Gorgeous piece, this watch! Quite the fascinating history of Ball! Here's something: the saying "Get on the Ball", was started by train engineers/conductors referring to checking & maintaining time with their Ball watches. Fabolous review. Thank you!
Beautiful watches. I have the rainbow (Caring Edition) as part of my collection and I always grab it. Thickness really is not an issue, lots of watches are around that or more. It had end links that protrude past so the lug to lug is a little more, I thought this would be an issue for me but it’s not. I’d nearly grab another in green…?
Ball are excellent watches. I've been wearing my custom Roadmaster TMT ceramic for over a year,and still love it to bits. Only thing I would change is get rid of the near useless thermometer😅 The lume from the Tritium is amazing and my fav feature. Bracelet is really comfortable too. Can't go wrong with these watches and I'll definetly be getting one of those ice blue ones! Great vid guys!
I never really paid attention to Ball until now. This is exactly the watch I want. Thank you for the video! If only your channel didn't add more watches to my every-growing list...
Did you know that they are Chinese-owned? I'm curious to know if that makes a difference to how you view the brand and your wish to give them your money? Same question to all others here!
People always seem to give negative connotation regarding the brightness of the tritium tubes because they're not as bright as Luminova. This is the consistent with a vast majority of watches. Once you've lived with tritium tubes you realize how bright they are. They're ALWAYS at the 80% brightness a fresh luminova charge. ALWAYS. That's not bad at all.
I own the Green dial version and I love it. I thought about buying the Tissot Gentleman, which is also a beautiful watch, but I have the blue dial version so didn't want to own two watches of the same model. The Tissot is an excellent watch at a very good price, but there is no denying the superior quality of the Ball. In accuracy, looks, feel and weight, it is superior. One selling feature for me was the size of the watch. I have big wrists and I like a watch to have presence so the "hamburger" really suits me.
The one place I no longer take my Engineer Hydrocarbon is to the movies. It became quite conspicuous as the movies went on because the hands and markers stayed bright the whole time. Interesting
I’m really impressed by the dials of these watches, I’m only judging from videos and photos but these may be the best implementation of coloured dials I’ve seen to date, I love the tritium hour markers, they have never looked so seamlessly installed. The thickness is an issue for a 3 hand watch but that bracelet is horrific and probably ruins a nice watch and yo-yo didn’t mention the clasp so I’m assuming that’s pretty bad and has no micro adjustment. A step in the right direction but Ball do seam to shoot themselves in the foot at every opportunity. I probably should have mentioned this earlier but describing 904l steel as comfortable is the most ridiculous/fake statement I’ve heard in a long while. Most shill's are better at hiding their work, I doubt anyone can tell the difference between different metals without seeing or feeling it’s weight and seeing it’s colour.
Hi James, surprised at your comment re 904L steel as saying it's vastly superior to 316 is not contentious, especially if you've ever owned a Rolex, and then switch from it to 316 on the reg. Like silk to sandpaper. This article says it well, but the TLDR is it's 2-3X more at cost, so a proper throwdown from Ball, and makes this watch compelling. The bracelet though, yeah, be nice to have some options down the track. Thanks for watching - Andrew www.keepthetime.com/blog/316l-vs-904l-stainless-steel-in-watches/
Possuo um Ball Engenieer Arabic II, e sou encantado con o relógio. O meu é em aço 316 L. Um dia ainda vou comprar uma joia Ball em 904 L! Ball: MARAVILHOSO! A meu ver, está a nível Omega.
Have 2 Ball in my collection. Both reasonable time keepers (only 1 a chronometer) and they are the only watch I can read at 5am on a winters morning before turning on the lights. As for the glorious 904L, someone should tell Grand Seiko about this metal. Then they could go from distortion free mirror polishes to "almost". Seriously T+T, get over the alloy. Ball are just jumping on Rolex's advertising.
I still have my Dad's circa 1954 railroad-certified Ball pocket watch that he used while working on the CNR in Canada. It is a thing of beauty. I just ordered one of the model reviewed here, with the Ice Blue dial.
