Ball Watch Co. is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the time Webster C. Ball, the company’s namesake, was commissioned to set the official railroad standard of timekeeping in the United States. The latest watch Ball releases to mark this notable anniversary is the Ball Engineer II Genesis Limited Edition that packs a lot of those features that we have come to love – and expect – from the brand.
Although the Ball Engineer II Genesis is a limited-production run, it is actually released in a number of different variations and even with the option of a customized case back. Available in either a 40- or 43-millimeter-wide and 13.55mm-thick stainless steel case with a screw-down crown and 100 meters of water resistance, the dial is either black or deep blue, while as for the strap, brown or black calf leather as well as a steel bracelet can be selected.
Regardless of color choice, Ball has added 28 tritium micro gas tubes to the dial, some of which are 1 millimeter thick for that extra pop in the dark. The result seems rather profound – in a good way – as there hardly is such a thing as “too much lume” on a dive watch. The key difference between tritium gas tubes and SuperLuminova is the fact that tritium glows ceaselessly and all by itself, i.e., without it necessitating an external light source to charge it. On the other hand, luminescent paint glows brighter right after it has been charged but glows only for up to about 10 or so hours before it turns completely dark. You can find out all about how these little glowing tubes are made in our special manufacture visit article here.
The tubes have been fitted to the dial’s hour indices – with 6, 9, and 12 being made of rather massive chunks of tritium tubes for extra legibility and, well, because they look rather cool. And as expected, the hour, minute, and seconds hands have also been fitted with tritium gas tubes.
Under the anti-reflective-coated sapphire crystal and the funky dial is the Ball RR1102 automatic movement, which should be a trusty ETA 2836 or its Sellita SW220 equivalent with date and day-of-the-week indications by the 3 o’clock index. The movement is held secure by Ball’s patented anti-magnetic and shock-absorbing holder which lends the watch a resistance to shocks up to 5,000 Gs – ticking another box of Ball watch “must-haves,” along with the tritium tubes.
Currently, the Ball Watch Kelvin Replica Engineer III CarboLIGHT is readily available for a special pre-order price of $1,299 until November 30, 2017. Like previous pre-order deals, Ball offers complementary caseback engraving for an even more personal touch. The Ball Engineer III CarboLIGHT is limited to 1,000 pieces and you may learn more by visiting the brand’s official site.Sponsored Articles are a kind of advertising that allows patrons to share useful news, messages, and provides to aBlogtoWatch readers in a way traditional display advertising is often not best suited to. All Sponsored Articles are subject to editorial recommendations with the intent that they offer readers useful news, promotions, or stories. The viewpoints and opinions expressed in Sponsored Posts are those of the advertiser and not necessarily those of aBlogtoWatch or its writers.Today we get to appear at a striking example of Ball’s collection, the aptly called Ball Red Label Chronometer.This watch is a huge value and really does everything. Rarely at this price point do you locate a COSC rated motion, excellent quality, dual curved anti-reflective coated sapphire as well as special perks such as tritium tubes in one watch. In fact, just Ball delivers such a combination.
The Ball Engineer II Genesis Limited Edition is available for pre-order here until December 31, 2015, with the free option of case back personalization, allowing for an engraving of up to 12 alpha-numeric characters. Pre-order price for the Ball Engineer II Genesis Limited Edition regardless of dial color and bracelet option will be $853 while supplies last and/or until December 31, 2015, with pre-orders shipping in March 2016; the retail price afterwards will be $1,550. ballwatch.com
It was not all that long ago when we brought you word of Ball’s new creation that mixes up how we are used to interacting with a chronograph. That earlier article was based only on the PR materials (and photographs) that were made available. Today, we are able to bring you hands-on impressions (and photographs) of the Ball Engineer Master II Slide Chronograph.
Cutting straight to the chase here, what about that clever slider that is used to engage the chronograph? We found it easy enough to operate, and the operation itself is intuitive if you think about what the normal pushers do – the top pusher would start/stop, so you slide up. Conversely, the bottom pusher resets, so you slide down. In other words, you move the slide towards where a pusher would be located for the function you want. We were also pleased to note that the slide has a small tritium tube inserted, something that was not present in the original PR shots.
Speaking of tritium tubes, the Ball Engineer Master II Slide Chronograph is making use of their new flat tubes on the dial. We have seen these before on the Marvelight, but those were much wider. Here, they almost approach the width of the round tubes. This keeps things a bit more subtle, but it also allows for (or at least, it seems to to my eye) a more even glow when viewed in the dark. It also keeps things balanced with the handset, which still relies on the round tubes.
Another thing that struck us was how much more balanced the watch seemed on the rubber strap. In the PR shots, the bracelet seemed entirely too small for the 48mm case. In our hands-on shots, you can see that the contoured rubber strap gives things a much more balanced look. Of course, it is worth noting that this is a big watch. Aside from the noted diameter, the watch is 15.5mm tall. Then again, we are fitting in an automatic chronograph movement, plus all of the requisite protections Ball generally includes (shock protection, anti-magnetism, and a modicum of water resistance). In other words, this is no subtle chrono – this is a beefy tool watch (with some refined looks).
The dial is pretty cleanly laid out, with the sub-registers easy to read (another benefit of a larger case). It is a shame, however, that the day and date wheels are not color matched to the dial – they stand out a bit for my tastes. Additionally, the hour hand does feel a bit chopped. I realize that you need to be able to easily differentiate the hour and minute hands, but something about the scale of that hour hand just feels off to me.
The hands are rather elegant, and remind me of the hands used in the JLC Master Ultrathin. Obviously, unlike the MUT, these take tritium tubes.I normally hate massive counterbalances, but Ball’s actually grew on me. That is, needless to say, the “RR” logo. It is quite elegant.It is not in any way evident from wearing the watch, but these tritium tubes considerably increase the thickness of the hands.Those hands are paired with these alluring “enamel” hour markers, each carrying their own tritium tube. Such as the hands, these are angled so as to capture and reflect light away from the watch, which generates an attractive contrast. Here, for example, you can see 1 side of nearly all of the markers reflecting the blue sky.Speaking of tritium, Ball Watch Trainmaster Eternity Replica used a green and yellow comparison for the Red Label. Personally, I’d love to have seen the cooler reddish tritium tubes, given that the namesake, but this does look good as well. The hands and 12:00 markers utilize yellowish, which offers great readability at nighttime. Here the 3:00 is pointing upward, and the marker is reduced in size because of the day/date display. And, unlike traditional lume, this will not die out overnight. Unless that nighttime is 20 years long. It goes without mentioning that it takes no “charge” to shine bright.he case is an elegant and understated all-polished design. I particularly like how the angle of the bezel fits that of the domed crystal, which makes the crystal seem far more curved than it’s really is.hat crystal, incidentally, is AR coated double curved sapphire.he Ball includes a screw down crown to complement its 100 meter water resistance rating. Instead, I actually like cases that feature a polished layout because they have a tendency to be the easiest to touch up down the road.In lieu of a display caseback, Ball provides a cool locomotive theme.
Speaking of some of the design elements, it is worth noting that the Ball Watch Ohio Replica Engineer Master II Slide Chronograph was designed by Magali Metrailler, who is all but exclusively designing for Ball now. Previously, she created the “Ball for BMW” collection, and she also did a lot of the Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX watches. That is an interesting portfolio already, and we are definitely looking forward to what else she creates.
