255.50 km/h. That is the dizzying speed Simon Billy reached on the slopes of Vars in March 2023. A world record, a human feat and now a source of watchmaking inspiration. With the new BR-05 Chrono Snow Rocket, Bell & Ross pays tribute to the French speed skiing champion with an edition limited to 250 pieces. A watch where mechanical precision meets the adrenaline of extreme sports.
On this page
- Simon Billy, a family story of speed
- From the cockpit to the snowy slopes
- A BR-05 in the colours of a record
- The chronograph, a complication naturally tied to speed
- A caseback that tells a story
- Two straps for two personalities
- An edition limited to 250 pieces
- When passion gives meaning to mechanics
- Technical specifications
- Frequently asked questions
Simon Billy, a family story of speed
Some sporting performances reach far beyond the confines of competition. They are feats that tell a story, one of passion, of heritage and of unwavering determination. Simon Billy’s career undeniably belongs in that category. Born in Vars, in the Hautes-Alpes, the French champion grew up in a world where speed on snow was far more than just a sport. His father, Philippe Billy, himself a former speed skiing world record holder, passed this demanding passion on to him at an early age. A family legacy that gradually turned into a genuine quest: to become the fastest man in the world on skis.
On 22 March 2023, on the formidable Chabrières slope in Vars, Simon Billy achieved that goal by reaching 255.50 km/h. An extraordinary performance that broke the previous world record, held by Italy’s Ivan Origone since 2016. But the story does not end there. In March 2026, Simon Billy claimed his fifth consecutive world title, confirming an exceptional dominance in a discipline where the slightest misjudgement can have serious consequences. It is precisely this blend of passion, commitment and a constant pursuit of performance that won over Bell & Ross.
All the more so because the meeting between the watch brand and the champion is no mere sponsorship deal. Simon Billy already appreciated and wore Bell & Ross watches long before his name reached the top of the world rankings. An authentic relationship, now embodied by the BR-05 Chrono Snow Rocket.
From the cockpit to the snowy slopes
Since it was founded in 1994 by Carlos-A. Rosillo and Bruno Belamich, Bell & Ross has maintained close ties with professional worlds where precision is an absolute necessity. Aviation has long been its favourite territory, giving rise to an instantly recognisable aesthetic identity, most notably through its famous “circle within a square” concept. This instrument watch approach has gradually led the brand into other demanding environments: the pilots of the Patrouille de France, the Rafale Solo Display and the Defender Rally team.
With Simon Billy, Bell & Ross now ventures into a new world: speed skiing. It is a particularly spectacular discipline, in which athletes hurtle down extremely steep slopes wearing equipment specifically designed to minimise air resistance. Streamlined suits, aerodynamic helmets, extra-long skis: nothing is left to chance. At more than 250 km/h, every movement counts. Every technical detail contributes to performance. This philosophy naturally echoes that of Bell & Ross, for whom functionality, legibility and precision remain the foundations of every watch it creates.
A BR-05 in the colours of a record
Launched in 2019, the BR-05 collection is the urban interpretation of the Bell & Ross universe. It retains the brand’s graphic identity while adopting a more contemporary architecture, notably with its softened case angles and integrated bracelet. The BR-05 Chrono Snow Rocket keeps this distinctive silhouette but gives it a far more outspoken personality.
The first thing that catches the eye is, of course, its matte white dial. A direct nod to snow, this immaculate surface sets the stage for a composition dominated by an especially vivid red. The colour is anything but random, since it matches Simon Billy’s racing suit. The italic Arabic numerals create a sense of movement and energy. Their slant seems to convey the idea of acceleration, as if the watch itself were eager to launch down the slopes of Vars.
The two chronograph counters feature red-accented scales, reinforcing the sporty character of the whole. Small seconds sit at 9 o’clock, while the 30-minute counter is placed at 3 o’clock. The date window is positioned at 6 o’clock. But one of the most interesting details concerns the hour and minute hands. Skeletonised and entirely red, they borrow their elongated shape from the racing skis used in the discipline. They are filled with Super-LumiNova BGW9 grade X1, which glows blue in the dark. The result is a particularly expressive dial, where the contrast between white and red sets the tone at once. A bold aesthetic, admittedly, yet one that stays consistent with the functional character Bell & Ross stands for.
The chronograph, a complication naturally tied to speed
What could be more fitting than a chronograph to celebrate a champion whose performances are decided by fractions of a second? Bell & Ross naturally chose this complication to give its tribute genuine horological substance. Beyond displaying hours and minutes, the BR-05 Chrono Snow Rocket can time events using its central seconds hand and 30-minute counter. A tachymeter scale also runs around the dial flange. This scale converts the time taken to cover a known distance into an average speed. It is a function historically associated with motor sports, and it takes on particular resonance here. Of course, it is not meant to replace the electronic timing systems used in speed skiing competitions. The scale is as much a symbol as it is a watchmaking feature.
