by Tyler Frederick
Renault racing
It’s incredible to think about the mark that watches and horology have made on the world throughout history, and of course, through sport. Watch brands have been a part of every significant sports series for generations, but it’s really cool when a sports team sparks an idea for a watch, especially with such a well-known name and colour scheme. On my desk is a watch from Bravur that pulls inspiration from Renault, not their motorsport team, but their cycling team, specifically their jersey design from the 1980s. Let’s check out the Bravur Team Heritage – REN.
Read about the Bravur La Corsa Rosa
Key Features of the Bravur Team Heritage – REN
Bravur based the Team Heritage – REN around cycling, but I will do what I always do and make this about F1 for a quick paragraph. The first thing that caught my eye was the striking black, yellow, and white sandwich dial. And the first thing that came to mind was Renault F1, specifically Alain Prost and the Renault RE40 from 1983–a gorgeous car designed by Michel Têtu (Alfa Romeo, Ligier, Renault). Because the watch has an automotive connection, I just had to get one in for a hands-on, and it did not disappoint. Side note: I also learned some things about cycling and ended up watching a good hour or so of footage. Thank you, Bravur, for sending me down that path.
Renault Cycling Team
Right off the bat, the Team Heritage – REN scored points regarding sizing, with a 37mm case, 11.4mm thickness and a 44.6mm lug-to-lug. The watch felt great on my wrist, especially with the soft and supple black FKM rubber strap. While the watch is 37mm, it feels slightly smaller, possibly from the 18mm lug width. The watch is designed with cycling and strenuous activity in mind, and a smaller watch is the perfect choice; it’s not obtrusive, and when doing a lot of activity, you don’t want a watch that gets in the way.
Dial draws inspiration from Renault cycling @horologyobsessed
If you’re more focused on aesthetics and a watch that will turn heads, this is right up your alley. Striking is an understatement. The case features brushed and polished finishing to add accents and separation from the round bezel to the squared/trapezoidal case shape, adding great depth and a hint of shine. The blatant and obvious focal point is the sandwich dial–a white top layer with 12 cutouts, showing off the black, white, and yellow stripes underneath. As mentioned at the
beginning, the stripes are an homage to the Renault cycling jerseys worn by Bernard Hinault, Laurent Fignon, and Greg LeMond.
Easy-wearing dimensions @horologyobsessed
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SPECS
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 37mm Diameter 44.6mm Lug to Lug 18mm Lug Width Screw Down Crown & Case Back 100m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Domed Sapphire Crystal Sandwich Dial Printed Index Baton Handset Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | SW200 26 Jewels 28 800bph 41-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | FKM Rubber or Leather |
Bravur Team Heritage – REN
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Quibbles
The Team Heritage – REN design is fantastic, and the proportions make for an excellent wearing experience, except for a tiny thing: the bracelet options. The watch has various strap options, but a Milanese is the closest thing to a steel bracelet, and the addition of a full stainless steel bracelet would be a welcomed option and one that would look great, a jubilee or a five-link, for instance.
Final Thoughts
The Bravur Team Heritage – REN is a watch I’ve enjoyed for every second, minute, and hour. Those looking for a sports watch that pops might want to check this out. However, the watch is in a very competitive price bracket, retailing at $1, 675. Nonetheless, I will say you’re getting a great watch if this is something you’re into. For more information or to check one out for yourself, feel free to visit Bravur.
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About the author
Born into a family obsessed with motorsport, Tyler Frederick became enamoured with speed and beautiful cars at a young age. His love of Formula 1–and all things mechanical–eventually lead him to horology. You can follow him on Instagram.
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