E XPRESS THE BALL WATCH
frequency will also decrease the accuracy of the movement. In facing this dilemma, BALL decided not to compromise either and built their 80-hour power reserve while maintaining a high frequency rate of 28,800vph. Every RRM7309-C caliber is rigorously tested by Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres for its quality and accuracy.
Known for its luminous timepieces, BALL Watch Company applies H3 gas tubes on all its watches. When reaching the depths of the sea, the luminescent elements take on their full meaning. This technology involves encapsulating H3 gas in glass micro tubes, quite unlike any other luminescent material found in watchmaking. When the H3 molecules strike the internal-colored surface of the tubes, they emit light without requiring any form of external light or energy source. The Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond integrates tubes below the ultra-durable domed sapphire bezel as well as on the dial’s robust 1mm micro gas tubes at each hour marker with the slimmer tubes on the hour, minute and second hands.
Latest release of BALL Watch Company in the field of dive watches, the new Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond brings together aesthetics, precision and functionality to become a complete timepiece ready to conquer darkness.
Honoring Webb C. Ball’s pursuit of accuracy and pioneering spirit, the Skindiver III Beyond features the RRM7309-C caliber, equipped with 80-hour power reserve while reaching COSC standards. Generally speaking, the higher the frequency of a mechanical movement, the more power is required to make it run. Hence, the most straightforward way to extend a movement’s power reserve is to simply lower its frequency. Yet, the frequency of a movement is positively correlated with its accuracy; lowering the
BALL WATCH COMPANY
Shaped from stainless steel, the 41.5mm case measures 13.8mm in thickness, ensuring that both solid toughness and everyday comfort are easily felt. To protect the manufacture movement’s accuracy, the Amortiser® system surrounds the entire caliber and absorbs intense shock impacts. The domed shape of the sapphire bezel is the result of a sophisticated machine process, in contrast with easier-to-produce flat sapphire bezels. It can be used to track 60 minutes of elapsed dive time by easily positioning it at the beginning of an excursion. Like the bezel, the crystal sapphire above the dial has a domed shape. With a thickness of 5mm, it delivers ultra-tough durability and withstands high underwater pressure. The Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond is water resistant to 300 meters and antimagnetic to 4,800A/m and is available in a dark blue tone on a stainless steel bracelet.
MOVEMENT
Automatic manufacture caliber BALL RRM7309-C
Chronometer certified COSC 80 hours power reserve
FUNCTIONS
35 micro gas tubes on hour and minute hands, dial and bezel for night reading capability
Shock resistant to 5,000Gs
Anti-magnetic to 4,800A/m
Water resistant to 300m/1,000ft
Hours, minutes, sweep seconds and magnified date
CASE
Stainless steel Ø 41.5mm, height 13.8mm
Unidirectional rotating sapphire bezel with micro gas tubes for night reading capability
Amortiser® patented anti-shock system
Dome-shaped anti-reflective sapphire crystal Screwed-in crown
BAND Stainless steel bracelet with folding buckle
DIAL Dark blue
RRP GBP 3,050.–
A WATCHMAKING REVOLUTION RISES AMID DISASTER.
Our journey, including our revolutionary inno vations, arose from de vastating train wreckage in Kipton, Ohio in 1891. Every BALL timepiece runs on the spirit of the American railroads while incorporating today’s premier technology and finest Swiss craftsmanship, all to ensure accuracy under adverse conditions around the world.
more than a footnote in American railroad history. It is a defining moment that spurred watchmaking and timekeeping revolutions. After the collision, renowned jeweler Webster Clay Ball was appointed to investigate the accident’s timekeeping issues. His exploration helped establish railroad watch perfor mance and inspection standards in 1893, as well as Railroad Time. Gradually, the BALL network extended to 75%, about 125,000 miles, of America’s railways, while railroad watches became the standard for precise timekeeping.