Tritium is also brighter than lume, the only time lume is brighter is on the first half an hour or so but after it settles down for the night, tritium is much brighter..
The case isn't as sharp as the fireman/Stokeman but the rest of the execution is top notch. Maybe a bit of fine brushing here or there will make it pop more. Full polish doesn't quite do it for me might as well be a stamped out case
I thought I have all the colors, even the green when there was only 20 available in the world. Now they have a green for everyone 🤦🏻♂️. But I’m very interested in getting the ice blue and burgundy.
I recently knew about this watch ⌚ it's 👀 nice But,I really don't fancy the name BALL & it's abit too chunky & it's price of over $2,500.usd too🔥for my tastes.But, what I do like is the Sun burst dial that's very lovely❤....But I think it will look awesome on some persons wrist just not mine.& I stand at 187cm or 6ft.2inches 😃
It would be really essential for you to inform everyone of the company background. This is another Chinese-owned company. Nice looking watches but that essential info guides responsible consumers to avoid them. This is important stuff! An important subject concerning so many watch brands.
@@pistonburner6448 I understood that, but what exactly makes it irresponsible for consumers to own anything from a Chinese-owned company? Genuinely curious..
Ball is owned by the Chinese investor group 'Asia Commercial Holdings Limited' since 2019. Like almost everything nowadays investments, growth and innovation is happening in China. A bit sad to see another American icon disappear into the Chinese swamps, but at least they seem to keep up with their former design and quality.
Sim, pelo que se percebe, o design se manteve. Eu gosto muito da Ball! A meu ver, estão no mesmo nível de um Omega. Na verdade, pegar um Rolex em mãos e depois pegar um Ball não terá diferença alguma. Eu amo a Ball!
Research on how Switzerland defined “Swiss Made” and how much of the Swiss luxury watch industry is made in Asia. Feel free to demonstrate your superiority by only using smart phones, computers/laptops, TV, …any electronics or anything with a microchip (especially the most advanced ones) that’s not made in Asia. Also insist that your investment and retirement funds are in non-Asia affiliated or owned companies. 21st century economics. Own the ocean or sulk in a little pond.
Absolutely doesn't look like a Datejust. The bracelet is actually complete opposite. 2 different watches. I think you reffing to the fact both of these watches showing the time. :))))
@@Timeandtidewatches bring up a photo of an all steel Datejust with a flat non-fluted bezel and see the similarities. Of course there are detail differences like the DJ slimmer indices, simpler less faceted/blocky bracelet and more tonneau shape to the case, but the similarities are there…
How unoriginal . And they could not even pay attention to the small details like the date window , for example should have been in the same colour as the dial, then it would have been nice. The white date window next to the colour dial just does not work. The watch is too thick, polished centre links will get scratched up real,fast and there is no micro adjust on the clasp from what I can see. For what , $2500 , nope I don’t think so . Oh , and I almost forgot ; their ugly logo on the seconds hand is just real ugly. I mean how many times do you want to display that ugly logo? Did I say ugly ? Once is more than enough . These guys need to hire people that understand design; whomever is in charge and came up with this dropped the ball. Pun intended.
A calatrava / oyster style case like this is hardly a patentable design - and for us there’s enough original detail in the tritium lume indexes and chunky polished centre link to make this a distinct offering. As for them scratching, you’re obviously not a Rolex lover, getting ok with it is a part of life. Thanks for watching - Andrew
We can agree to disagree .The sales figures will decide if they got it right or not. I am a Rolex lover, just not of the models with polished centre links ; I just think brushed is better in a stainless steel watch bracelet .That said, the other points that I mentioned are more detractive than the links; and while I see your point about the few positives, it’s just not enough for me; but that’s just my personal opinion, others may love it . Nice shots of the watch though and good review; except the fact that you guys don’t mention the weight of the watch in grams . That is a big one in my opinion , as it determines comfort on wrist. Best wishes .
The Ice Blue dial is pure class, to my eye it just looks super clean with a special kind of visual purity.