In the end, this is another solid tool watch from Ball, albeit one with an interesting twist hiding up its (and under your) sleeve. The Ball Watch Japan Co Ltd Replica Engineer Master II Slide Chronograph can be yours for a price of $3,299 on the rubber strap, or $3,399 on the steel bracelet; availability will be sometime in 2015. ballwatch.com
Ball has released many versions of their Engineer Hydrocarbon watches through the years, all featuring the unique case sporting that memorable crown guard and bright, tritium gas tube-lumed dial. Unveiled at last year’s Baselworld 2015, the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT watch provides the legibility, construction and material quality, and masculine looks the line is known for and takes it a step further by introducing the first ever tritium gas tube illuminated bezel. I’ve now spent a couple of months wearing this watch, and I still feel like a kid when I see the normally mostly black-and-white-with-touches-of-yellow dial illuminate to a bright green, blue, yellow and orange dial in the dark. The amazing part of this watch is really how it goes from being totally monochromatic by light, to being gloriously colorful in the dark.
For those unfamiliar with Ball, I’ll tell you that they have a rich history as the brand tasked with keeping the railroad system that reticulates America, operating on time. After a tragic train collision in 1891 in Kipton, Ohio, Webb C. Ball was conscripted as “Chief Time Inspector” for the railroad system, which is a really, really great title for the man for whom the Ball Watch Company is named. So, when you see the decorative “RR” on the crown protector, you know that it stands for Rail Road. It really is a cool bit of history and one that Ball is, and should, be proud of. Of course, now they’re not only creating “railroad” watches, but have a huge selection of dive, dress, and watches designed for aviation professionals, like the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT.
A new famous for offering considerable value and high-end building from the watches they create, Ball Watch Ceramic Xv Price Replica Watch Company is once more introducing another exciting timepiece for their developing Engineer collection. The Ball Engineer III CarboLIGHT is the brand’s latest model plus a watch which fuses two groundbreaking substances into the case construction. Ball refers to this as their CarboNANO technology and currently, the Ball Engineer III CarboLIGHT is readily available for a very special pre-order price.Together with the accompanying stainless steel model — the Ball Engineer III IronLIGHT — the CarboLIGHT marks Ball’s most recent dip into the world of producing robust timepieces with innovative materials. Perhaps the version’s most standout feature is its case, which has a different irregular pattern which makes every watch unique. This can be a distinguishing trait that is a result of using carbon, which weighs approximately 50% significantly less than stainless steel and provides a significantly lighter feel that is long-lasting. Under the surface, Ball also integrates a complete layer of mu-metal around the movement that enables the watch to both attract and divert inactive or low-frequency magnetic field lines for interference-free functioning.
Ball has an obsession with legibility and illumination. They’re one of few brands that uses tritium gas tubes for illumination in dark scenarios.Tritium (h-3) gas tubes are coated with phospor which causes the phospor to fluoresce, or basically glow, in a process called “radioluminescence.” These tubes are used in things like many emergency exit signs, because they require no electricity to illuminate. There are 43 tritium tubes on this watch, meaning you’ll be able to have great visibility in the dark. And, for the first time ever, Ball Watches Endurance Replica has applied tritium gas tubes to the numbers on the GMT bezel. They claim the illumination will last on the watch for 25 years. This is technically true, since tritium has a half life of 12.32 years, but the illumination will be half as vibrant by that point and about a fourth by the 25th year.
The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon line has had many previous iterations, such as the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph (Reviewed here) and the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley watch (Hands-On here). You’ll notice that they all share a similar look, with a large, protruding crown with crown guard. This is Ball’s patented “Crown Protection System,” where you press a pusher at the top of it and pull the protective cover down. After you do this, you can adjust the crown as you please. Does it actually protect the crown any more than if it wasn’t there? I don’t really know, and the only claim that Ball actually makes about a practical benefit of it is that it “ensures the crown must be screwed-in to its original secure position after time adjustment” and that it also meets the shock resistance standards for the watch. In any case, it’s a good-looking addition to the watch.
The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT is 42mm wide and sits 13.85mm high on the wrist. It’s got a great wrist presence, but the aforementioned crown protection system might jab at your hand if you tend to wear your watch closer to the hand. So, like with all watches, please try this one on and really see if you’re comfortable with it before buying. You’ll notice the broad lugs on this watch, which help add to the “heft” of the piece which really feels much bigger than its 42mm when you take the lugs into account with the crown protector and substantial bezel.
Speaking of the wearing experience, Ball Watch 125 Years Replica has a really excellent bracelet on this watch. This part will be familiar to fans of Ball, but the bracelet not only comes with half links on either side of their “folding buckle,” but also has a diver’s extension on each side of the buckle so you easily adjust bigger or smaller. We always appreciate anything that allows for micro-adjusting on the fly in an otherwise good bracelet. It’s elegant in its simplicity and I really appreciate the level of thought that went into it. The designers at Ball must have anticipated the complaint about the crown protector jabbing at some wearer’s hands, and the bracelet offers a lot of flexibility in solving that problem – if you want to look at this adjustment option in that way.
When it comes to the watches that Ball Watches Uk Stockists Replica is creating, it is hard for me to not be attracted to the light shows that some of their designs pull together. It calls to mind the car my family got in the mid-80s (a Pontiac 6000 STE, for those curious) where my dad called the dashboard a rolling light show – which, for the time, it really was. Those can be fun, but sometimes you could do for dialing things down a little bit. In that case, I believe the Ball Engineer II Marvelight is an exercise in restraint.
For starters, we have what could almost be considered a small case for Ball, with it coming in at a mere 40mm wide and just a tad over 13mm thick. This is presented in what I consider to be a very classic look, complete with a polished bezel and lugs, and a lack of crown protectors.
Right off the bat, the stage is set for a more restrained Ball, one that is a bit dressier – or perhaps, more conservative, depending on your point of view – than some of their other offerings. This is further reinforced by the bracelet, with its polished centers set into the brushed finish of the outer links. Where it really stands out, however, is the highly legible dial.
Here, we see that Ball Watch Hydrocarbon Nedu Replica used flat tritium tubes on the Ball Engineer II Marvelight, which accomplishes two things. To start with, it gives the watch the look of “regular” lumed indices (albeit, rather wide ones). This, in turn, moves the watch away from the tactic-cool vibe you can pick up from some tritium-equipped watches. Second, it makes for a very even dispersion of light at those indices when you check the time in the dark. It is a bit of a shame that the same tubes could not be used on the handset, but they would have turned into monsters and, I have a feeling, not looked very good. Weight is also a major issue with hands, as a movement’s torque is enough to move only so heavy of a handset.
As it is, the tube selection (both on the dial and the beveled hands) do a good job of balancing the desire for low-light legibility with a classy, conservative appearance. Further cementing those conservative looks is the magnifier (aka cyclops) that shows up over the date window on the sapphire crystal. I have never played around with one of these before, and I think I am sold on them in a watch styled like this. In the end, it is a simple thing that adds a lot of utility to the watch just by making the date really easy to see.
While I have focused on the looks of the piece, it really shone for me in that one criteria: utility. Be it day or night, at the office or home, in a suit or in jeans, the Ball Watches Gmt Ii Replica Engineer II Marvelight just plain worked. The case sizing was a good fit for my wrist size, and I had zero problems with reading the time (as you would expect from Ball). This, simply put, was a watch I clicked with immediately, and kept it on my wrist for a good long time. Inside the watch is a rather standard Swiss automatic mechanical movement (like an ETA 2824 or Sellita SW200) with the date.
If you want the looks of the dial and love what Ball Watches Vs Longines Replica is trying to do with this item, then I think a lot of people will locate the Ball Engineer Master II Diver Worldtime a surprisingly helpful timepiece. This is especially true for regular travelers that want something cool, sporty, not particularly showy, and that doesn’t look like most other world time watches. Pricing for your Ball Engineer Master II Diver Worldtime benchmark DG2022A-S3AJ-BK / DG2022A-P3AJ-BK watches is $2,899 on the rubber band, and $2,999 about the steel bracelet.For 2016, Ball presents this handsome steel-cased variant of the Ball Trainmaster Standard Time watch that aBlogtoWatch originally debuted in 18k rose gold back in 2013. At the moment, the less than $7,500 gold-cased watch was a veritable bargain compared to the cost of additional gold watches out there, and its classic pocket watch style made for a lasting and favorable conservative design.Ball was instrumental in the formation of the American railroad industry – which depended to a large extent on everybody agreeing exactly what time it had been. The original Ball Trainmaster Standard Time was said to be a party of the adoption of standard time in America, which is the reason why the timepiece has this title.