Since 1891, BALL Watch Company has been produc ing mechanical timepieces that comply with the most stringent criteria for precision, quality and reliability. As pioneer of chronometry standards and with a rich past closely associated with the history of the American railroads, BALL remains one of the most respected and well established watch brands in the United States.
The Great Kipton Train Wreck occurred on April 18th , 1891, in Kipton, Ohio, when a fast mail train heading east collided head-onwith a passenger train moving west. The conductor of the passenger train failed to stop at the Kipton depot and let the mail train roll by because his watch had stopped functioning for four minutes before restarting. The Kipton accident is
At his death, Webb C. Ball had contributed more than any other man in creating the requirements and rate of accuracy of watches for railroad service. His work in crafting the most precise timepieces and instituting an inspection system was imperative and extraordinary. It not only improved railroad operations, it was an essential part of timekeeping’s foundation. Today, more than ever, BALL is continuing its journey and asserting its role as a key protagonist in the evolution of watchmaking history.
ENGINEER M SKINDIVER III BEYOND DARE TO CHANGE THE GAME.
ROADMASTER MARINE GMT THE ULTIMATE EXPLORER’S WATCH FOR ADVENTURE BEYOND THE REACH OF LAND.
BALL Watch Company has been proudly evolving at the forefront of watchmaking technical achievements for decades. Thanks to its cutting-edge developments and its forward thinking, the company introduces a quick-set GMT function allowing travelers to easily adjust time zones.
Engineered for easier and faster setting, the Roadmaster Marine GMT features quick-set GMT push buttons that revolutionize the way the GMT hand is adjusted. Simply by turning and pressing either one of the patented quickset buttons, the GMT hand can be easily set instead of using the main crown. The button at 8 o’clock moves the GMT hand backward, while the 10 o’clock button moves
it forward. Combined with a bi-directional 24-hour bezel and main hands, the Marine GMT allows for three time zones to be tracked simultaneously. Exploration requires focus. But exploration in dark ness requires pioneering luminosity. In the dark est conditions, time can be read thanks to the self-powered H3 gas tubes used by BALL. This cutting-edge Swiss technology consists in encap sulating H3 gas in glass micro tubes. Light energy is released when the H3 molecules strike the internal colored surface of the tubes. This phenomenon doesn’t require recharge from any external light or energy source. The 28 tubes are carefully mounted onto the dial at each hour marker as well as the main hour hand, minute hand and GMT hand. The markers at 6, 9 and 12 o’clock are shaped as Arabic numerals forming one of the most iconic BALL dial designs. In combination with the ceramic bezel’s Super LumiNova coating, the three time zones can easily be read in total darkness. The Marine GMT features the chronometer certified automatic caliber BALL RR1203-C with day-date func tions. It is water resistant to 200 meters, anti-magnetic to 4,800A/m and shock resistant to 5,000Gs. Its case is made of titanium while its bracelet combines stainless steel and titanium parts. The movement can be ad mired thanks to a see-trough case back and the crown screws in for better resistance. This 40mm model has been declined in several harmonious color variations. It comes on a bracelet but can also fit a rubber or NATO strap.
Since 1891, the history of BALL watches is inseparable from that of the railroad pioneers. Following the catastrophic train collision in Kipton (Ohio), the main American railroad companies then entrusted watch maker Webster Clay Ball with the responsibility of establishing strict chronometric precision standards for all watches used by railroad employees. Webb C. Ball spent the better part of his life helping design a timepiece that fulfilled the requirements of an accurate watch, one that would withstand the rigors of the rough handling and dirt that was inherent in the railroad industry.
Now available in a variety of colors, from the clas sic black, blue and grey to the modernist green, red and ice blue, the Engineer III Marvelight Chronometer reveals a perfectly balanced sport-elegant design. The BALL logo, a symbol of precision in accordance with official railroad standards since 1891, has been added on the dial along with the prestigious “Swiss Made” manufacturing origin’s designation and the Chronometer mention as a pledge of accuracy.