Gorgeous piece, this watch!
Quite the fascinating history of Ball!
Here's something: the saying "Get on the Ball", was started by train engineers/conductors referring to checking & maintaining time with their Ball watches.
Fabolous review.
Thank you!
Beautiful watches. I have the rainbow (Caring Edition) as part of my collection and I always grab it. Thickness really is not an issue, lots of watches are around that or more. It had end links that protrude past so the lug to lug is a little more, I thought this would be an issue for me but it’s not.
I’d nearly grab another in green…?
Ball are excellent watches. I've been wearing my custom Roadmaster TMT ceramic for over a year,and still love it to bits.
Only thing I would change is get rid of the near useless thermometer😅
The lume from the Tritium is amazing and my fav feature. Bracelet is really comfortable too.
Can't go wrong with these watches and I'll definetly be getting one of those ice blue ones!
Great vid guys!
I never really paid attention to Ball until now. This is exactly the watch I want. Thank you for the video! If only your channel didn't add more watches to my every-growing list...
Thank you for reviewing these. Ball needs more love!
Did you know that they are Chinese-owned? I'm curious to know if that makes a difference to how you view the brand and your wish to give them your money? Same question to all others here!
People always seem to give negative connotation regarding the brightness of the tritium tubes because they're not as bright as Luminova. This is the consistent with a vast majority of watches. Once you've lived with tritium tubes you realize how bright they are. They're ALWAYS at the 80% brightness a fresh luminova charge. ALWAYS. That's not bad at all.
Thanks for giving Ball some love. I own two and love them.
I do like that burgundy dial!
Geeze those are really nice looking watches. Tell them good job on my part.
I own the Green dial version and I love it. I thought about buying the Tissot Gentleman, which is also a beautiful watch, but I have the blue dial version so didn't want to own two watches of the same model. The Tissot is an excellent watch at a very good price, but there is no denying the superior quality of the Ball. In accuracy, looks, feel and weight, it is superior. One selling feature for me was the size of the watch. I have big wrists and I like a watch to have presence so the "hamburger" really suits me.
A non date version would be a winner. (For me at least!)
The one place I no longer take my Engineer Hydrocarbon is to the movies.
It became quite conspicuous as the movies went on because the hands and markers stayed bright the whole time.
Interesting
It's actually a similar size and shape to the rolex milgauss. Esp. With the thickness and antimagnetic properties.
Good comparison
The burgundy dial with a suede strap would look great.
Love Ball Watches. As for a hate comment, I need you to speak louder please.
Don't really like these watches, but just wanted to say that I LIKE the fresh style with Borna, very knowledgeable dude! Keep it up! 😉👍
Great discussion, awesome pics and vids. I would definitely get one if they had more brush finishing. Many thanks.
Cheers Dave
I’m really impressed by the dials of these watches, I’m only judging from videos and photos but these may be the best implementation of coloured dials I’ve seen to date, I love the tritium hour markers, they have never looked so seamlessly installed.
The thickness is an issue for a 3 hand watch but that bracelet is horrific and probably ruins a nice watch and yo-yo didn’t mention the clasp so I’m assuming that’s pretty bad and has no micro adjustment.
A step in the right direction but Ball do seam to shoot themselves in the foot at every opportunity.
I probably should have mentioned this earlier but describing 904l steel as comfortable is the most ridiculous/fake statement I’ve heard in a long while. Most shill's are better at hiding their work, I doubt anyone can tell the difference between different metals without seeing or feeling it’s weight and seeing it’s colour.
Hi James, surprised at your comment re 904L steel as saying it's vastly superior to 316 is not contentious, especially if you've ever owned a Rolex, and then switch from it to 316 on the reg. Like silk to sandpaper. This article says it well, but the TLDR is it's 2-3X more at cost, so a proper throwdown from Ball, and makes this watch compelling. The bracelet though, yeah, be nice to have some options down the track. Thanks for watching - Andrew www.keepthetime.com/blog/316l-vs-904l-stainless-steel-in-watches/
Really nice watches
Nice job, gentlemen.