That is where the one stumbling block I ran into with the Ball Engineer II Marvelight occurred: on the wrist. Specifically, with the sizing for the bracelet. Ball does quite nicely include two half-links on the bracelet, which you can use to size things more accordingly. For me, though, I could not find that “just-right” fit.
I ended up settling on a sizing that is a touch larger than I prefer, which allows it to slide down over the wrist bones. By removing one link, and substituting in a half-link, I was able to keep it above the wrist, which I prefer. This resulted in a fit that was just a touch too tight, especially as the day wore on (protip: if you see part of the case back imprinted on your wrist, the watch is too tight).
Now, normally on a bracelet, this is not an issue – you can fiddle with the micro-adjustment pegs on the clasp, right? Not so with the Marvelight. Here, they have a very tricky flush-end clasp that looks great – just no micro-adjustment for you and me. Depending on how you like your watch to fit, this is definitely something you would want to consider.
The bracelet issue aside, I really enjoyed my time with the 172g Ball Watch 125th Replica Engineer II Marvelight. I like tritium watches, and my styling tastes tend to skew a bit towards the more traditional – and this watch was a great combination of both. Our review sample came with a blue sunray dial, but they are also available with black, silver, or grey. Regardless of dial color, you can pick up one your own for a price of $1,899. ballwatch.com
Brand: Ball Model: Engineer II Marvelight Price: $1,899 Would reviewer personally wear it: Just about without a second thought – if it were not for my bracelet sizing issues. Friend we’d recommend it to first: This is for someone with tastes like my own – conservative styling, but looking for a watch with a bit of subtle flash. Worst characteristic of watch: All of the polished surfaces – they are fingerprint magnets. Best characteristic of watch: The complete look of the watch. You get something that could almost be considered retro in many ways, but packaged up with modern materials and excellent illumination.
Standing high and wide in a lot of titanium, the Ball Watch Trainmaster Worldtime Chronograph Replica Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph ref. DC3036C-SA-BK watch looks intimidating as you take it out of the box. While it is a traditional Swiss watch through and through, the modern design elements and busy dial don’t lend themselves to a comforting, familiar feel as you place the heavy (for a titanium watch), highly functional sports watch on your wrist. Ball watches are not known for their demure presence or restrained style, with an emphasis on marrying the historic once American brand into the modern age of the luxury sports watch. I am a known fan of Ball watches, but what was it going to be like to wear around this 45mm wide, 18.3mm thick mega-timepiece that contains features I’ll likely never have an opportunity to use? Let’s find out.
This isn’t my first Ball Watches Website Replica watch rodeo, so I have a fair amount of experience with the brand. We even debuted the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph watch here. Even though not all new Ball watches excite me the same way, I am really bullish on the brand because they seek to capitalize on many of the things modern guys like about mechanical watches without taking prices into territories that are reserved for people who order their automobiles with personalized interiors. Ball isn’t about that type of glitz either, even though they do have some more classically-inspired watches in gold. The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph is more about sports and performance.
World time complications as seen in this timepiece are actually common but also very useful and easy. They rely on two elements. First is a disc that displays a 24-hour scale that rotates once every day. Second is a list of reference cities around the outer periphery that may ideally be transferred. This is to help people place their local time. What people do in order to read the time in other time zones is beginning at the top with all the local time and then look around on the dial for the reference domain which reflects the time zone they want to know. All they need to do is look and see what the hour will be about the disc where it matches the time zone that you want to mention. The minute hand on the main dial is used to browse the minutes. See? It is actually straightforward and effective.Given its ease, this type of complication doesn’t have to cost a good deal. Sure you can spent upwards of $10,000 for a watch on this attribute, but if you invest that much, I expect you are getting more that you are seeking aside from this feature because it can be seen for a whole lot less. In addition to Ball, brands like Frédérique Constant and Alpina have quite affordable world timer watches with more traditional styles.
The first major surprise is how well I was able to get the comfortable titanium bracelet to fit. I normally don’t spend a lot of time in a watch review talking about a watch bracelet, but Ball’s bracelets are worth a lot of discussion, as they are really relevant to this review. A bad bracelet would have easily made such a large watch totally unwearable. A good bracelet means you can get a snug fit, which vastly increases the comfort of a larger-sized timepiece. In terms of design, you have a two-link style bracelet with a polished inner link. I like the little bits of polishing on the outer edges of the links as well. It makes for a really good looking yet modern sports watch bracelet.
What makes the Ball Watch Engineer Hydrocarbon Replica Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph bracelet so comfortable? In addition to being fluid on the wrist, Ball includes not one, but two half links. These are smaller links that allow for a more precise fit – which we generally encourage all brands to offer on their bracelets. Also, if you need a bit of extra room in the bracelet, Ball has designed this style of bracelet with two extensions – one on each end of the butterfly-style deployant. Each gives just a few millimeters of extra space, and when both open, there is enough room to put the watch over a thick jacket sleeve or diver’s suit.
This Ball deployant isn’t new, and I’ve discussed it before. It works very well, with precision made parts unlike most anything else you’ll find at this price level. One issue is that when closed, there is a small section that juts out with the Ball logo. It isn’t that big of a deal, but the thicker underside of the bracelet does make it more prone to being susceptible to scratches. The last thing that I will say about the bracelet is that the links themselves aren’t overly thick. Sometimes, watches of this size feel the need to get really “heavy duty” with their bracelets, but Ball is focused on simple style and a comfortable feel on the wrist.
Given that you can precisely fit the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph on the wrist, the size of the case begins to matter a lot less. Being able to snugly wear a watch right around your wrist bone means that it won’t get in the way when you bend your wrist, and you won’t feel it flying around as you move your hand. The worst thing is having a poorly fitting timepiece that ruins the overall experience. So at least for me, that was not an issue here, and I was able to wear this 45mm Ball watch with pure comfort.
With a good fit, the large dimensions of the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph dissipated, and I was able to admire its overall design, functionality, and unique set of features. There is, of course, some flair as well, which I think is welcome in limited amounts on luxury sports watches. A good example is how Ball designed the chronograph pushers on the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph. As you might know, Ball is known for being the most high-end brand to regularly feature Swiss made Tritium gas tubes as hour markers and in their hands. These gas tubes self-illuminate for darkness viewing. Ball decided to put a tube inside each of the chronograph pushers behind a small window. Why? Because it was cool to do so.
As a sport watch, the Ball Watch Review Youtube Replica Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph has a lot of appealing stats. First is the thick AR-coated sapphire crystal over the dial, then you have 100 meters of water resistance, which is good, given that it is a chronograph and with Ball’s Amortiser feature (more on that in a second). The case is shock resistant to 7,500 Gs and anti-magnetic to 4,800 A/M. You also get Ball’s robust crown protection system. Here you have another bit of “flair” as the small pusher-released protection bar lifts, allowing you to unscrew the crown. That “RR” on the crown stands for “railroad,” which is a reference to Ball’s history.
In the video part of this watch review, I discuss how Ball’s Amortiser system works and what it does. The idea is that during certain instances, if you anticipate that your watch will be subject to a lot of shock or vibration, you can manually lock the automatic rotor on the movement from moving. That’s right, you can lock the rotor if you anticipate you are going to be in a “danger zone.” The way this works is pretty simple. You first need to remove the watch and then twist the caseback in the direction indicated with your fingers. The propeller motif in relief on the caseback makes that simple. It is easy to tell when the caseback is in the locked or unlocked position.
