Bell &Ross – BR RS17 Renault Sport Formula One Edition
THREE CHRONOGRAPHS
IN POLE POSITION
Since its foundation in 1994, Bell & Ross has helped fighter pilots keep time. Over the years, the brand has become a leading benchmark in the world of aviation. In February 2016, in its permanent quest for new universes to explore, Bell & Ross made its first foray into the racetracks by joining the highly exclusive world of Formula 1 and becoming the official watch partner of the Renault Sport Formula One Team.
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The prestigious world of motor sport shares many similarities with aviation,
Bell & Ross’ first love. In both fields, engineers seek extreme performance, speed and mechanical accuracy. The collaboration with the
French F1 team led to a first collection of watches named
BR X1 RS16, in reference to the car unveiled that year. In
2017,
Bell & Ross is
strengthening its partnership by releasing a series of three new
high-performance watches inspired by the steering wheel of the new
Renault RS 17 F1 car:
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- BR 03-94 RS17
- BR X1 RS17 Skeleton Chronograph
- BR X1 RS17 Tourbillon Chronograph
The design and color codes of these high-tech timepieces allow the time to be read quickly and accurately. The principle evokes that of an
F1 steering wheel, on which each piece of information is paired with a different color. This enables the driver to recognize them instantly, without any risk of error. The materials used – Carbone Forgé®, titanium or ceramic – are identical to those used in
Grand-Prix racing cars.
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CHRONOGRAPHS DESIGNED
LIKE AN F1 ENGINE
Designed for racing drivers, the new
Bell & Ross BR-RS17 collection is made up of truly exceptional watches. Their design, inspired by
Formula 1, brings together the latest technological advances and the most innovative materials used in the racing world. These quintessential sports timepieces also take the lead in terms of legibility and finishes.
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This series includes only chronograph models. This complication was invented to measure short periods of time and is considered the most important one in the race world, since it enables the performance of the vehicles on the track to be measured with great accuracy, turning these timepieces into indispensable tools for drivers and timekeepers. They have long since become a key instrument in cockpits, circuits and paddocks.
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Their mechanism is complex. It often requires a third more components than a conventional watch caliber. Highly sophisticated, their movements are similar to those of high-powered engines, the gems of technology that propel racing cars to incredible speeds.
FROM THE WHEEL TO THE WRIST
The new
Bell & Ross BR-RS17 collection features a wide range of color shades. These vivid hues are found on the steering wheel of the
Renault F1 single-seater. For example, the flange on the two
BR X1 chronographs features the same shimmering tones as the dial wheel at the center of the
F1 RS17 steering wheel. These complementary primary colors, rarely used in high-end watches, allow functions to be identified and prioritized. The time, chronograph, date, seconds and power reserve (where applicable) have each their own color. This ensures the display is exceptionally clear and easy to decipher, and read reliably at a glance.
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On the three watches, the elements relating to the chronograph complication are partially coated in “
Renault” yellow. Ever since the French constructor entered
F1 in
1977, its single-seaters have sported this shade.
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TAKEN
TO THE EXTREME
Aviation and motor racing have many points in common: both rely on innovative materials, just as the latest Bell & Ross’ collection. The case of the
BR X1 is made of Carbone Forgé® and the dial of the
BR 03-94 is crafted of carbon fiber, both of the models being inspired on the steering wheel of the
Renault F1 RS17. This lightweight and highly resilient composite material is used in aircraft fuselages and in bodies of racing cars. It is perfectly suited for the structural components subject to extreme mechanical stress.
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The engineers at
Bell & Ross have reworked this material in order to meet the quality criteria of watchmaking. They redesigned its fibers, the resin that holds them in place, and the tooling needed to create its finish. The results are perfectly watertight cases for the
X1 models of impeccable quality.
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Both the aviation and automotive industries use ceramic, which is mostly used in the brakes of racing cars because it does not heat easily. The case of the
BR 03 is made from this very hard material used to create components that are resistant to high temperatures. Racing car tires are made from rubber. This material, with a very
powerful grip, is used on the rim of the case and the push buttons of
the
BR X1 ensuring an excellent handling of the timekeeping function and a greater accuracy.
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The straps are also made from innovative materials. On the
BR X1, rubber is paired with carbon fiber for a very sporty look.
BR 03-94 R.S.17
LIMITED EDITION OF 500 PIECES
This timepiece features a ceramic case designed to withstand shock and a sporty carbon fiber dial that makes it exceptionally well suited to the motor racing world. This lightweight, resilient material evokes the steering wheel of the
Renault F1 car. The Start & Stop push-button of the chronograph features yellow anodized aluminum.
