Basel Review New Watches from Ball Watch Company
Tuesday - 13 March 2012
Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU
The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU is the world's first diving watch with a helium release valve incorporated in the crown.
The timepiece is dedicated to the Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU), the unit of the United States Navy that is responsible for operational diving and decompression rules, and develops new procedures and equipment to increase diving safety.
The Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU features a chromed black ceramic bezel with unidirectional rotation and ergonomic contours, allowing precise handling even when wearing diving gloves. Powerful luminous paint is used on the bezel indications.
Water resistance is guaranteed to 600 metres, and an automatic helium release valve is incorporated into the crown ensuring the surface does not warp under the effects of water pressure and further improving its resistance to water. Two chamfers have been cut into the case flange supporting the bezel, effectively draining any water that may stay between the two components.
The titanium case measures 42 mm, featuring anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and the case back is engraved with the NEDU diver emblem.
The indexes and hands are fitted with luminous micro tubes of 3H gas, allowing readability in the dark that is up to 100 times more efficient than conventional luminous paint.
The watch is available with a rubber strap or stainless steel and titanium bracelet, and a black or white dial. It features automatic caliber ETA 7750 movement with COSC certified chronometer. It is shock resistant to 7,500 Gs and anti-magnetic to 4,800 A/m.
Engineer Master II Skindiver
The new Engineer Master II Skindiver celebrates the golden jubilee of the first diving watch from the Ball Watch Company. Stand-out dial graduation and digital indexes allows essential information to be immediately visible while diving, and indexes are paired with double micro-tubes of 3H luminous gas to allow visibility in the dark.
The original 'Skindiver' inscription, taken from the 1962 model, is included on the caseback.
The vintage 1960s design features a 40.5 mm stainless steel case, black rubber strap and large rotating bezel. The watch is water resistant to 300 metres, shock resistant to 5,000 Gs, and anti-magnetic to 4,800 A/m. Movement is automatic caliber ETA 2836-2.
Conductor Transcendent
The Ball Conductor collection remains faithful to the company's origins, paying homage to the golden era of American railroads and the train conductors that provided a precise measurement of time. The tonneau shape of the Conductor collection is based on the first Ball watch designed in the 1920s.
The Conductor Transcendent features a 37.5 mm stainless steel case with anti-reflective sapphire crystal and a black or white dial. It has a transparent caseback with curved sapphire crystal, and movement is automatic caliber ETA 2892-A2.
The watch is water resistant to 50 meters and shock resistant to 5,000 Gs. It includes micro tubes of luminescent 3H tritium gas on the hands and dial, making it perfectly readable in the dark, and is available with a stainless steel bracelet or crocodile leather strap.
Trainmaster Legend
The Ball Trainmaster Legend is inspired by one of the original Trainmaster timepieces of 1952, celebrating the railroad masters that supervised the smooth operations of the rail network.
The new addition to the Trainmaster collection features a 40 mm polished stainless steel case, with a choice of silver, black or grey dials. The dial is elegant and uncluttered, with raised metal hour indexes. The main indexes, hour and minute hands are fitted with micro-tubes of luminous 3H gas to allow visibility in complete darkness.
Movement is ETA 2824-2 mechanical automatic-winding caliber. The watch is shock resistant to 5,000 Gs and water resistant to 30 metres.
The Trainmaster Legend is available with a stainless steel bracelet or crocodile strap.
Trainmaster Worldtime Chronograph
The Ball Trainmaster Worldtime Chronograph combines day and date functions with 24-hour time zone display. A special module drives a disk engraved with the world's main metropolises, automatically rotating in the opposite direction to the hands so the watch displays the time in 24 different geographic locations.
Movement is automatic ETA 7750, and the dial is perfectly legible in the dark due to 15 micro-tubes filled with 3H gas.
The 42 mm case is stainless steel with anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass. The watch is water resistant to 50 metres and certified shock resistant to 5,000 Gs.
The Trainmaster Worldtime Chronograph is available with a black or white dial, and a stainless steel bracelet or crocodile leather strap.
Prices and launch dates to follow.
