Racing Ahead
As ever, Bell & Ross’ collaboration with Renault F1 Team is an ode to the thrill of motorsport. 2019 sees the fourth year of the partnership, marked by a release of four limited-editions of that most racing of complications, the chronograph.
As with its predecessors, Renault yellow and carbon fibre black are the dominant colours, with red highlights—and, for this year, a hint of green on the running seconds subdials. BR V3-94 R.S.19 (from RM19,000) and BR 03-94 R.S.19 (RM27,100) represent Bell & Ross’ core offerings, limited to 999 units each. The former takes cues from the classically round-cased Vintage collection (though slightly enlarged to 43mm in diameter) while the latter is of the brand’s more iconic aviation instrument-inspired square case, 42mm across. Otherwise, both are similarly styled with carbon fibre dials, and sport a new feature in a bi-directional countdown timing bezel.
The ever-bold BR-X1 (RM91,000) also returns with an R.S.19 edition, limited to 250 pieces. The fully skeletonised dial gives it a raw and stripped-down look, while the square case is wrapped in a functional ceramic bumper that lends a robust aesthetic. Rubber grip elements ensure easier operation while the rocker-style pushers not only look industrially cool, but are also easier to operate—for instance, if the user is wearing driving gloves. New this year is the implementation of a ‘time marker’ bezel function, which can be used to mark a stopped chronograph seconds hand to enable lap time comparisons.
The BR-X1 Tourbillon R.S.19 (RM808,000), limited to just 20 pieces, pushes things into overdrive with the addition of a flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock. This piece a celebration of the beauty of fine engineering, as the precise and intricate components of the hand-wound calibre can be appreciated in the same way an a supremely performing F1 engine might be.