With the Ball Watches Any Good Replica Amortiser activated, the rotor is locked, and you are ready for horologically dangerous situations. Of course, the irony is that you need to anticipate these situations, and with the Amortiser activated the mechanical movement will not automatically wind. A good feature to have combined with the Ball Amortiser is a power reserve indicator. Ball actually did that with the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley watch (hands-on here).
Will you use the Ball Watch 3000m Replica Amortiser feature all that much? Probably not. Desk divers love dive watches and don’t dive, and people who wear Ball timepieces or most other luxury sports watches don’t do half the things those timepieces were meant for. Still – we love them, and such features add to the “story” behind why we want these products on our wrists and in our collections. Now, let’s move on to the dial of the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph watch.
The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph has a dial that is about as busy are your standard Breitling chronograph. That means a lot of markers, but still you manage to read everything. In the dark, the dial is amazing, as Ball uses 39 total Tritium gas tubes in various colors, as well as a traditional SuperLumiNova luminant marker-filled bezel. The “night shot” of the dial is among the most amazing I’ve been able to photograph, and in the dark, it is truly amazingly legible. Little touches like the GMT hand being in a different color help a lot. Unfortunately, Ball was not able to design the dial so that the subsidiary dials have any luminant. This means the chronograph isn’t really useful in total darkness – but for me, that isn’t a deal breaker.
On close inspection, you’ll see that the chronograph subdials are slightly recessed with a concentric circle pattern in them – this is a welcome decorative touch. I also like the small dauphine-style subdial hands. While the dial of the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph watch is on the busier side, Ball really didn’t design it with anything unnecessary. While I happen to like it, or at least not be bothered by it, not everyone will like the use of a magnifier crystal over the date window. It does actually help to read the date a lot better, but not everyone likes the protrusion on the sapphire crystal. Around the dial is a bi-directional rotating bezel with compass markers on it. This navigational feature can be used in combination with the GMT hand, which allows you to roughly know the compass directions when used in combination with the position of the sun.
Inside the Ball Watches Ebay Replica Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph watch is their caliber RR1404 automatic movement. It is a Base Swiss ETA or Sellita mechanical chronograph movement with a GMT module added to it which adds a second time zone – though the GMT hand can be used to indicate whether you are in AM or PM time as well. It isn’t the most unique movement in the world, but you aren’t paying the price you might for the most unique movement in the world. It gets the job done nicely and Ball adds some nice touches to it.
Any immediate skepticism about the Ball Watch X Bmw Replica Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph I had before wearing it melted away after enjoying time with the watch on my wrist – this really turned out to be my type of timepieces. In titanium, the 45mm wide case wasn’t too heavy, and honestly, you’d never know it was titanium by looking at it, given the excellent finishing. The dial proves both functional and legible, and the overall design is exactly what I like in a modern sports watch: traditional without being retro stale, and visually contemporary. Of course, there is no one Ball watch with all the best features. The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph doesn’t have Ball’s SpringLOCK feature – which admittedly would be a bit redundant with the Amortiser. Sadly, if you love Ball timepieces, no one watch will satisfy you – so get ready for some collecting…
Price-wise, the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph isn’t cheap in the scheme of things most people buy on a regular basis, but it is very well-priced for what you get in terms of both features and quality. Ball has never tried to be a watch brand you are buying because of the name, but rather because you associate a certain look and feature set with the name. Ball watches, for the most part, make suitable daily wears, and their focus on things like functionality and ergonomics can only be truly appreciated when checking some of the competition. Of course, with their prolific designs, you never know what will come next, but for now, if you are looking for a feature-packed sporty chronograph, the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph ref. DC3036C-SA-BK is a solid choice. Price is $5,999. ballwatch.com
Necessary Data >Brand: Ball >Model: Hydrocarbon Engineer Spacemaster Orbital II Chronograph reference DC3036C-SA-BK >Price: $5,999 >Size: 45mm >Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes >Friend we’d recommend it to first: Non-brand snobs looking for an absolutely modern, well-conceived Swiss mechanical sports watch with some character. >Best characteristic of watch: Series of features and design elements work well together in a functional, comfortable, well-priced package. >Worst characteristic of watch: No luminant on chronograph subdial hands. Deployant clasp is thick.
One of the reasons I really enjoy Ball watches so much is the incredibly prolific nature of their watch department. It isn’t just the amount of new watches Ball releases each year, but also the sheer variety that interests me. That, and the fact that despite all the visual novelty, most Ball watches are good at retaining that sense of core brand DNA which makes their products distinct and noticeable. Another new 2014 model is this Ball Engineer Master II Pilot GMT timepiece.
Ball even goes so far as to name the designer personally – something which is highly unusual in the watch industry, especially when it comes to watches priced under $100,000, when “art” is sold more than the sheer utilitarian nature of the watch. The 8 Ball Watch Online Replica Engineer Master II Pilot GMT watch was designed for Ball by Magali Métrailler, a talented female watch designer who also created their well-regarded Ball for BMW watch collection, as well as design work for Jaeger-LeCoultre. What I think most typifies Magali Métrailler’s work, from my perspective, is her ability to combine a sense of composed Swiss/French elegance with a resolutely modern take on design. She is an up-and-coming star in my personal opinion, who I hope continues to be featured in more and more high-profile watch design projects.
Whereas Ball Watch With Tritium Replica has been very successful with design as of late, they still haven’t quite be able to mirror that sentiment in their “watch naming department” (should one even exist). With all the majesty and refinement they bring to the world of modern macho watch design, Ball watch names seem to be a sometimes random assortment of often redundant terms which, in my opinion, do not fit the high-quality personality most of these products have going for them. Why is this an issue? Primarily because I don’t think consumers can recall the names of their watches, which makes it hard for them to think about looking for them or asking about them in stores.
Consumers (for the most part) aren’t going to recall the reference numbers of watches, so brands have a vested interest in creating easy to remember names for their products that consumers can hear (or read) just a few times and commit to memory. Having said that, as part of the Ball Engineer Master II collection this reference GM3090C-SAJ-BK or GM3090C-LLAJ-BK (depending on the strap) is 43.5mm wide in steel, and just 11.9mm thick – making for a very wearable albeit modern sport watch, available on a leather strap or good-looking steel metal bracelet.
If the dial of the Ball Engineer Master II Pilot GMT looks a bit different than most Ball watches, that is because it is. While the hour markers look like those you typically see on Ball watches – meaning they are made using tritium gas tubes – what is different is how they are applied. Rather than sit on top of the dial, they are set flush with the dial. This offers a new type of look for Ball and was done so that the GMT hand can move while being placed low on the dial. While the GMT hand has a familiar Rolex Explorer look, it doesn’t use tritium gas tubes. In fact, the Ball Engineer Master II Pilot GMT watch is among the few Ball timepieces that has SuperLuminova on the dial in addition to tritium gas tubes. That means the GMT hand can look more traditional, but isn’t going to be as visible in the dark.
In order to keep the main watch dial clean, there is a flange ring for the minutes and a bi-directional rotating bezel with a 24 hour scale on it. Magali did a nice job of giving the piece an overall classic design but with a more modern flair. Like most Ball watches, the case of the Ball Engineer Master II Pilot GMT is admirably durable, being water resistant to 100 meters and shock resistant. Over the dial is an AR-coated sapphire crystal. The case would have been anti-magnetic, but Ball decided to go for a sapphire crystal caseback window that allows for the wearer to see the movement – something that is rather rare for Ball’s sport watches.
Inside of the Ball Bearing Watch Replica Engineer Master II Pilot GMT watch is a base Swiss ETA 2893 automatic GMT movement that Ball calls their caliber RR1201. As I said above, you can see the movement through the caseback window. The overall look of the design is very indicative of what the brand is best at today, and more importantly is a relatively good value. I know a lot of watches with the same movement and even more simple cases that are priced at twice as much as the Ball Engineer Master II Pilot GMT.