As a trademark logo on many of the brand’s classic models, the RR (“RailRoad”) monogram stands out delicately at the end of the seconds hand and subtly recalls BALL’s railroad heritage. The dial has voluntarily been kept as plain as possible, with the attention going directly to the wide, luminous gas tubes.
BALL watches not only distinguish themselves by providing accuracy under adverse conditions, its micro gas tubes also allow a peerless night reading.
The tubes provide superior brightness that is about 100 times brighter than the conventional luminous paints commonly used in the watch industry. This state-of-the-art Swiss technology used by BALL Watch consists in encapsulating H3 gas in glass microtubes. Light energy is released when the H3 molecules strike the internal colored surface of the tubes, without requiring recharge from any outside light or energy source. The Engineer III Marvelight Chr meter features a total of 14 micro gas tubes, yellow at 12 o’clock and green for the rest of the dial and hands.
The Engineer III Marvelight Chronometer watch is provided with a COSC certified chronometer movement, the automatic caliber BALL RR1103-C. To protect it, a mu-metal antimagnetic shield has been selected. Mu-metal is an alloy of nickel, iron, copper and molybdenum with very high magnetic permea enabling it to attract and deviate static or lowfrequency magnetic field lines. The use of mu-metal is a genuine industrial feat, capable of protecting a mechanical watch against magnetic fields up to an astonishing intensity of 1,000 Gauss. This model provides hours, minutes, sweep seconds and a magnified date. A screwed-in crown allows a water resistance up to 100 meters and the case is made of 904L stainless steel that features superior resistance to corrosion, rust and acids for higher durability.
ENDURANCE 1917 SERIES BUILT TO ENDURE THE UNENDURABLE.
“After the conquest of the South Pole by Amundsen who, by a narrow margin of days only, was in advance of the British Expedition under Scott, there remained but one great main object of Antarctic journeying: the crossing of the South Polar continent from sea to sea” – Ernest Shackleton.
In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton recruited a 28-member crew to brave the almost impossible mission to cross the Antarctic continent from one coast to the other via the South Pole. This journey had never been done before, and many volunteers wanted to be part of it.
On August 1st, 1914, the Shackleton’s crew took off from London and embarked on the Endurance.
On November 5th, the Endurance arrived at a whaling station in South Georgia, where the men stayed for about a month. Extra clothing and stores were brought from South Georgia in the event that the Endurance would get caught in the frozen water of the Weddell Sea and was forced to winter in the ice. Shackleton’s crew left South Georgia on December 5th
When they reached the Weddell Sea, impenetra ble barriers of ice made further progress extremely tiring and unpromising. The men worked hard to break the ice around the ship, but the cold temp eratures would make the ice freeze again and it soon became evident that the ship was doomed. The Endurance battled through the ice and accomplished one thousand miles over a six-week period, only one hundred miles away from its destination, when on January 18th 1915, the ice completely closed around the ship. With temperatures regularly around -20°C,
it had become absolutely impossible to move the Endurance, the crew was meant to set camp in this freezing part of the world.
After spending several months on the ice pack, the Endurance finally got crushed and sank below the ice on November 21st, 1915. The 28 men of the expedition were isolated hundreds of miles from land, with no ship, no means of communication and with limited supplies.
It took some amazing leadership skills for Shackleton to keep the crew going. Some say that he didn’t only select his recruits for their practical skills, but also for their social abilities, which might have been part of the reasons why they survived.