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This iconic color has been used since
Renault first entered
Formula 1. It is also found on the internal bezel that features a tachymeter scale used to calculate the speed of a car: an indispensable function for a racing driver’s watch.
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Technical specifications
Model: BR 03-94 RS17
Ref.
BR0394-RS17
Movement: Calibre BR-CAL.301.
Automatic mechanical.
Functions:
Hours, minutes, small seconds at 3 o’clock.
Date.
Chronograph for short time periods:
30-min timer at 9 o’clock, central chronograph seconds.
Tachymeter scale on the flange.
Case:
42 mm in diameter.
Carbone Forgé® .
Metal applique Superluminova ® -filled numerals.
Metal skeleton Superluminova ® -filled hour and minute hands.
Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating.
Water-resistance: 100 metres.
Strap:
Woven black rubber and ultra-resilient black synthetic fabric.
Buckle: pin.
Black PVD coated steel.
BR X1 R.S.17
LIMITED EDITION OF 250 PIECES
This model can be considered an extreme variation of
Bell & Ross’ iconic watch, the
BR 03. It boasts all the elements that are essential to a chronograph watch designed for race drivers. Highly sophisticated, its skeleton mechanism allows its gears to be admired through the grey-tinted sapphire crystal. The “rocker” type push buttons activate the chronograph function with great accuracy. They are made from high-tech ceramic and capped with yellow rubber for an improved grip.
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The bezel features a tachymeter scale designed for calculating racing speeds. Lastly, the dial flange is split into several hour segments, each of which has a corresponding color. This color segmentation makes the measured time easier to read. The chronograph hands are yellow, the date is red, the small seconds hand is green and the hour hand, white. The latter is coated in SuperLuminova that guarantees excellent legibility, both day and night.
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Technical specifications
Model: BR X1 Skeleton RS17
Ref.
BRX1-RS17
Movement: Calibre BR-CAL.313.
Automatic mechanical.
‘X’-shaped upper bridge.
56 jewels, 28,800 vph.
Skeleton chronograph.
Functions:
Hours, minutes, small seconds at 3 o’clock.
Skeleton date at 6 o’clock.
Chronograph:
30-min timer at 9 o’clock, central chronograph seconds.
Case:
45 mm in diameter.
Carbone Forgé® and ceramic with rubber inserts.
Rocker push-buttons.
Case-back with opening in tinted sapphire crystal, centred on the balance.
Dial:
Grey-tinted sapphire crystal.
Metal applique Superluminova®-filled numerals.
Metal skeletonised Superluminova®-filled hour and minute hands.
Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating.
Water-resistance: 100 metres.
Strap:
Bi-material: rubber and carbon fibre.
Buckle: pin.
Black PVD* steel finish and rubber insert.
BR X1 TOURBILLON R.S.17
LIMITED EDITION OF 20 PIECES
The hand-wound chronograph of the highest level of complication and a tourbillon make this watch an outstanding piece. This movement is considered the most impressive in Haute Horlogerie. Its flying tourbillon compensates for the detrimental effect the earth’s gravitational pull has on the mechanism and increases the accuracy of the watch. It is incredibly complex, built with miniscule pieces and housed inside a “floating” cage that is fitted on a hub but appears to float in the air.
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The chronograph function is activated by a paddle-style mono-pusher positioned to the right of the case. The key component of the system, the column wheel, coordinates the starting and stopping of the chronograph. The timer indications are red and yellow. The 4-day power reserve is shown in green, and white hands coated in SuperLuminova indicate the time. This special coating guarantees legibility, even at night.
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Technical specifications
Model: BR X1 TOURBILLON RS17
Ref.
BRX1-CHTB-RS17
Movement:
Calibre BR-CAL.283.
Hand-wound flying tourbillon.
Mono-pusher column wheel chronograph.
282 components, 35 jewels, 21,600 vph.
4-day power reserve.
Functions:
Hours and minutes.
Chronograph:
30-min timer at 11 o’clock, chronograph 60-sec timer at 1 o’clock.
Power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock.
Flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock.
Case:
45 mm in diameter.
Carbone Forgé® and ceramic with rubber inserts.
Rocker mono-pusher.
Sapphire case-back with anti-reflective coating.
Dial:
Grey-tinted sapphire crystal.
Metal applique Superluminova®-filled indices.
Metal skeletonised Superluminova®-filled hour and minute hands.
Crystal: sapphire with anti-reflective coating.
Water-resistance: 100 metres.
Strap:
Bi-material: rubber and carbon fibre.
Buckle: pin.
Black PVD* steel finish and rubber insert.
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Press release - 2017
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