Possuo um Ball Engenieer Arabic II, e sou encantado con o relógio. O meu é em aço 316 L.
Um dia ainda vou comprar uma joia Ball em 904 L! Ball: MARAVILHOSO! A meu ver, está a nível Omega.
If this watch had an oyster bracelet I would buy it in a heartbeat
You talked about colors and style. It's different for everyone and we see it too. Talk about the essence, for example, the movement and its details!
boaner: welcome!
Great looking watch, the bracelet is too blingy for me. Really like the dial though.
Have 2 Ball in my collection. Both reasonable time keepers (only 1 a chronometer) and they are the only watch I can read at 5am on a winters morning before turning on the lights. As for the glorious 904L, someone should tell Grand Seiko about this metal. Then they could go from distortion free mirror polishes to "almost". Seriously T+T, get over the alloy. Ball are just jumping on Rolex's advertising.
Exatamente!
Great review of a nice looking watch from an iconic company. I still have my Dads old Ball trainmaster automatic in 10k gf. Love that watch.
I still have my Dad's circa 1954 railroad-certified Ball pocket watch that he used while working on the CNR in Canada. It is a thing of beauty. I just ordered one of the model reviewed here, with the Ice Blue dial.
this is the best watch!!! Now I wear BALL DEVGRU
Tritium is also brighter than lume, the only time lume is brighter is on the first half an hour or so but after it settles down for the night, tritium is much brighter..
Yes, which makes tritium hella attractive!
The case isn't as sharp as the fireman/Stokeman but the rest of the execution is top notch. Maybe a bit of fine brushing here or there will make it pop more. Full polish doesn't quite do it for me might as well be a stamped out case
Loved with what they did. But was hoping for a no date model. They have a GMT version of that which is nice. But the cyclops ruined it
I thought I have all the colors, even the green when there was only 20 available in the world. Now they have a green for everyone 🤦🏻♂️. But I’m very interested in getting the ice blue and burgundy.
Buy this over a rolex, 100%!!!!
The extra thickness is probably the faraday cage. So its more like the Milgauss than the OP.
Love this model, but the Ball Rescue Chronograph in reverse Panda is calling to m!
I would sell the one I wear less. However much you like it if you are not wearing it, that means you like the other watches more.
Will the gas dials blow up or crack from the pressure if you wear the watch on a plane?
I wish I could buy this.
Was there a lume shot?
Yes in the stills of the rainbow model but not of the three we’re holding in shot
I recently knew about this watch ⌚ it's 👀 nice But,I really don't fancy the name BALL & it's abit too chunky & it's price of over $2,500.usd too🔥for my tastes.But, what I do like is the Sun burst dial that's very lovely❤....But I think it will look awesome on some persons wrist just not mine.& I stand at 187cm or 6ft.2inches 😃
As good as a Date Just for a fraction of the price... 🎉🎉🎉
Did I get well that it is quite a thick watch. According to you How does it pair with a classic man suit?
Wait, what is it you often see on balls?
3:08
Thin tubes, apparently. (Please see a doctor if symptoms persist)
Another direct competitor to this would be the Christopher Ward C63 Sealander a step above the Tissot Gentleman and below the Ball
BALL IS GREAT AND WONDERFUL WATCH GREAT BRAND
I’ll take the green then 😎
I bought this blue after watching this.......and I go to shower and go to sleep....I don't want to take it off....
Gorgeous watch. I HATE how much I want it wink 😉
I do love the Ball watch dials. However the shape of their cyclops is too similar of Rolexs’.
I’m have a couple ball’s .
What’s the weight like? Adjustability of the clasp? great video!
I have this watch. No micro adjustment however, there are half links you can use to dial in.
It would be really essential for you to inform everyone of the company background. This is another Chinese-owned company.
Nice looking watches but that essential info guides responsible consumers to avoid them. This is important stuff!
An important subject concerning so many watch brands.
Very interesting….
Why should “responsible consumers” need to avoid them exactly?
@@norbert_engel Because the company is Chinese-owned.