Shackleton decided to leave with a handful of men to find help in the nearest inhabited place, some 800 miles away in South Georgia. Navigating on the James Caird, one of their lifeboats, with the help of a sextant and a chronometer of unknown accuracy, they had to cross a stormy ocean and rely on just a few appearances from the sun to reach their goal. It’s on August 30th, 1916, that the rest of the crew was finally rescued, more than 2 years after leaving London. Against all odds, all 28 men survived, after spending 137 days on Elephant Island. On March 9th, 2022, the Endurance was retrieved in the Antarctic in a brilliant state of preservation. Trapped by the frozen sea, but not by fear, Sir Ernest Shackleton led his stranded crew for almost two Antarctic years. As his leadership, courage and optimism continue to captivate explorers around the world, BALL Watch Company is proud to introduce its second series inspired by its legacy. The 41mm
Engineer III Endurance 1917 GMT features BALL’s new Manufacture GMT Caliber RRM7337-C, a true GMT chronometer co-developed with Soprod, wrapp ed in a 904L stainless steel case and shining with micro gas tube luminosity. Three complementary models are also available, each designed with unique features yet united by incomparable brightness and high-quality build.
Sometimes there is no escaping the darkness. To overcome the black of night and all dark environ ments, the Endurance Series features micro gas tubes. The self-powered H3 micro gas tubes pro vide extreme readability and trusted reliability in all pursuits. While all models feature the automatic micro gas tubes on the dial and hands, the GMT model also possesses them on the 24-hour inner bezel for reading the home time in total darkness. The allaround glow extends to all four hands, even the GMT hand, and around the dial with fully illuminated hour markers. To make this GMT model even more special, a version with rainbow-colored tubes has been designed.
Fully automatic and highly accurate, the BALL Manufacture GMT Caliber RRM7337-C is an officially certified chronometer. With true GMT status, its quick-set functionality changes the local 12-hour hand by using the crown. The GMT hand is completely unaffected while the seconds hand continues to move, for an uninterrupted precision. As the 12-hour hand jumps in one-hour increments, the date wheel moves
LIMITED EDITION 1,000 pieces
MOVEMENT
Automatic caliber BALL RR1108-C; Chronometer certified COSC; Special movement oil to endure -45°C/-49°F
FUNCTIONS
14 micro gas tubes on hour, minute, second hands and dial for night reading capability; Shock resistant to 5,000Gs; Antimagnetic to 4,800A/m; Water resistant to 100m/330ft; Hours, minutes, sweep seconds and magnified date
CASE Stainless steel; Ø 45mm, height 14.05mm; Amortiser® patented anti-shock system; Anti-reflective sapphire
in perfect synchronization and always indicates the correct date of the local time zone. The movement and all its smart functionality are shielded by 1,000 Gauss anti-magnetic protective technology. The most fitting word to describe 904L stainless steel is “extreme”. Featuring extra amounts of chromium, molybdenum, nickel and copper, 904L steel provides superior resistance to corrosion, rust and acids, along with unique hardness that allows it to withstand unexpected conditions and extreme environments.
At 41mm in diameter and just 13.15mm thick, the 904L case of the GMT model is comfortable enough for everyday wear and tough enough for adventure anywhere.
The new Endurance series is presented in four unique models. Complementing the functionality of the GMT offering, the 40mm TMT model features a patented mechanical thermometric indication capable of accurately measuring temperature from -35°C to 45°C (-31°F and 113°F). The robust 40mm and 45mm versions round out the series with three-hand prac ticality. All four models are powered by COSC certified movements, protected by our patented Amortiser® anti-shock system and enhanced by cold temperature resistance oil to ensure ultimate timekeeping in subzero temperatures.
ENGINEER MASTER II DIVER CHRONOMETER THE NEXT-GENERATION DIVE WATCH.
In 2006, BALL Watch Company introduced its firstgeneration dive watch: a robust, aesthetically func tional timepiece that delivered remarkable per formance with an inner bezel, illuminated by micro gas tubes and a 2-crowns design. Over the last 15 years, its “Engineer Master II” collection has boasted a wide range of timepieces that have complied with the many requirements imposed by deep-sea diving. Building on its predecessors and extensive craftsmanship, BALL presents the Engineer Master II Diver Chronometer, integrating more protective technologies while refining its size and everyday wearability. This new diving tool built for the thrill of adventure and the pursuit of freedom, under scoring the success of this collection. This dive watch has a water resistance of 300 me ters and runs the BALL RR1101-C caliber, certified by the COSC. To ensure high accuracy in adverse conditions, the movement is safeguarded by powerful resistance technologies. A mu-metal shield sur rounds the caliber allowing an anti-magnetic protection to an intensity of 1,000 Gauss (80,000 A/m). Also, BALL’s patented Amortiser® system absorbs energy created by external shocks and make sure
every component stays intact in case of harsh impact.
