Horologii

BALL Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU Blue Ceramic Watch Review

BALL Watch Company have launched a new version of their iconic Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU watch, this time awarded with a stunning blue ceramic bezel and blue gradient dial. Since 2012, the brand have worked alongside NEDU, otherwise known as the Navy Experimental Diving Unit, to create uncompromising, durable and highly water resistant diver’s watches. Almost a decade on and the new BALL Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU Blue Ceramic watch is no exception delivering a serious, boundary-pushing, deep-defying diving instrument suitable for even the harshest ocean conditions.

Guaranteed to become a best-selling piece, the new BALL Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU watch comes under reference DC3026A-S3C-BE and showcases a handsome new colourway of smooth titanium and ocean blue. The deep shade of blue can be found on the blue ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel adorned with a 60 minute scale, perfect for measuring elapsed dive times, and Superluminova decoration for optimal legibility in all lighting.

The centrepiece gradient dial is also adorned in blue and equipped with 21 of the brand’s legendary micro gas tubes on the hour, minute and seconds hands and box indexes. For those unfamiliar with BALL’s remarkable micro gas tube technology, these luminous tritium gas tubes do not require any recharge from the sun or any external light source and do not drain any of the power reserve. The markers are also 100 times brighter than other luminous paints commonly used in the luxury watch industry and guarantee superior brightness that lasts up to 25 years.

Just by looking at the BALL Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU DC3026A-S3C-BE watch, you can tell it’s a serious instrument. The unidirectional bezel is purposely ratcheted for ease of grip when wearing thick diving gloves while those with eager eyes may have noticed the two bevels cut out into the flange which has been designed to drain any water that may get trapped between. It’s small details like this that remind you this isn’t just a standard diver’s piece, but one designed by two industry experts: BALL and NEDU. The bezel is paired with a lightweight titanium case measuring to 42mm in diameter and 17.3mm in height alongside a patented crown protection system. To ensure its water resistant rating of 600 metres, the crown of the BALL Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU watch is fitted with a protective plate and must be screwed back into its original position after time adjustment.

The impressive 600 metre water resistant rating of the BALL Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU watch also comes from its patented helium system. When diving and resurfacing from the depths, it is important that the gas molecules can escape from the watch so by directly incorporating a helium system into the crown, BALL Watch Company have eradicated the potential of a surface liable to warp under the water pressure. The BALL Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU also delivers a shock resistance rating to 7,500Gs and an anti-magnetic rating to 4,800A/m, two statistics extremely beneficial in protecting the Automatic calibre BALL RR1402-C housed within.

As with almost all BALL watches, the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU DC3026A-S3C-BE watch is kitted out with a COSC certified movement that has tested and certificated to an accuracy of -4 to +6 seconds per day. The automatic winding calibre also delivers complications for hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds, day and date, an underwater operable chronograph with accumulated measurement up to 12 hours and a power reserve of 42 hours. The functions are displayed beneath crisp sapphire crystal glass treated with an anti-reflective coating.

To complete the look of the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU, a tapered titanium and stainless steel bracelet is added alongside a patented folding buckle with a divers extension. The piece is also handsomely presented in special packaging that includes a unique diving watch box and ABS plastic case with removal inner insert.

You can shop the entire BALL Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU collection on the Jura Watches website including the new Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU DC3026A-S3C-BE watch at the link here.

Specifications: Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU Watch (DC3026A-S3C-BE)

  • Case Size: 42mm
  • Case Material: Titanium
  • Bezel: Unidirectional, blue ceramic
  • Glass: Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
  • Crown: Patented crown protection system
  • Case Back: Screw down
  • Water Resistance: 600 metres
  • Movement: Automatic calibre BALL RR1402-C
  • COSC: Yes
  • Functions: Hours, minutes, subsidiary seconds, date, date, chronograph
  • Power Reserve: 42 hours
  • Dial: Blue gradiant with 21 micro gas tubes
  • Strap: Tapered titanium and stainless steel bracelet
  • Buckle: Patented folding with extension system
  • RRP: £3,580