Horologii

The Ball Engineer Master II Slide Chronograph; a stroke of genius.

Question: What do you get if you cross an expertly crafted in-house movement chronograph, a built-in antimagnetic system, supreme luminosity technology and astounding water resistance, all encased within a ruggedly handsome timepiece? The answer is the Ball Engineer Master II Slide Chronograph. Well where to start?! Ball Watch engineer 1Company has tied together so many desirable abilities within this unique and sturdy piece of equipment,that it almost becomes a difficulty to decide which wonderful characteristic to begin talking about first.

The Ball Engineer Master II slide Chronograph product number: CM3888D-S1J-BK (part of the Engineer Master II collection itself) employs the use of a mechanical slide to start, stop and reset the stopwatch facility instead of the traditional pushers. The engineering of the mechanical slide button is a piece of perfection, activated effortlessly by such gentle application… almost feather-light strokes in fact. This time the American watch developers have obviously decided to turn direction with their design of the new model, as not only are we able to acknowledge that the multi-functional mechanism takes the form of a singular integrated control at the 9 o’clock position, but the physique of the new Engineer Master II Slide Chronograph has also been reformed. But how does the patented development work first of all? Well the new gadget is activated and paused by a singular upwards motion, whilst a counter-clockwise motion resets it to a zero position, making those every day functions an absolute delight to play with. The watch looks almost muscular with its jagged angles and huge size. With a staggering depth of 15.5mm and a diameter of 47mm, it is impossible to ignore its strong engineer coverpresence and ever-growing boldness. It is unquestionably a true statement piece. The wide circumference of the watch face allows for plenty of available space to maintain a clutter-free, highly legible timekeeping display. But if it is one aspect in particular that has always impressed me with Ball watches, it has to be those insanely luminous hour markers that have been successfully incorporated into each blueprint design with ease, whilst also managing to retain full integrity. The gas filled microtubes are capable of shedding rays of brilliance in any lowlight situation. 15 cylindrical tubes make up the 12 within the hour markers, one inside the chronograph slide bar itself and two within the hour and minute hands. The dimensions of the Engineer Master II Slide Chronograph are layered with depth; the inner bezel being closest to the eye is neatly structured marking only the hours, thus reinforcing its easy read capability. Secondly connecting said inner bezel to the main dial is the tachymeter scale delicately pronounced with crisp readings. Finally – the inner dial itself is well balanced and easy on the eye with three sub-dials and a date display window to show the watch’s full-bodied capacity. The independently sourced BALL RR1402 is housed within a selection of premium high-grade materials too – another appealing box well and truly ticked for those who feel that the real beauty of a timepiece lies within the quality of its natural components.

engineer 2Ball Watch Company are forever embracing the concept of change; change to improve what has already been, therefore their highly commendable sense of adventure illustrated via this new model has most certainly paid off. The left-sided track firmly supporting the innovative slide facility, relieved in a symmetrical sense, by the single crown on the opposite side, has offered a novel alternative to those eager to embrace a breath of fresh air from the brand. The chronograph adopts the call for individuality, so Ball’s daring decision to put a spin on such an essential element of the watch’s functionality is not only plausible but seems a natural direction for them to take. Also; if one has so far failed to notice, the chronograph timepiece requires only one finger to guide through the motions of the watch and access all of the necessary functions which for many will be a refreshing convenience. The watch is beautifully finished by the application of a keen red hue around notable aspects such as the 12 and 6 o’clock sub-dials, the decorative skirting to the date window function and interjected amongst the markers of the sloping flange of the tachymeter scale, further accelerating the brand’s creativeness. In all, the watch not only delivers on affordability at £2470.00 and a look exclusive to Ball and its enthusiasts worldwide, but the Engineer Master II Slide Chronograph is an ergonomic masterpiece deserving of its continual praise.