Inspiring and utilitarian, Ball Watch has what it takes to make precision timepieces. Its story began when American Watchmaker Webster C. Ball was tasked by the United States railways to help keep the trains running safely, and he began implementing standardisations and systems to ensure all timekeeping was as consistent and precise as possible. His recommendations became the basis of what is now known as the Swiss COSC certification. This single-minded sense of purpose is seen today in the ideas, designs and innovations coming from this company. Its products are meant to perform very specific tasks under precisely defined conditions with accuracy and consistency. Their use of gas micro-tubes containing light-emitting tritium gas allows for excellent reliability in almost any situation. Their crowns are often protected by special shoulders and locks that some might consider superfluous, until rough work actually proves otherwise. Arctic conditions that would freeze most watches barely affect their models meant specifically for temperature extremes. Their latest watch introduces an innovation that runs counter to what many watch companies are doing. NEDU stands for 'Navy Experimental Diving Unit', the unit of the United States Navy responsible for rolling out diving and decompression rules for the armed forces. The new Ball Watch Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU hides what they would normally trumpet. They take joy in daring you to find the automatic helium valve of this 42mm titanium deep-dive watch. The helium valve is ingeniously located in the crown, a design that needed much rethinking to produce. Ball Watch believes this location allows that much more protection to the system, avoiding an additional surface that may be affected by water pressure and thereby making it safer for the diver. The crown itself will act as normal, and is protected by the shoulders and lock that are standard on the tough Engineer Hydrocarbon line. The unidirectional bezel is chromed pure black ceramic for resistance to scratches, corrosion and ultraviolet rays, but is still easily manipulated by a gloved hand. Two chamfers are cut into the case flange supporting the bezel, acting as drains to help with water flow and avoid blockage or jamming. The watch movement is, in keeping with the Ball Watch DNA, a simple and sturdy ETA 7750 Automatic chronograph COSC certified chronometer. Twenty-one micro-gas tubes take their place on the hour, minute and seconds hands and the dial. Powerful luminous paint is used on the bezel. For those wanting a more old-school dive-watch look, Ball Watch offers the Engineer Master II Skindiver. The vintage look and feel of this 40.5mm stainless steel watch are meant to call to mind the very first 'BALL Skindiver' watch launched in 1962. The new watch is launched to coincide with the golden jubilee of that first Skindiver. An ETA 2836-2 movement serves as a reliable engine, providing all the diver needs, hours, minutes, seconds as well as day and date. A large unidirectional bezel with a black aluminium ring helps keep track of time beneath the surface. The present watch has clearer markings on the bezel, with numerals rather than the smaller lines and marks of the original. The new timepiece also has increased visibility, provided by 15 double-sized micro-gas tubes on the hour, minute and seconds hands and the dial. Ball Watch is also about to head off in a new direction with a new partner. It is teaming up with carmaker BMW to produce some exciting new designs and technical innovations. One detail already announced is a revolutionary shock-absorbing system featuring a new anti-magnetic protection ring.