I have nothing bad to say about the black crocodile strap with red stitching which is available with the watch, but my preference is most always going to be with a metal bracelet, when one is offered. In this case, the steel bracelet, with a design common to other Ball watches, matches the modern look and feel of this sporty yet rather thin (for a Ball) GMT watch. Of course, when you step outside of the “conservative box” you know that often times designs will be polarizing – something that Ball knows only too well. With that said, I think the Ball Engineer Master II Pilot GMT has appeal to not only typical Ball watch fans but also those who don’t typically like the modern design of Ball’s products. Another testament to the watch design work of Magali Metrailler. Price for the reference GM3090C-SAJ-BK and GM3090C-LLAJ-BK Ball Engineer Master II Pilot GMT watch is $2,499. ballwatch.com
But less than half an hour in, the situation has been fully reversed. And the problem is only likely to weaken as the night goes on. Six hours at the Ball Watches Vs Omega Replica will still shine at maximum brightness where the Aqua Terra will be nearly invisible.So is the Omega worth approximately double the price? What I will tell you from managing both watches is that the Ball offers a compelling price. If you decide to find the more affordable Ball, then you won’t see or feel that the lack of the $2000+ USD you stored. It is still an extremely nice watch with a rather accurate movement. The Ball isn’t a cut-rate Aqua Terra. It’s its own watch with its own design and features excellent quality.What we have here’s a watch with quality and features that far exceed the price of entry. It is a complete package, using a appealing dial, higher quality stuff, tritium tubes along with a COSC rated movement.What didn’t I enjoy? Well, I would have chosen to have a screen caseback to flaunt the movement. With modern materials, basic antimagnetic properties can be pretty easily attained without the good back. I’d also prefer to have a deployant clasp, although when Ball does switch to one, I need them to maintain the style they are using on the current buckle, which seems great. Most producers do not pay sufficient attention to those details.These are minor issues, however, and they mostly come down to mere taste. I think this is a fantastic looking opinion, and an incredible price. For those looking to step up from their entrance level ETA offers to a more complete package they should give this opinion a severe glimpse before trying the much more costly in-house offerings.
Guillaume Néry stunned the world with the release of his 2010 short film Free Fall. In it, the world-champion French free diver and Ball Watches Singapore Replica Watches brand ambassador explores the depths of the sea within “Dean’s Blue Hole” – the deepest such ocean cavity in the world. The resulting cinematic experience became a spectacular viral video: if you haven’t seen it yet, it will blow your mind. (We’ve included it at the bottom of the post, just in case you’re not one of the near 21,000,000 people who’ve seen it on YouTube.) And now Néry is back with a new film, Ocean Gravity (above), following in the wake of some stunning watch collaborations.
I never assumed that a universe timer dive watch could be useful, but consider the fact that it’s famous enough for Ball Watches.Com Replica watches to have produced a second run of them. It was a few years ago that Ball initially released the Engineer Master II Diver Worldtime, and earlier in 2016 they came out with a slightly tweaked version that’s that the Ball Engineer Master II Diver Worldtime see that you see before you.The old Diver Worldtime is similar enough that I would not have reviewed that the watch twice. Since this is the first review of such a watch, we can bulk the old and the new together. When compared with the original from 2010, the 2016 versions look a little more sporty and sporty, in my opinion, but the gaps to the new version are rather small. Ball points to how the new variants have updated technology, but what exactly that signifies is unclear.Ball indicates that the technology that offers the real-time complication is in-house. That’s because they constructed a module over a foundation Swiss ETA automatic movement that unite to shape the Ball caliber RR1501. That said, world time sequences of the ilk have historically been solely in the domain of dress watches. It was brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre and Girard-Perregaux that helped make this very handy kind of complication something folks wanted to see in game watches.
Néry launched his pro career with his 2002 record descent of 87 meters, with Ball sponsorship following in 2006. A charter member of Ball’s Explorers Club, Néry has collaborated on a number of his own very cool dive watches with the fascinating brand famed for its impossibly tough tool watches – including a very cool signature dive chronograph (named “FreeFall” after Néry’s cinematic triumph) and the awesome Engineer Master II Diver Worldtime.
Personally, I find Néry’s signature timepiece one of the most beautiful and distinctive divers out there, with its stunning ocean-blue dial and intriguing bezel integration; some serious anti-reflective coating on the sapphire crystal, rugged, yet well finished steel casing, 300 meters of water resistance, and a chronograph function to measure the free diver’s precious remaining moments of breath register this as a serious tool for divers. It also has Ball’s trademark 5,000 Gs of shock resistance – actually a more necessary feature than one might think for diving (protecting above and beyond more than most dive watches do, taking into account the considerable impact a timepiece endures when a diver hits the water). And yes, it has a helluva lot of wrist presence, as does the award-winning Diver Worldtime, which boasts a dazzlingly postmodern yet timeless design from current star watch designer (and possible next Gerald Genta) Magali Métrailler.
While watch aficionados love his Ball Watches Perth Replica watches, Néry is better known to the general public for his mindblowing YouTube videos. (Although, of course, he did indeed rock his limited-edition Engineer II Master Diver in Free Fall.) Now Néry and his filmmaking partner Julie Gautier are back with another incredible diving video, Ocean Gravity, and it’s sure to go viral again – and yes, he is repping Team Ball in it! Per the press release, Ocean Gravity depicts “a man, in a weightless condition, orbiting around a planet. Motionless, he glides at a high speed into a cosmos that appears to be endless. After a few seconds, we realize the reality… The cosmos is the ocean, the planet is the submerged surface of the earth, and the astronaut is a freediver. Welcome to the surrealist world of Ocean Gravity.” And if you missed Néry’s Free Fall must-see masterpiece, well, here it is below. Enjoy. ballwatch.com
As the caseback suggests, and probably enhanced by the use of a solid caseback, the Ball Watches Vs Breitling Replica is ranked as antimagnetic. Naturally, I am not going to only trust Ball with this so I chose to magnetize the watch and determine exactly how much it would take.Just kidding. For now we’ll just have to go by Ball’s official rating.Although not Ball’s error, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the fact that black dialed watches (this one is also available in gray or white) are very prone to glare. Here you get a great view of the blue sky from the crystal of the watch.Despite the use of a buckle, so I found this to be one of the greatest leather straps I’ve worn.The black alligator has a great deal of personality and just the perfect amount of pliancy.The seem only compliments the Ball therefore perfectly.As I mentioned, this watch employs a buckle rather than a deployant clasp, but what a good looking buckle. If I can’t have a deployant, I need this.I did temporarily wear the Ball RLC and discovered it to be very comfortable and one of the very best leather straps I’ve worn. I’m very impressed with the wear comfort of this watch. Add a deployant and it’d happen to be perfect.The 2836 is basically a variant of this ultra-popular 2824 having an additional day complication. The COSC rating guarantees precision to within +6/-4 seconds per day. In the brief time I had the opinion, I unscientifically quantified an excellent +2 per day. Keep in mind, however, that those amounts were dial up and off-wrist, meaning I likely would have achieved slightly greater numbers if I had been wearing this watch each day, and given a potential break in period. These are basically the same numbers one could expect to see on a much more costly Rolex or Omega.
Back in 2012, Ball watches made the interesting announcement that they would be producing watches in collaboration with BMW cars – and I thought that was pretty cool. aBlogtoWatch debuted the Ball for BMW watch collection and later went hands-on here. For 2015, Ball has quietly released one new piece in the Ball for BMW watch family with the TimeTrekker collection that includes both blue and black dial versions, as well as the watch on either a steel metal bracelet or a rubber strap.
One of the highlights of the Ball for BMW collection (aside from it being designed by the very talented watch designer Magali Metrailler) is that the BMW branding is rather subtle on the dial. That means the fact that the watch is by Ball but with BMW branding is not “in your face.” A small and tasteful BMW logo exists in a petite form next to the 3 o’clock hour indicator. The logo is there when the wearer wants to be reminded of it, but isn’t even readily apparent to others who view the watch on the wearer’s wrist.
