The Ball Engineer II Magneto S Automatic (ref. NM3022C-N1CJ-BK) is a fascinating timekeeper. It features an interesting combination of sporty -albeit a bit deceptive- exterior with a reliable -even if a bit too standard- mechanism. It is the way the shielding system works that makes this new gadget stand out from the ranks of other magnetically shielded wristwatches.
Ball Watches
Ball Watch Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley Automatic Diver (Ref. PM2096B-S1J-BK)
Although the 2014 Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Hunley Automatic Diver (Ref. PM2096B-S1J-BK) still features that “polarizing” patented crown guard system as previous iterations of the watch, it is still one of the most elegant members of the growing family. As refined as a diving tool can be, it is also not expensive sporting a price tag around $1000 lower than that of an IWC Aquatimer.
Ball Watch Engineer II Pioneer Chronometer
The 2014 Ball Engineer II Pioneer Chronometer (ref. NM2026C-L4CAJ-BK) delivers all the usual treats from the watchmaker that was founded in America, but later moved to Switzerland. The compact, deliberately simple body would look good on almost any wrist, its dial is high-contrast and easily readable even to older persons with poor sight. However, if your idea of a dress watch doesn’t include more than two dozen glass micro-tubes filled with a mildly radioactive, self-glowing gas, you may find this timekeeper slightly difficult to adapt to.
Ball Watches Fireman Storm Chaser Pro
The face-lifted version of the Ball Fireman Storm Chaser Pro (ref. CM3090C-L1J-BK) was released at the Baselworld 2014 event. It is equipped with a finely executed telemeter scale and packs within its medium-sized 42 mm stainless steel body the same tried and tested automatic chronograph movement, but now looks a lot more elegant than the previous iteration of the timepiece. It’s almost like if Porsche has released its current-gen Cayenne performance SUV with its gorgeous exterior and plush interior without sacrificing all the off-road goodness of the first-gen model.
Ball Trainmaster Standard Time Automatic (Ref. NM3888D-PG-LCJ-WH)
Just in time for the holiday shopping season (and to officially mark its 130th anniversary), the American company offers its automatic Ball Trainmaster Standard Time (ref. NM3888D-PG-LCJ-WH) that attempts to combine vintage style with contemporary technology in the same compact case.
Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Captain Poindexter
Although not as jaw-dropping as the massive Engineer Hydrocarbon DeepQuest 3000M diver (DM3000A-SCJ-BK) that the brand started selling about two years ago, the limited edition Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster Captain Poindexter still makes quite an impression with its massive body and a bold face with broad, pointy hands that look like they were inspired by some super-sword from one of those Final Fantasy series of videogames.
Ball Watch Engineer Master II 300M Diver Automatic
The year of updates continues. This time the American watchmaker Ball Watches has presented its new Ball Engineer Master II Diver (ref. DM2020A-PA-BKGR). Like the similarly named line of timekeepers from IWC, the Master II comes with a magnetically shielded, shock-resistant movement, but also adds to the mix a massive, rugged-looking body designed to withstand pressures up to 30 ATM. Coupled with almost unrivaled legibility of a tritium-lighted dial and an inner diving scale, it indeed makes an impression of a winner.
Ball Engineer Master II Skindiver Automatic (Ref. DM2108A-P-BK)
Okay, here we go with another “tribute” to a historic model that was in production fifty or even sixty years ago. This new Ball Engineer Master II Skindiver DM2108A-P-BK, for example, pays homage to the original Ball Skindiver timekeeper that was introduced in 1962.
Ball Trainmaster Eternity Automatic
The legendary American brand has just started selling its new member of the Trainmaster line. Ther Ball Trainmaster Eternity (ref. NM2080D-LJ-SL) is claimed to be one of the thinnest self-winding watches in Ball’s whole model range. Although the stainless steel case of the Eternity looks similar to bodies of other Trainmasters (namely, the Trainmaster One Hundred Twenty that was released a couple of months ago,) it is in fact slightly refreshed in order to make the timekeeper both slimmer and more comfortable on a wrist.
Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon DeepQuest 3000M Automatic Diver (Ref. DM3000A-SCJ-BK)
Probably inspired by a similarly named family of antimagnetic timekeepers from *ahem* another Swiss-based watchmaker, the new Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon DeepQuest (Ref. DM3000A-SCJ-BK) still has a selling point of its own. Even two of them if you count in the “wow” factor. The first selling point is its impressive water resistance rating of whole three thousand meters (almost ten thousand feet,) which makes it an impressive homage to a true old-school professional diving instrument.