@@pistonburner6448 I understood that, but what exactly makes it irresponsible for consumers to own anything from a Chinese-owned company? Genuinely curious..
*to purchase, I should say.
Ball is owned by the Chinese investor group 'Asia Commercial Holdings Limited' since 2019. Like almost everything nowadays investments, growth and innovation is happening in China. A bit sad to see another American icon disappear into the Chinese swamps, but at least they seem to keep up with their former design and quality.
Sim, pelo que se percebe, o design se manteve. Eu gosto muito da Ball! A meu ver, estão no mesmo nível de um Omega. Na verdade, pegar um Rolex em mãos e depois pegar um Ball não terá diferença alguma. Eu amo a Ball!
‘Twas this comment written on your Chinese built smart phone?
@@topher.m lmao.
People are so ignorant that they are below the swamps they denigrate.
Research on how Switzerland defined “Swiss Made” and how much of the Swiss luxury watch industry is made in Asia.
Feel free to demonstrate your superiority by only using smart phones, computers/laptops, TV, …any electronics or anything with a microchip (especially the most advanced ones) that’s not made in Asia.
Also insist that your investment and retirement funds are in non-Asia affiliated or owned companies.
21st century economics.
Own the ocean or sulk in a little pond.
@@KC-bv9kf stop drinking so much bro
Real 904l? I dout
Baby blue, green and red models launched mid June 2022. That’s called being late to the party.
Party’s still raging tho
A Precision wanna be
They almost look like Datejust homages. They even have the same style of date magnifier, differentiated by the tritium tubes and Dauphine hands.
No, nearly 2mm thicker than a DJ - wears like a Chronomaster Sport or even Milgauss. And colours are more OP. A mashup with a few neat twists.
@@Timeandtidewatches exactly !
Absolutely doesn't look like a Datejust. The bracelet is actually complete opposite. 2 different watches. I think you reffing to the fact both of these watches showing the time. :))))
@@Timeandtidewatches bring up a photo of an all steel Datejust with a flat non-fluted bezel and see the similarities. Of course there are detail differences like the DJ slimmer indices, simpler less faceted/blocky bracelet and more tonneau shape to the case, but the similarities are there…
I think these are what are commonly referred to as Swiss shitters
The Pontiff!
Indices are too big and hands are too small
Hate comment towards the small guy on the left 👈
Nice and entertaining review as always. I’m just not a fan of those watches or Ball in general. I think they all look very cheaply designed.
See what they’re like in the hand at some point - quite solid
Bullshit!!
@@tancreddehauteville764 Yes, that’s what they are
Terrible looking bracelet
How unoriginal . And they could not even pay attention to the small details like the date window , for example should have been in the same colour as the dial, then it would have been nice. The white date window next to the colour dial just does not work. The watch is too thick, polished centre links will get scratched up real,fast and there is no micro adjust on the clasp from what I can see. For what , $2500 , nope I don’t think so . Oh , and I almost forgot ; their ugly logo on the seconds hand is just real ugly. I mean how many times do you want to display that ugly logo? Did I say ugly ? Once is more than enough . These guys need to hire people that understand design; whomever is in charge and came up with this dropped the ball. Pun intended.
A calatrava / oyster style case like this is hardly a patentable design - and for us there’s enough original detail in the tritium lume indexes and chunky polished centre link to make this a distinct offering. As for them scratching, you’re obviously not a Rolex lover, getting ok with it is a part of life. Thanks for watching - Andrew
We can agree to disagree .The sales figures will decide if they got it right or not. I am a Rolex lover, just not of the models with polished centre links ; I just think brushed is better in a stainless steel watch bracelet .That said, the other points that I mentioned are more detractive than the links; and while I see your point about the few positives, it’s just not enough for me; but that’s just my personal opinion, others may love it . Nice shots of the watch though and good review; except the fact that you guys don’t mention the weight of the watch in grams . That is a big one in my opinion , as it determines comfort on wrist. Best wishes .
@@theoverlord1925 Ball: MARAVILHOSO!