “round tool watch,” the typography found on the dial of the BRV3-94 R.S.20 (as well as the other three) is the same as that used by the Renault F1 team.
Bell & Ross BRV3-94 R.S.20 on the wrist
While the Bell & Ross instrument-style watches are usually quite subtle in their subdued color schemes, the black and yellow colorways of these four chronographs mirror that of the French Formula 1 team too.
As the chronograph is generally the go-to style of watch for enthusiasts of racing, it is natural that all the timepieces in this collection are also chronographs.
Bell & Ross BRV3-94 R.S.20
And among these four new watches, the BRV3-94 R.S.20 is the one meant for those who like their sporty watches a little less noticeable than others. This is achieved by keeping the case in its natural stainless steel color (the other three are housed in black cases) and letting the black, white, and yellow dial accents proclaim the racing inspiration.
While the BRV3-94 R.S.20 is no shrinking violet, it’s relatively tame compared with its stablemates.
For more information, please visit www.bellross.com/our-collections/vintage/br-v3/br-v3-94.
Quick Facts Bell & Ross BRV3-94 R.S.20
Case: 43 mm, stainless steel, tachymeter scale on flange
Movement: automatic Caliber BR-CAL.301 (ETA 2894-2 base), 4 Hz/28,800 vph frequency, 42-hour power reserve
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds; date, flyback chronograph
Limitation: 999 pieces
Price: $4,400/€3,990 on carbon-effect calfskin; $4,700/€4,300 on stainless steel bracelet
Availability: end of April 2020
Bell & Ross BR 03-94 R.S.20
The BR 03 is Bell & Ross’s icon, formed as it is by a circle within a square. And here in a matte, pitch-black ceramic case punctuated with yellow accents, the BR 03-94 takes on a vibrant new style that perfectly coincides with the vivacity of the racetrack.
Bell & Ross BR 03-94 R.S.20 on the wrist (photo courtesy Miguel Seabra)
The dial carries this sense of racing spirit with black as the main background color – like the car – with splashes of white and yellow. The hour and minute hands are white with Super-LumiNova, while the chronograph hands (sweep chronograph seconds and 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock) stand out in the line’s characteristic bright yellow. A tachymeter scale for calculating speed runs around the periphery of the dial.
Bell & Ross BR 03-94 R.S.20 (photo courtesy Miguel Seabra)
The ultra-sporty look of this chronograph is topped off by a perforated black rubber strap reinforced with resilient black synthetic textile.
For more information, please visit www.bellross.com/our-collections/Instruments/BR-03-94-RS20.
Quick Facts Bell & Ross BR 03-94 R.S.20
Case: 42 x 42 mm, black ceramic
Movement: automatic Caliber BR-CAL.301 (ETA 2894-2 base), 4 Hz/28,800 vph frequency, 42-hour power reserve
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds; date, flyback chronograph
Limitation: 999 pieces
Price: $6,900/€5,990
Bell & Ross BR-X1 R.S.20
Housed within a variation of the BR 03-94 featuring a circle within a square, Bell & Ross describes the case of the BR-X1 R.S.20 as a sophisticated experimental version. It is crafted in a multi-material structure comprising black PVD-coated titanium, ceramic, and rubber – materials that are also predominately used in Formula 1 cars.
Bell & Ross BR-X1 R.S.20
The main focus of this timepiece, though, is the skeletonized look of the dial revealing the inner workings of the chronograph movement from the front, including the unique X-shaped bridge of the modified movement.
Bell & Ross BR-X1 R.S.20
The shape of the funky, interesting, flat yellow pushers for the chronograph functions – also made of dual materials – is reminiscent of the paddle shifters found on the steering wheel of an F1 car.
For more information, please visit www.bellross.com/our-collections/Experimental/BR-X1-RS20.
Quick Facts Bell & Ross BR-X1 R.S.20
Case: 45 mm, PVD-coated titanium, ceramic, and rubber
Movement: automatic Caliber BR-CAL.313 (ETA 2894-2 base), 4 Hz/28,800 vph frequency, 42-hour power reserve
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds; date, chronograph
Limitation: 250 pieces
Price: $21,500/€19,900
Bell & Ross BR-X1 Tourbillon R.S.20
Titanium, in prevalent use in Formula 1 automobiles, also finds quite a bit of use in the R.S.20 collection by Bell & Ross – and even in the line’s haute horlogerie piece: the BR-X1 Tourbillon.
Bell & Ross BR-X1 Tourbillon R.S.20
The manually wound movement of the BR-X1 Tourbillon R.S.20 is a real delicacy with its one-minute flying tourbillon, 100-hour power reserve, and one-button column-wheel-controlled chronograph. A gorgeous touch to the skeletonized movement is the ampersand-shaped tourbillon cage incorporating Bell & Ross’s trademark logo.
While it’s hard to take one’s eye off that tourbillon cage, the cool power reserve indicator between 8 and 9 o’clock, which looks to my eyes like a gas tank display, still captures some of the attention and adds to the racetrack-inspired feel.
Bell & Ross BR-X1 Tourbillon R.S.20
The skeletonized dial with its black-and-yellow color scheme tops off the powerful look of this technical tour de force, while the column-wheel chronograph is operated by a single rocker-style button on the side of the case.
For more information, please visit www.bellross.com/our-collections/Experimental/BR-X1-TOURBILLON-RS20.
Quick Facts Bell & Ross BR-X1 Tourbillon R.S.20
Case: 45 mm, titanium and ceramic with rubber inserts
Movement: manually wound Caliber BR-Cal.283 with one-minute flying tourbillon (MHC base) and four-day power reserve, 3 Hz/21,600 vph frequency,
Functions: hours, minutes; power reserve indication, monopusher chronograph
Limitation: 5 pieces
Price: $194,000/€169,000
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