The Ball Watches Endurance Replica for BMW TimeTrekker is essentially a watch with the time and a day/date complication. Ball uses a modified version of a Swiss ETA 2836 automatic movement. According to Ball, the movement is given their Amortiser shock protection system. This essentially allows the wearer to twist the back of the watch case in order to lock the automatic rotor from spinning.
The Ball for BMW TimeTrekker watches we saw hands-on were pre-production prototypes, but the case backs still displayed a cool BMW logo-inspired grid that nonetheless allowed for a splendid view of the movement inside. The movement features Ball’s Amortiser system mentioned above, a feature patented by Ball. The point of it is to help prevent damage to the watch from shock. The catch, of course, is that you need to anticipate when the watch might experience shock in advance. The Amortiser locks the automatic rotor from spinning so that the movement is more protected from the effect of a serious shock.
Of course, when the automatic rotor is locked, it will not turn, and thus, the watch movement will not “self wind.” While the Amortiser feature is cool and works as advertised, it is not something that I think most watch wearers will utilize on a regular basis. In reviewing the 8 Ball Watches Replica Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster II Orbital watch here (that also features the complication) I recall finding the Amortiser system a fun, albeit difficult feature to use for real world applications.
Ball calls this base Swiss ETA movement their caliber RR11002-C, and in addition to the Amortiser system, this 4Hz mechanical movement is provided with COSC Chronometer certification for accuracy. It isn’t clear whether or not the movement will be visible through the caseback window on the final versions.
At 44mm wide in the brushed and polished steel case, the Ball for BMW TimeTrekker is a decent 13.45mm thick. I recall it wearing very comfortably and liking the look of the case a lot. Sure, you could go with the available “rubberized leather strap,” but why not opt for the specially designed (and good-looking) matching steel bracelet. The bracelet not only tapers (which is a sign of great design) but also has some nice edge polishing that I like.
Water resistant to 200 meters and anti-magnetic to 4,800A/m, the Ball Watches Malaysia Price Replica for BMW TimeTrekker is a solid sports watch. Of course, this is a dive-style timepiece with a uni-directional rotating bezel that uses a black ceramic insert (good for scratch resistance). Also, the bezel numeral markers are applied with luminant. The dial is also very “diver style” with easy to read hands and a lot of nice details thanks to Magali. You get the look of a Ball for BMW design, but there is something also very decently refined in this look. I don’t drive a BMW at all, but I would still easily wear this timepiece.
Being a Ball, the dial is, of course, outfitted with tritium gas tubes for darkness illumination. You have more traditional round tritium gas tubes in the hands and at the 5, 6, and 7 o’clock hour markers, while the rest of the hour markers use larger, fatter tubes with blue colored tritium lume material. That is except for the 12 o’clock hour marker that uses a cool red colored “fat” tritium tube. There are a total of 14 tritium tubes on the dial.
An interesting design feature on the dial are the different styles of hour markers at the bottom of the dial. This happens to work very well for the Ball Watches Diver Replica for BMW TimeTrekker design, but was, in my opinion, a brave move which could have only come from a very seasoned watch designer.
The black Ball for BMW TimeTrekker dial is bit more on the conservative, timeless side, while the dark blue dial is a bit more hip and contemporary. The blue isn’t necessarily quite as classy as the black dial, but it does have a more sporty, youthful feel. The Ball for BMW collection most certainly exists as a niche within the larger Ball brand, but it is uniquely well done and the BMW connection is probably going to be important for a lot of Ball fans. With that said, even if you don’t have BMW or are ambivalent to the car maker, the Ball for BMW TimeTrekker is still a very solid watch that is different from anything else that Ball produces. Price is $2,999 on a strap and $3,099 on the bracelet. ballwatch.com
I never supposed that a universe timer dive watch would be helpful, but think about the fact that it is popular enough for Ball watches to have produced a second run of them. Because this is the very first review of this type of watch, we can majority the older and the new together. What they upgraded for the reference DG2022A-S3AJ-BK / DG2022A-P3AJ-BK Ball Engineer Master II Diver Worldtime watch is really just the dial. Compared to the first from 2010, the 2016 versions look a little more sporty and sporty, in my opinion, but the gaps for the new version are rather tiny. Ball points to the fact that the new versions have upgraded technology, but exactly what that signifies is unclear.Ball suggests that the technology which provides the world time complication is in-house. That is because they constructed a module over a base Swiss ETA automatic movement which unite to form the Ball grade RR1501. In addition to the time, date, and day of the week, the motion has a 24-hour world time sign ring that’s popular on both sport and dress watches nowadays. It was brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre and Girard-Perregaux that helped make this very handy type of complication something people wanted to see in sport watches.
By now, you are surely aware of the ties Ball Watch has to the railroad industry (in a nutshell, they created the first watches certified for use to keep the trains on time and not running into each other). That is reflected in the names of the watches that they have created (for instance, the Engineer and Fireman lines). What about the person who keeps things orderly in the passenger compartment – the conductor? Turns out, Ball has not left that position behind in their naming. Today, we will be reviewing what seems to be an overlooked slice of their collection, the Ball Conductor Transcendent.
When you compare the Ball Conductor Transcendent to the rest of the lineup, it is definitely the odd man out. While other watches give off an air of rugged durability, this watch instead shoots for a more elegant feel, albeit one that is in a case shape you simply do not see in dress watches (or, at least, I have not). At first glance, you might thing the steel case was a simple square one with a bit of rounding. As it turns out, it’s actually a bit more rectangular leaning (37.5mm by 47.5mm), and has a lot more curves hiding in it than a quick glance would reveal.
The most prominent of those comes courtesy of the sapphire crystal, which the brand labels as a TV screen style. And you know what? I see it – it definitely has the shape and curve of an old CRT type of screen. It is an interesting look, and it helps the case height to slope down side to side and top to bottom, making for a more compact fit on the wrist. The other “hidden” curve helps in that regard as well, and shows up on the reverse of the watch.
Yes, that is right – the Ball Conductor Transcendent has a curved case back. This is something I have not run across a lot, but it definitely helps to snug the watch in tighter to your wrist. For a more compact dress piece like this, I think the curves (front and back) work quite nicely in terms of the styling, and, of course, help to get the watch out from under a cuff (and back in) without any issue.
Even with the curved caseback, you do still get an exhibition window through which you can see the Ball Watch Magneto S Replica RR1101 automatic movement. This is due to the fact that the center of the case is actually flat. You can pick that up on the dial side as well. Taking a closer look at the dial, you see that the corners actually angle down (to accommodate the curvature of the case), leaving you with a sort of “hidden” circle that is visible on the dial. This is, obviously, due to the fact that the movement itself is not curved. I rather liked the look, and frankly, it is not all that noticeable (the corners bent down) unless the light hits it just right.
The rest of the dial is rather well-balanced, with the the larger numerals (so the tritium tubes can be affixed) taking a prominent place. Quite obviously, between the numerals and indices, seeing the time day or night is quite easy, and provides the lightshow that Ball is known for. The one wrinkle in that part of the performance comes in courtesy of the hour hand. While the minute hand is a good size for the dial (and accommodates a bigger tritium tube), the hour hand falls a bit short – literally.
