BALL Engineer II Moon Calendar Watch Review

Limited to 1000 pieces, the Ball Engineer II Moon Calendar watch marks the watchmaker’s 130th anniversary and comes with a beautifully decorated indicator to show the positioning of the moon as it is seen in the night sky according to the days of the lunar cycle. With additional complications that include an outer date ring, day and month aperture, Ball Watch Company combines its micro gas tube technology with the robustness of a strong steel Engineer II case to offer all-day and all-night visibility.

If you have been undecided about investing in a moonphase watch then there are two points worth mentioning on the side of its advantage. One – there are legions of watch enthusiasts that would agree there is little else more enjoyable than a beautifully decorated moonphase indicator to track the positioning of the celestial body over the course of a lunar phase cycle. Two – a moonphase complication can be quite a functional and practical thing to own. If you’re going to choose a moonphase watch – do it right. By that, we would point you towards the direction of a luxury watch brand that really does go to the nth degree when it comes to executing a well-built complication, like Ball Watch Company for example. The manufacturer has developed a sophisticated and elegant-looking moonphase watch in the form of the Engineer II Moon Calendar watch and has done so with exceptional skill and perseverance. A little like the brand’s innovative luminous gas tube technology, Ball does nothing by halves, which makes this Moon Calendar watch the perfect timepiece for tracking the phases of the moon and enjoying accurate timekeeping simultaneously.

Why would you need a moonphase watch and how does it work?

Moonphase watches are not just beautiful to look at. They serve on a practical basis too. They can identify a due date, a birthday or an anniversary, not to mention being able to track the rising and lowering of the tides. More than just a gimmick, the moonphase watch is as much technically sophisticated as it is aesthetically pleasing. A moonphase watch like the Ball engineer II Moon Calendar watch displays the 29.5-day lunar cycle through an aperture based on its dial. Put simply, it displays the luminous portion of the moon as it orbits the earth. The aperture hides any non-luminous parts whilst visibly showing the profile of the moon as it is displayed in the night sky each evening. In addition to this, an arc denoting a scale for the lunar cycle days is also present. Interestingly, the moon phase is one of mankind’s earliest complications. Most comprise two identical moons on a disc under the surface of the dial. A 59-tooth driving wheel then uses a mechanical finger to advance the disc each day of the 29.5 day lunar cycle.

The details you need to know about the Ball Engineer II Moon Calendar watch

The limited-edition Ball Engineer II Moon Calendar watch is described as an instrument that combines meticulous horological expertise with a robust and practical design. The brand describes itself as a manufacturer that constantly drives itself forward on a quest to develop watches with a true purpose, and that can certainly be said for the design of the Moon Calendar watch. A deep blue moon display is artistically executed against a fresh white dial. Aside from this beautifully decorated complication at the southern hemisphere of the dial, there is a day and month aperture to refer to underneath the 12 o’clock location, framed by a date ring around the outer periphery of the display. The date hand is a dark blue to coordinate with the lighter blue-coloured date numerals. Despite these additional features, the dial retains a sense of clarity and understated elegance. The deep entrancing blue-coloured moon phase aperture is punctuated by an iridescent silver-hued moon, set against a star-studded sky and paired with the lunar cycle scale for more accurate tracking.

Illuminating by night

By wearing the Ball Engineer II Moon Calendar watch, the wearer is encouraged to seize every moment of the day and that is thanks to Ball’s innovative luminous gas tube technology which promises legibility at every hour. Without a doubt, this technology is a cut above the rest. These micro gas tubes glow whether it’s day or night, unlike Super-LumiNova material that gradually fades. A double tube at 12 o’clock glows in the same colour as the central hands in orange, whereas the remaining stick markers light up in a green hue.

A solid build

The Ball Engineer II Moon Calendar is a 40mm stainless steel model with an easy-handling design that includes 4 recessed pushers on the flanks of the case to adjust and set the complications. It sits at a height of 13.4mm on the wrist and is designed to handle all the unexpected bumps of daily wear with ease. The functions across the dial are spacious and well-proportioned to give a sense of simplicity and purity when referencing the time. The watch features a transparent caseback crafted from scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. This feature enables a unique glimpse into the performance of the Ball Calibre RR1807, based on a Swiss-made ETA movement. The self-winding engine beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a 42-hour power reserve once fully wound. Protecting the movement is Ball’s shock-resistant technology that shields it from levels reaching up to 5,000Gs, as well as anti-magnetic technology protecting it from magnetic fields reaching up to 4,800A/m.

The top of the Ball Engineer II Moon Calendar watch is sealed with a pane of sapphire crystal glass that has been treated with anti-reflective technology, along with a screw-in crown at 3 o’clock engraved with the famous Ball logo. Wrapping around the wrist and locking securely into place with a Ball-engraved folding clasp is a stainless steel bracelet, with links executed in a mix of brushed and polished finishes.

For a timepiece that is packed with innovative functions, Ball Watch Company can convey a sense of horological prowess in the design of this Moon Calendar watch without losing sight of the robust and bold architecture of the Engineer II DNA. The complications are presented with simplicity and at first glance, the dial provides all-round readability. If you’d like to order one of the 1000 limited edition Ball Engineer II Moon Calendar watches, you can visit the link to the watch here, or call our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453

Technical Specifications of the Ball Engineer II Moon Calendar

• Case: 40mm – stainless steel – 100-meter water-resistant – sapphire crystal glass transparent caseback – screw-in crown with the Ball logo engraving – anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – height 13.4mm
• Dial: White – deep blue moonphase indicator in silver and blue – 29.5-day lunar phase scale – 16 micro gas tube luminous markers and hands – day and month aperture at 12 o’clock – stick hour markers – date ring around the outer periphery
• Movement: Swiss-made automatic movement – Ball Calibre RR1807 – resistant to 5,000Gs shock – 42-hour power reserve – resistant to magnetic fields up to 4,800A/m - based on the ETA 2836-2 – 28,800 vibrations per hour – hours, minutes, seconds, day, date, month, lunar cycle and moonphase functions
• Strap: Stainless steel – brushed and polished – folding clasp engraved with the BALL logo
• Price: £2,420
• Reference: NM3016C-S1J-WH
• Availability: Limited to 1000 pieces worldwide