Bell & Ross
In the Fast Lane: Bell & Ross R.S.18 Collection
This year, the R.S. 18 collection comes to the fore, dressed in the signature yellow of the Renault Sport Formula One team and with the thematic emphasis of the design centered around the chassis of the Formula One car, an apt choice given the introduction of a radical change in the FIA rules this year.
Teams have had to redesign the chassis of their cars, in order to integrate the heavy high-strength bar made of titanium which weighs several kilograms. Despite the controversy over its aesthetics, the device has so far proven its worth in a crash at this year’s Belgian Grand Prix, in which driver Charles Leclerc was protected from injury in a huge pile-up between several cars.
As befits a motorsport centric collection, all the watches are chronographs and use as their basis, well-known and proven models from Bell & Ross, including the BR 03-94, BR-X1 and BR-X1 Chronograph Tourbillon. These represent the different tiers in terms of price and prestige of the chronographs offered by the brand, a notable and welcome move in allowing the widest possible inclusion of motorsport and/or Bell & Ross fans to partake in.
Further adding to the appeal is the skeletonized dial, allowing a view to the movement’s column wheel visible just under the 12 o’clock index. This is notable since dial side column wheels are not as common as rear side ones, and is an advantage in this case, since the chronograph related parts are visible during the start, stop and reset phases of its operation.
The highlight technical feature of this watch however is no doubt the flying tourbillon that stands proudly at the 6 o’clock position. Differing from a standard tourbillon, a flying tourbillon is only supported by a bottom bridge as opposed to a top and bottom bridge, creating the visible effect of floating in the movement. The cage is decorated with the ampersand logo of Bell & Ross, completing one revolution every minute, and with the highly visible parts that made up the tourbillon – the escape and balance wheels – all choreographed in a stunning mechanical spectacle.