The Diver Chronometer features a bi-directional sapphire internal bezel used to count down dive time and ensure safety. Activated by the crown at 2 o’clock, the internal diving bezel can be operated while completely submerged under water to time the safety stop. This bezel re mains visible even in total darkness thanks to the cutting-edge Swiss technology of selfpowered H3 gas tubes. Notably, for the first time, the tubes are placed underneath the bezel for an uncluttered design. To complete visibility, micro gas tubes have also been placed on the dial and the hands for a total of 36 tubes. The Engineer Master II Diver Chronometer is offered with either a classic mix of green and yellow tubes or a more modern rainbowcolored combination.
With a thickness of only 13.5mm, the 42mm stainless steel Engineer Master II Diver Chronometer is avai lable with a black or a blue dial, and either on a stain less steel bracelet or rubber strap. It features hours, minutes, sweep seconds and a magnified date.
ENGINEER M PIONEER
A purpose-built tool for critical search and rescue situations, the new Roadmaster Rescue Chronograph delivers extreme accuracy, easy readability and high functionality. Engineered with a patented pusher lock ing system, the chronograph function works in unison with the pulsometer scale to measure heart rate, while two illuminated sub-dial counters track elapsed time. And for countdowns at all hours, the ceramic bezel features a bold micro gas tube inset. Vital functionality and versatile form that is ready to venture wherever necessary.
In this series, BALL transformed the classic chronograph timepiece with ingenious innovation. The two pushers on the flank of the case employ a new patented lock ing system to eliminate any unintentional manipulation. The pushers are engaged or locked by being turned. A perfect balance of security and ease of use. When tracking long periods of elapsed time, the sub-dial at 12 o’clock is a 30-minute counter, while the 6 o’clock sub-dial is a 12-hour counter. In addition to that, the chronograph hand works in conjunction with the dial’s pulsometer scale to quickly measure one’s heart rate. The constant operation indicator at 9 o’clock is also a re-engineering of the standard subsidiary seconds with greater visual impact.
To ensure perfect time reading even in total darkness, self-powered micro gas tubes are not only adorned on the dial and hands, an inset has also been added to the ceramic bezel. The tritium micro gas tubes require no charging and are always ready for action.
With additional luminosity from the Super LumiNOVA coating on the dial and the bezel, four different colors create a magnificent light show that is as functional as it is aesthetic.
At the core of the Rescue Chronograph is the automatic caliber BALL RR1402. Thanks to BALL’s special cold temperature resistance oil, the movement can maintain steady accuracy in volatile conditions ranging from -45°C to 80°C. The patented Amortiser® anti-shock system surrounds the automatic movement and absorbs shock impact. Going further and deeper, water resistance to 100 meters and a virtually scratchproof dive bezel enables decisive underwater action.
The 41mm titanium-steel case affords high impact strength, lightweight wearing comfort and trusted durability. And with a case thickness of just 14.8mm, the tool watch fits securely with diverse types of gear. Atop the robust case, the steel bezel features a virtually scratchproof ceramic insert. Available in black, blue or green, the ceramic insert is impervious to ultra-violet rays, ensuring long-lasting color, made possible by the sintering procedure during its manufacturing process, in which the material is heated at a temperature as high as 1,600 degrees Celsius.
The choice of customization continues with the dial design. From the understated tone-on-tone color scheme to the classic panda chronograph or the trendy reverse-panda chronograph, the selection offered by the series is impressive.