The Monster’s Ball Watch 32 Replica Engineer III CarboLIGHT is offered in both 40mm and 43mm case sizes with a thickness of 13mm. Both variations are carefully balanced and even the bigger version is meant to wear comfortably as a result of the situation’s lightweight properties. A massive crown allows for simple operation plus a durable scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with date magnifier rounds out the CarboLIGHT’s sleek design. Both ends nicely highlight the carbon fiber instance composite and the screen is as straightforward as they come. Large baton indicators mark the hours and big sword palms are used for quick and effortless legibility. Here, we also see a Ball signature — self-powered micro gas light tubes that require no external charging.Another standout characteristic is the movement, which will be a COSC chronometer certified automatic caliber Ball RR1103-C. The base is the ETA 2824 with a 38 hour power reserve and 28,800bph operational frequency. Besides the exceptionally precise nature of the motion, the included Amortiser® system helps protect it in lateral impacts. Finally, the Ball Engineer III CarboLIGHT comes with a calf leather strap with pin buckle or a black rubber strap for a stronger and casual feel.
There is a central circle with the minute hashes called out, and it gives an obvious frame of reference for the hour hand. The hand itself falls short of actually reaching to that track. Additionally, since the hand is so short, it required a smaller tritium tube to be mounted. While I would not go so far as to say it made it hard to read the time, it definitely was not as easy as you would expect (in the dark), and the proportion just felt a touch off. Not a major deal, but also a small design tweak that I think would help.
On the wrist, the 62g (yes, only 62 grams!) Ball Watches User Manual Replica Conductor Transcendent is a lightweight and elegant companion to face the day. As I mentioned earlier, the curved nature of the case and crystal ensure that the watch slips under a cuff quite easily, right after a quick glance to check the time. If you do spend some more time checking the watch out, you will notice that the play of light across the grooved center of the dial adds some nice dimensionality, and of course, those curved corners are their own sort of style.
You will also notice (as I did) that the date wheel stands out like a sore thumb on the black dial version we reviewed (the white dial, of course, would be a non-issue). Here, it really feels jarring, and I would prefer to see it deleted if a color-matched date wheel was not available. Yes, this is a common complaint we have about watches, and there are costs involved, but it is surprising to me that more brands have not addressed this yet.
Even for the issues I picked with some smaller details, I did enjoy my time with the Ball Watch Omega Replica Conductor Transcendent. While Ball’s lightshow-on-the-wrist more often takes a sportier, more robust form, here, we have something that really is ready to be a dress watch. While it worked well enough at the office, it really felt like it shined brightest when I had it paired up with a suit. This is also a particularly affordable route to get into the Ball catalog, with the Ball Conductor Transcendent commanding a price of $2,699(for either the strap or the polished bracelet). In the current design, I think the white dial might be the better option of the two. When it comes to a tritium-equipped dress watch, however, I think the Ball Conductor Transcendent needs to be at the top of your list to check out. ballwatch.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Ball >Model: Conductor Transcendent >Price: $2,699 >Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes. Likely just for more formal occasions, but yes. >Friend we’d recommend it to first: This is perfect for the guy who is wearing suits frequently, but wants something more of a “wow” factor in their watch, which the curves and tritium certainly deliver. >Best characteristic of watch: The curves of the case (back and sides), crystal, and dial. It just makes for an uncommon and intriguing configuration. >Worst characteristic of watch: I’m going to pick on the date wheel again – either color-match it or delete it.
Anyone acquainted with the appearance of classic turn-of-the-century utilitarian pocket watches will immediately recognize what inspired Ball Watch 47mm Replica to create the dial layout. In reality, the dials are in fact baked enamel – that, so far as I know, is quite tough to discover in timepieces at the price. I have always been fond of this dial layout due to its capacity to be both calm and tasteful, but also supremely legible and utilitarian. The relaxed effectiveness of its display is a testament to good watch face layout. Obviously, Ball will contain a date window at 3 o’clock that inevitably some people will dislike, but it doesn’t bother me at all. Not that I really care about watches having a date window or maybe not, but some people today dislike them for how they could negatively influence a sense of dial symmetry.One small downside to the watch (based on your visual precision) is that the painted blue hands versus flame-blued steel hands. The latter provides a much better, less shiny, and more even appearance, since the metal itself is created blue versus being coated. That said, the overall look is quite nice for the price. I really don’t think a lot of people would want a dial that’s 5 percent better for a 30-50% cost premium… there are clearly other watch choices for this.
One Ball watch that should not be overlooked this year is the limited edition Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley ref. PM2096B-S1J-BK. Ball has been rather prolific as of late when it comes to both design variety and technology – which is great, but it also makes it difficult to keep track of everything that the Swiss brand (with American origins) is doing. The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley represents an aesthetic refinement as well as technological advancement of the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Ceramic XV that I reviewed previously here. You can see that the former Ceramic XV model was the origin of this style, but the two watches are very different, aside from an overall look and feel.
After the Ball Ceramic XV came the slightly updated Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Airborne (hands-on here), a cool model with some visual updates, but also Ball’s then brand new SpringLock system designed to protect the balance wheel against shock and vibration. The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley is priced within a few hundred dollars of the Airborne, and I have a feeling consumers will have to make a difficult choice between them, because the two are a bit different and have distinct benefits. Both are pretty great watches, though. In my opinion, however, the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley is the winner, simply because I like the look of the dial better and the addition of a power reserve indicator.
As promised, I am finally putting these watches together for your pleasure. A couple of disclaimers: this is not a perfect matchup. The Omega and Ball Watches For Bmw Replica are extended in similar sizes and dial colours, but these particular examples aren’t perfectly aligned. Nonetheless, the general stylistic and quality points could be ascertained in the photographs. So what do you get for about twice the price?The resemblance is instantly evident. While the Ball has chosen to use broader-spaced lines, each has chosen the vertical stripes (teak dial). Even their hour mark are quite similar.The gap in lume is very obvious even in daytime light. The Omega’s blue lume is a clean white, in which the tritium tubes possess a subdued green look to them. I believe they both look great.No doubt partially attributable to the Omega’s gray dial (versus the black one in the Ball), the warmth resistance is noticeably improved on the Omega.The hands and markers are equally nicely done, but also the Omega’s are substantially more complicated. Do note, but the large level of polish used on the interior of the Ball’s day/date display.The different choices daily windows are going to be extremely divisive. As for me, I really enjoy the angular look of the Omega, but I’ll admit, the display is much more readable on the Ball, mostly due to its high contrast appearance. Additional you get an excess complication with the Ball.There are a few areas that I believe will be undeniable. First, the Omega includes a much bigger movement. In addition, it offers a far longer power book, although they share the same 5 position adjustment and COSC score. Additional the ETA-based Ball actually has a marginally smoother shave hands compared to the Omega.Here is that the Aqua Terra and the Red Label side by side, immediately after the Omega has been subjected to a bright light. Initially, that the Omega easily outshines the Ball.
Globe time complications as seen in this timepiece are now common but also very useful and simple. They rely on just two components. First is a disk that shows a 24-hour scale which rotates once each day. Second is a listing of reference cities around the outside periphery that can ideally be moved. This is to help people place their local time. What people do in order to read the time in other time zones will be start at the top with the local time and then look around on the dial for the mention domain that reflects the time zone they want to understand. All they should do is look and see what the hour will be about the disk where it meets the time zone you want to reference. The minute hand on the main dial is used to read the minutes. See? It’s really simple and effective.Given its simplicity, such a drawback does not have to cost a good deal. Sure you can spent upwards of $10,000 for a watch on this attribute, but if you spend that much, I hope you are becoming more which you are seeking besides this feature since it can be found for a whole lot less. Along with Ball, brands such as Frédérique Continuous and Alpina have very affordable world timer watches using more traditional styles.
