Are Ball watches any good?

[buddenfan]

I know nothing about the brand but saw my cousin’s dad today who’s also a watch enthusiast and he was showing me a Ball diver he bought for his son. Then showed me a Ball he has on his wrist (38mm) and said something about the lume is good for 20+ years

Is this some cheap quality microbrand?

[Nikrnic]

Not just snother micro brand. They are good quality watches. I'd say a lot of bang for the buck.

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[buddenfan]

Originally Posted by Nikrnic

Not just snother micro brand. They are good quality watches. I'd say a lot of bang for the buck.

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Are they are fairly new company

[danwang0520]

they are decent for what they are priced at....

[DLRIDES]

Originally Posted by buddenfan

Are they are fairly new company

Ball has a long history from the 1800’s. Webster Ball was instrumental in RR timing and time zone creation here in the US. Ball RR grade pocket watches were a premier brand. Gone through many changes once RR grade pocket watches disappeared, brand name bought by a Swiss entity at some point, etc. Respected as durable tool watches and known for their tritium tube lume.

[Dan Pierce]

Really enjoyed my Aero Pilot, even though my wrist didn't get along w/ the OEM bracelet. Worked great on a Bonetto Cinturini rubber nato. It definitely felt like a quality piece w/ sapphire bezel, domed sapphire crystal, luminous tritium tubes for great legibility, and it was reliably accurate.
dP

[77T]

I’ve had a couple. They don’t sell parts so you are locked into their service center. The H3 lume is always on. Very robust magnetic resistance. Can handle big G forces. I liked mine.

But sell before it’s time for a service and you’ll be fine.


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[829maxx]

Ball has a long history and is a good watch for the price. They live somewhere between Hamilton and Longines in terms of quality/price.


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[buddenfan]

Interesting

[GST15]

I don't have one, but I am familiar with their history. I think they make some very cool watches!

[rmagoo57]

from: https://www.worthpoint.com/articles/...s-contribution

The original Web C. Ball Watch and Jewelry Company went out of business in the 1960s but was since re-born in Switzerland and is producing high quality durable “sport model” wrist watches.

The colloquial phrase “on the ball” purportedly derives from Webb C. Ball’s watch standards and their reputation for accuracy.

[buddenfan]

They have some cool looking models

[DoricSpiker]

Originally Posted by 829maxx

Ball has a long history and is a good watch for the price. They live somewhere between Hamilton and Longines in terms of quality/price.


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Spot on.


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[elau1958]

My local jeweler caries Ball watches but I just don't see the allure of the brand. I just can't get over the name especially in a watch enthusiastic GTG party.

"May I see your Ball?" Or "May I try on your Ball?"

[911cv]

Is your question “are they good” or are they respectable?

[Andad]

I had an interesting situation with the Ball distributor in Australia.

I brought a new Ball Fireman and as it has the tritium tubes I used it partially as a bedside clock.
I wasn’t wearing it much and manually wound it often.

Using it like this for a while I noticed that the auto winding rotor was dragging/turning when manually winding it and contacted the Australian distributor to discussed a warranty repair.

They requested I send it to their Sydney office for repair and they subsequently refused to repair it under warranty because I had “overused the manual winding mechanism”?

This was an ETA movement and the repair cost me quite a few hundred dollars.
I have not bought another.

It is a nice model.

[Calatrava r]

Who makes their movements?

[Dynamite_Kid19]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Who makes their movements?

Think they use a mix of their own and ETA/Sellita. I believe they also add modules to ETA/Sellitas to make the their traveler GMT with the pushers to advance fwd/back. As far as their own movements not sure if they design and someone else manufactures.

https://shop.ballwatch.ch/en/mechani...RoCmjMQAvD_BwE

I like the look of a lot of their watches but I can't get with a diver/sport model with a folding buckle like they use on most models.

https://www.ballwatch.com/global/1/t...ckle---64.html

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