WITH PAUL ZIZKA AWARD-WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER AND BALL EXPLORER.
Paul Zizka has been a BALL explorer for years. From the peaks of the Canadian Rockies to ice bergladen seas off the coast of Greenland, Paul’s journey to capture the “under-documented” is a testament to his passion for exploration, his creative vision and fierce sense of determina tion. His breathtaking shots naturally found their way to accompany various launch cam paigns, exploring the beauty of light in darkness.
We asked Paul a few questions to get to know him and his work a bit better:
How did you get involved in photography and what has your journey been like?
Paul Zizka: I started considering photography once I began spending extensive time among the beautiful Canadian Rockies. I am from the eastern part of Canada originally, where mountains are hard to come by. But in my teenage years I started venturing west, and I was immediately taken by the rugged splendour of the Rockies. Every summer I returned to explore further. I believe that anyone spending a good deal of time among these peaks will sooner or later feel compelled to document the constant beauty. Some pick up a pen, others a paintbrush. I myself picked up a camera for the first time shortly after moving permanently to the mountains, and I was quickly hooked on photography as a medium. I soon realized that photography could be so much more than pretty pictures. It gave me a voice, allowed me to impact others’ lives in a meaning ful and positive way, and it made me a better observer of nature.
What is your background and how does it affect your work?
P.Z.: I studied geology at university, with a particular interest in glaciers. I have no doubt that my knowledge of mountain-building, rocks and ice has transpired in my work, and it makes me a more acute observer out there and gives me a greater appreciation for the landscape. Both of those elements are directly transferable to photography, which also relies extensively on being aware of one’s surroundings.
What is a typical shooting day for you, if “typical” is even part of your vocabulary?
P.Z.: There is truly no typical day. Monday might be a commercial shoot. Tuesday a day spent inside at home, editing and catching up on emails. Wednesday might
be an early start to visit the local glaciers in good light. Thursday could be a family hike, where I leave the photo gear behind. Friday I might take off for a few weeks abroad to teach photography to others!
What are your plans for the coming year?
P.Z.: My latest project, Cryophilia, will be the focus of my efforts. Its purpose is to document vanishing ice, both here at home and abroad. And so, I plan on spending a lot of time with the camera wander ing around glaciers. I also expect to spend a good deal of time abroad, teaching photography to others and facilitating a reconnection with the natural world. Those workshops will take me to Antarctica, Bhutan and the Canadian Arctic among other locations. Otherwise, I plan on teaming up with my wife to introduce our two young daughters to the magic of the mountains!
Were you inspired by someone in particular?
P.Z.: I admire the work of many contemporary artists, but I find the dedication of pioneers Frank Hurley,
Vittorio Sella and Herbert Ponting to be astonishing, and their work, utterly fascinating. Expedition photo graphy back in those days required a tremendous of commitment and certainly a good deal of suffering as well. It is very inspiring to me to look at the odds that those three, among others, had to beat in order to bring us those sensational images from the edge of the world.
If you had to start all over again, would you change anything?
P.Z.: Looking at my creative approach over the years, I would probably spend less time wondering what others will think of my images, and more time simply creating, freely. From a business standpoint, there are certainly streams of income I would likely avoid, and others I would spend more time investigating. But then again, sometimes we don’t know whether an idea will prove fruitful or not until we’ve actually tried it and taken chances. It’s all part of learning. All in all, I wouldn’t trade my profession for any other in the world. 15 years into it, it still very much feels like what I’m meant to do, and I still have many, many stories to tell!
© 11/2022 BALL Watch UK Ltd. Connect Business VillageUnit 5, 1 st Floor24 Derby Road Liverpool L5 9PRUnited Kingdom 0800 098 89 98 uk@ballwatch.ch | www.ballwatch.ch Printed in Switzerland. Models, technical features, prices and availability are subject to further modifications without notice. All prices are indicative and recommended retail prices in Pounds sterling (GBP), including British VAT.