What makes the Ball Engineer Master II Diver Worldtime a funny watch is that the entire world time complication is not one which you’d normally find in a dive watch. Historic absence alone isn’t a good reason to dismiss it, however you must understand that this is not the type of thing you’d instantly need whilst underwater. With that said, most people who own high-end dive watches nowadays obviously aren’t spending a great deal of time underwater with them. So given that a whole lot of individuals like sporty dive watches for everyday wear, and since the entire world time complication is convenient, the marriage of these elements begins to create sense.Dial design for your Ball Engineer Master II Diver Worldtime is where lots of the novelty in this version is, and what you have even more of now is a contemporary appearance with some small decorative flair. Ball does a decent job of providing the dial up a three-dimensional look given the several layers and splashes of crimson which add some color. Gone will be the more traditional-looking sun and moon symbols on the entire world time ring which is now only black and white to be able to represent night and day times.Another interesting characteristic is that the inner rotating diver’s time bezel doubles as the world time reference city ring. That is smart, but it will mean that you’ll find it hard to use both the world time complication as well as the countdown timer to the internal bezel. It isn’t a huge deal, but it is worth knowing about in the event you are someone who really does need to utilize those features together.Of course, this really is a Ball watch, and with that comes the use of Tritium gas tubes for darkness light. Ball delivers a complete array of tubes at the hands, hour markers, and in the rotating inner timing bezel. Looking at this and other watches with tritium tubes in the dark is always very cool.
I’ve mentioned in the past that my “favorite” complication is probably a power reserve indicator. I find these to be the most useful and they further offer me the greatest ability to connect with the movement inside of the watches I am wearing. They are also very useful to me because I am not the type of person who wears the same watch each day. In addition to a date indicator window on the dial, the Ball Sg50 Watch Replica Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley also has an attractively designed power reserve indicator for what I believe is about two days worth of power reserve.
There is a lot to like about the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley’s dial. It begins with a mostly matte texture dial that works well in contrast to the polished hands and hour markers. This means legibility is very good. I also like the rather clean look of the dial with the track of concentric circles being used only on the outside periphery of the dial, under the hour markers. Like other models in this Engineer Hydrocarbon family, the minute markers are placed on a curved flange ring around the main dial of the watch. Being a Ball product also means use of a lot of tritium gas tubes for lume – which self-illuminate for unrivaled ongoing legibility in the dark.
Both versions are closely balanced and even the larger version is meant to wear comfortably as a result of the case’s lightweight properties. A large crown allows for simple operation plus a durable scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with date magnifier rounds out from CarboLIGHT’s slick layout. Both finishes nicely highlight the carbon fiber instance composite and the screen is as straightforward as they come. Large baton indexes mark the hours and big sword hands are used for quick and effortless legibility. Here, we also see a Ball signature — self-powered micro gas light tubes that need no outside charging.Another standout characteristic is the movement, which will be a COSC chronometer certified automatic grade Ball RR1103-C. Besides the highly precise nature of the movement, the included Amortiser® system helps protect it from lateral impacts. Finally, the Ball Engineer III CarboLIGHT comes with a calf leather strap with pin buckle or a black rubberized strap for a more rugged and casual texture.
Ball also uses some traditional SuperLumiNova luminant, which is painted on the ceramic bezel insert. The diver’s style bezel rotates uni-directionally for added functionality. This is among the most refined Hydrocarbon Engineer designs in a collection of timepieces that try very hard to be both luxurious as well as masculine. One of the most interesting updates to the design of the Engineer Hydrocarbon case in the Ball Watches Hodinkee Replica Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley is the use of a domed sapphire crystal, versus a flat one. Curved sapphire crystals are going to produce more glare as compared to a flat one, but the sapphire crystal is anti-reflective coated and legibility is very good in the watch overall.
At 42mm wide in steel, the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley case wears very comfortably, but it doesn’t wear small. The broad lugs and locking crown guard make for a stately presence on the wrist. The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley is also thicker than some other Engineer Hydrocarbon watches at 17.3mm thick, though given the wrapping lugs, it doesn’t visually appear to be that high. With 200 meters of water resistance, the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley case has another reason for being thick – use of Ball’s patented Amortiser system.
I never supposed that a world timer dive watch could be useful, but consider the fact that it’s famous enough for Ball watches to have made a second run of them. Because this is the first review of this type of watch, we could bulk the older and the new together. Compared to the first from 2010, the 2016 models look a bit more sporty and legible, in my opinion, but the gaps to the new version are somewhat tiny. Ball points to how the new versions have upgraded technology, but what exactly that signifies is unclear.Ball suggests that the technology which provides the world time complication is in-house. That’s because they built a module over a base Swiss ETA automatic movement that unite to shape the Ball grade RR1501. Along with this time, date, and day of the week, the movement has a 24-hour world time sign ring that is popular on both game and dress watches nowadays. With that said, world time sequences of the ilk have historically been exclusively in the domain of dress watches. It had been brands like Jaeger-LeCoultre and Girard-Perregaux that helped make this very handy type of complication something folks wanted to watch in game watches.
Used on just a few Ball Watches Kelowna Replica watches from time to time, the Amortiser system is among the more exotic and interesting features I believe that I’ve ever encountered. Of course, the Amortiser, like SpringLock, comes from Ball’s brilliant technical director Philippe Antille (seen here testing SpringLock with Kiss band members). The concept of the Amortiser is difficult to fully explain, but describing how it works is simple. The idea of the system is to lock the automatic rotor of a mechanical movement into place and prevent it from spinning. The question is, why would you want to do this?
Automatic movements can be damaged by the automatic rotor moving out of place if the entire movement is subject to severe shock – such as a fall. By locking the automatic movement, you of course prevent the watch from self-winding, but you also protect the movement from types of serious shock. Ball Watches Fireman Night Breaker Replica claims that with the Amortiser system engaged (which the user must do manually) the watch can survive a fall from 5.2 meters (in their tests). That is sort of a big deal. In order to lock the rotor, you must first take the watch off your wrist, and then go to the caseback of the watch and literally turn the inner part of the caseback from the “Off” to “On” position.
The brilliant part about having a power reserve indicator on the dial is that if you choose to have the Amortiser engaged for a long time, you can a least know the power left on the movement so that you can manually wind it if necessary. So for that reason, the Amortiser works really well with a power reserve indicator, because with it engaged, an automatic watch is turned temporarily into a manually wound watch. It is thus impressive that even with this moving caseback part, the Ball Watches Replica Replica Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley watch has 200 meters of water resistance. It also has shock resistance of up to 7,500 Gs and 4,800 A/m of anti-magnetic resistance.
The bracelet on the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley is very well made, and there are small micro-extensions on each end which come in handy. Inside the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley is the Ball caliber RR1201, which is a base Swiss Sellita or ETA mechanical movement with, of course, some modifications by Ball. For me, the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley is a great assortment of features and design cues that feel very satisfying together, if you are looking for a high-quality and useful men’s sports watch (that also happens to be rather attractive). Even so, Ball will only produce the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley ref. PM2096B-S1J-BK as a limited edition of 500 pieces. Price is $3,899. ballwatch.com
Anyone acquainted with the look of classic turn-of-the-century utilitarian pocket watches will instantly comprehend what prompted Ball to make the dial layout. In reality, the dials are actually baked enamel – which, so far as I know, is very tough to discover in timepieces at the price. I have always been fond of the dial layout because of its ability to be equally calm and tasteful, but also incredibly legible and functional. The relaxed effectiveness of its screen is a testament to good watch face layout. Of course, because this is a Ball watch we are talking about, the Ball Trainmaster Standard Time dial can also be fitted using self-illuminating tritium gas tubes in both the hands and alongside each of the hour markers.Little touches on the dial are elegant, such as the fanciful way Ball designed the 7 o’clock hour mark to say “Ball & C” (Ball & Co). The dial is quite classic in its implementation, with a subsidiary seconds dial and blued hands. Not that I really care about watches using a date window or not, but some people today dislike them for how they can negatively influence an awareness of dial up symmetry.One small downside to the watch (depending on your visual precision) is that the painted blue hands versus flame-blued steel hands. The latter provides a much better, less shiny, and more even look, as the metal itself is made blue versus being coated. With that said, the overall look is very nice for the purchase price. I really don’t think a good deal of people would want a dial that is 5 percent better to get a 30-50% price premium… there are clearly other watch options for that.