It is a reminder that speed and time are closely intertwined. Beneath the dial, Bell & Ross has fitted its BR-CAL.326 automatic calibre. This mechanical chronograph movement offers a 60-hour power reserve, allowing its owner to set the watch aside for more than two days without necessarily having to reset it. The movement is housed in a polished and satin-finished steel case measuring 42 mm wide and 14.25 mm thick. These dimensions give the BR-05 a definite presence on the wrist, perfectly in keeping with its sporting vocation. The screw-down crown, protected by shoulders integrated into the case, contributes to a water resistance of 100 metres. The anti-reflective sapphire crystal completes a package designed to meet the demands of a contemporary watch with a particularly strong identity.
A caseback that tells a story
You also need to turn the watch over to discover one of the most personal details of this limited edition. The transparent sapphire caseback reveals the automatic movement and its 360-degree oscillating weight. But Bell & Ross wanted to take its tribute to the French champion even further. A red silhouette of a speed skier in full descent adorns the caseback crystal. An instantly recognisable graphic detail that continues the story told on the dial.
This choice is particularly interesting. Where some special editions simply add a signature or a commemorative logo, Bell & Ross chose to depict the athletic gesture itself. The skier’s characteristic tuck, folded tightly over his equipment to reduce aerodynamic drag, thus becomes a true visual signature. An elegant way of reminding us that this watch celebrates not just a number, but also the man, his discipline and the years of work needed to achieve such a feat.
Two straps for two personalities
The BR-05 Chrono Snow Rocket comes in two configurations that noticeably change its character. The first pairs the case with an integrated bracelet in polished and satin-finished steel. This version fully embraces the sport-chic spirit of the BR-05 collection. It offers aesthetic continuity between case and bracelet, while bringing a degree of restraint to a dial that is already highly expressive. The second configuration features a bright red rubber strap with lengthwise ridges. The result is radically different.
The red of the strap echoes that of the hands, numerals and counters, considerably strengthening the watch’s sporty identity. This version feels like the closest to Simon Billy’s world and his racing gear. In both cases, a polished and satin-finished steel folding clasp secures the strap. The choice will mainly come down to the personality you are after: a sports watch that blends into an urban setting, or a chronograph that fully embraces its extreme sports inspiration.
An edition limited to 250 pieces
The Bell & Ross BR-05 Chrono Snow Rocket is produced in a limited edition of just 250 pieces. Two prices have been announced: 6,900 euros for the version on the red rubber strap and 7,400 euros for the one on the steel bracelet. This positioning places the watch in the realm of high-end mechanical chronographs, where aesthetic identity and exclusivity play an important role.
This Snow Rocket has no intention of keeping a low profile. Its white and red dial, dynamic numerals, original hands and personalised caseback give it a character far removed from conventional chronographs. And that is exactly what makes it appealing.
When passion gives meaning to mechanics
In the watch world, collaborations between brands and elite athletes have become commonplace. Not all of them, however, manage to forge a truly convincing link between the object and the personality it celebrates. With the BR-05 Chrono Snow Rocket, Bell & Ross has one essential argument: the story began long before the watch.
Simon Billy was already a fan of the brand before becoming one of its partners. This relationship gives the edition a human dimension that goes beyond simply commemorating a record. Of course, a mechanical watch will never replicate the French champion’s performances. But it can tell his story, express the values that drive him and remind us that an exceptional feat is often the result of a passion nurtured over a lifetime.
By pairing the white of snow with the red of competition, Bell & Ross turns its urban chronograph into an expressive tribute to speed. And behind the 255.50 km/h etched into sporting history, one timeless truth remains: the finest performances are often born where talent, perseverance and passion meet. A fine definition of watchmaking, when you think about it.
Technical specifications
Bell & Ross BR-05 Chrono Snow Rocket
| Reference | BR05C-KL-ST |
|---|---|
| Limited edition | 250 pieces |
| Movement | BR-CAL.326 calibre, mechanical self-winding |
| Power reserve | 60 hours |
| Functions | hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph with 30-minute counter and central seconds |
| Case | polished and satin-finished steel, 42 mm wide and 14.25 mm thick |
| Crown | screw-down, with crown guard |
| Crystal | anti-reflective sapphire |
| Caseback | transparent sapphire with red speed skier decoration |
| Dial | matte white, red italic Arabic numerals, tachymeter scale |
| Luminescence | Super-LumiNova BGW9 grade X1 with blue emission |
| Water resistance | 100 metres |
| Straps | polished and satin-finished steel or red ridged rubber, depending on configuration |
| Clasp | steel folding clasp |
| Price | 6,900 € on rubber, 7,400 € on steel |
Frequently asked questions
It is a limited-edition automatic chronograph paying tribute to Simon Billy, the speed skiing world record holder who reached 255.50 km/h on 22 March 2023 on the Chabrières slope in Vars.
It is driven by the BR-CAL.326 calibre, a self-winding mechanical chronograph movement with a 60-hour power reserve.
The polished and satin-finished steel case measures 42 mm wide and 14.25 mm thick. The protected screw-down crown ensures water resistance to 100 metres.
It is priced at 6,900 euros on a red ridged rubber strap and 7,400 euros on an integrated polished and satin-finished steel bracelet.
The watch is produced in a limited edition of 250 pieces, under reference BR05C-KL-ST.
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