In the style of a spaceship’s instrument panelBALL WATCH: The Engineer Hydrocarbon Spacemaster
A quintessential Ball Watch timepiece, the new Engineer Hydrocarbon has undergone numerous developments, like the unidirectional rotating bezel with an H3 micro gas light inserted into a container at 12 o’clock. Its graduation from 0 to 14, as well as the numbers 15, 30 and 45, are coated with a very powerful luminescent paint producing blue reflections.
Another innovation is the patented triple folding clasp that the brand has machined from a single block of steel, with the folding elements under the buckle cap equally divided so that the bracelet can be extended by 22mm and the watch worn over sports equipment. American navy pilot Brian Binnie took this extraordinary timepiece with him into space, an expedition that Ball Watch has celebrated by equipping the Spacemaster dial with tubes of blue luminescent gas, in the style of a spaceship’s instrument panel.
History BALL Watch
The most adverse conditions can give rise to the greatest achievements. The history of BALL watches is closely tied to that of the American railroad pioneers. It started precisely on 18 April 1891 with the head-on collision of two trains in Ohio, United States. This catastrophe has left a lasting impression, all the more so since it was due to the inaccuracy of the watch belonging to one of the trains’ engineers. Consequently, the two largest railway companies in the United States decided to take steps to prevent such a technical failure from ever happening again: they contacted the Cleveland watchmaker Webster Clay Ball, already well-known for making chronometers. Appointed ‘Chief Time Inspector’ to the federal railroads, Webster C. Ball performed timing tests on all railway employees’ watches. At the same time, he implemented a time standardisation system based on extremely strict criteria of reliability and precision. From that moment on, the fame of watches bearing the ‘BALL’s Standard’ logo spread well beyond the American continent.
A spirit of adventure, a love of a challenge, endurance and no-nonsense aesthetics: these are the common denominators of BALL Watch timepieces. Robust watches that express an authentic strength of character. Capable of exceptional performance, they are equipped with unparalleled technical capabilities that enable them to confront the most adverse conditions with complete peace of mind for the wearer. Their classic design and their natural elegance personify the most remarkable technical exploits in a completely understated manner.
One of the exclusive qualities of BALL watches is the perfect dial visibility even in the complete absence of any light thanks to the use of Micro Gas Lights (3H).
Today, more than ever, BALL Watch is continuing its journey and asserting its role as a key protagonist in the evolution of watchmaking history.