Comments about Ball watches please.

[Art161]

I am tired of the lousy lume on Rolex watches. In looking around on the web, it seems as though Ball might be a good alternative for me. They have mechanical watches in the $2-3k range with tritium tubes, COSC movements (ETA), date complication, and SS bracelet.

Thanks for any comments you may wish to share about Ball watches.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Art161

I am tired of the lousy lume on Rolex watches. In looking around on the web, it seems as though Ball might be a good alternative for me. They have mechanical watches in the $2-3k range with tritium tubes, COSC movements (ETA), date complication, and SS bracelet.

Thanks for any comments you may wish to share about Ball watches.

no.

[cyglee]

Originally Posted by subtona

no.

please elaborate? I was thinking about a Fireman Racer, or Ohio GMT.

[gaopa]

Have you looked at Lum-Tec watches? Good watches with great lume and a very good value, I think. Cheers, Bill P.

[Ultraman]

Or the Omega Seamasters? The lumes are awesome.

[theloxmyth]

I like 'em and will buy the COSC GMT red hand model!

[Art161]

Originally Posted by gaopa

Have you looked at Lum-Tec watches? Good watches with great lume and a very good value, I think. Cheers, Bill P.

Thanks for the suggestion, Bill. I have been reading some good things about Lum-Tec, but my understanding is that they use Superluminova for luminescence. I'm looking for something that doesn't need exposure to light beforehand in order to keep luminescence through the night.

[Andad]

My Ball Fireman II has a great lume 24/7.
Sits next to my bed and is the only watch I have that I can read anytime.
The ETA movement is very smooth which leads me to believe that Ball re-work them and the cyclopsless date window is SD'ish.
Glows like a beacon.

[Ultraman]

Originally Posted by Art161

Thanks for the suggestion, Bill. I have been reading some good things about Lum-Tec, but my understanding is that they use Superluminova for luminescence. I'm looking for something that doesn't need exposure to light beforehand in order to keep luminescence through the night.

Ball watches is your answer!

[Dickson Lim]

You can't go wrong with any Ball watches. Just pick the style you like. It is like an mechanical G-shocks (anti-magnetism, anti-shock, good water resistance and some even got temperature endurance plus superb crown guard system)! Go for it, have fun!

[Demosthene]

There excellent watches, amazing value for the price.
Ive been wearing my Engineer Master II Officer more often then my Sub lately!

[cedargrove]

I understand they are pretty good quality. There are also some nice looking models. I was recently looking at a camping watch with very good lume, and like the tritium tubes. I didn't go with Ball because they were a little too expensive and dressy for camping.

[Aivas47a]

I just bought my third Ball, an Engineer Master II DLC. I think I finally found the right model for my needs. My requirements for this are: easy legibility at night, with no need for light exposure; comfort for wearing while sleeping; good for wear in the pool or at the lake; and finally, a watch that is respectable (not a beater), but that I'm comfortable wearing in situations where I wouldn't want to wear a more expensive sports watch like an AP.

First purchase was trainmaster powerglow. This was comfortable, but I found that the power reserve lighting could interfere with a quick read of the time at night in some cases, and the leather strap is not ideal for water wear. Next I tried the hydrocarbon spacemaster. Rugged enough for wear in any condition and great readability in the dark, but too heavy for sleep wear. I also found the clasp a bit uncomfortable.

The master dlc seems perfect. Rubber strap is comfortable and good for water wear. Blue lighted full numeral dial with orange hands is extremely legible; black dial and case give it a classy look. This one is also more accurate than the others (2 seconds per day), which is important to me.

[Andad]

This is the view all night.

[mikea]

i have an EM Aviator GMT and love it! Wonderful quality and you don't see them everywhere!

[Dickson Lim]

Originally Posted by Demosthene

There excellent watches, amazing value for the price.
Ive been wearing my Engineer Master II Officer more often then my Sub lately!

Haha which version you got it bro? I got the green on black version. But I'm good, I treat my platty YM and Officer both equally good!

[subtona]

Originally Posted by cyglee

please elaborate? I was thinking about a Fireman Racer, or Ohio GMT.

only basing opinion on prices i see here on the forum... wouldn't pay that much for a watch that does not have a solid resale potential.

not that the purchase is intended for resale but buying a rolex for example, is like having money in the bank for emergency.



fyi: tritium (when it is new) is amazing as i remember it from my first sub.... but it fades significantly by about year ~10 and now at 20 years old it is virtually not there.

[cedargrove]

Originally Posted by subtona

fyi: tritium (when it is new) is amazing as i remember it from my first sub.... but it fades significantly by about year ~10 and now at 20 years old it is virtually not there.

I saw an expiriment on another forum with various lumes. The tritium on an older watch (around 13-15 years) was just as bright as a newer one. Sure it will eventually disappear, but not as fast as many think.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by cedargrove

I saw an expiriment on another forum with various lumes. The tritium on an older watch (around 13-15 years) was just as bright as a newer one. Sure it will eventually disappear, but not as fast as many think.

maybe there were changes in tritium quality over the years but

my watch at 20yrs old is super dim at this point (i have to turn the light on) in its life and i really started to notice it about 10 years ago.

i remember when i first got it however and i would compare it to my seiko...the tritium would start not as bright as a freshly charged seiko... but in 5 minutes... no comparison, rolex out shined seiko hands down.

tritium rolex had zero fade through the night which is killer!

[Kevin B]

Go for the Ball, they're awesome watches. Just got back from the AD in my area that I bought my diver from and my buddy put a the new world timer on hold. Very nice watch. As luck would have it I walked out with a BNIB Seiko Ananta spring drive GMT...............This thing is awesome .

[Demosthene]

Originally Posted by Dickson Lim

Haha which version you got it bro? I got the green on black version. But I'm good, I treat my platty YM and Officer both equally good!

Green on black as well.
I was originally going to get the white as I felt I had too many black faced watches, but I’m glad I changed my mind.

[wokafu]

SEIKO's lumes great too..

[sushisummo]

Nothing beats a BALL lume.

I recently got this diver chrono........it's awesome......

[Art161]

I went to a Ball AD today, and looked at the Engineer II Arabic COSC II. Beautiful watch, but I'm concerned about the stainless steel bracelet, so I didn't buy. The clasp is only supposed to release when both buttons are pushed simultaneously. I was able to release the clasp by pushing only one button. Now this did not happen every time, but it happened often enough to concern me. Does anyone else have a clasp that releases with the push of only one button on occasion? I don't know if there is a design issue or a quality control issue.

[lorsban]

I have an Engineer Master II Diver TMT:



Lume is excellent! I keep all my watches in a box and when I open it at night, this is literally shining through! It's not crazy bright like a flashlight but all the markings are very clear and distinct! You will definitely not mis-read things at night.

Quality is very good. I say, finishing and quality is at par with Tag's carrera or Omega.

Plus just look at the specs man, shock resistant to 5000Gs, anti-magnetic, excellent night visibility, temperature resistance. For me, they're the G-shocks of swiss automatics!

[chicfarmer1]

Originally Posted by Art161

I went to a Ball AD today, and looked at the Engineer II Arabic COSC II. Beautiful watch, but I'm concerned about the stainless steel bracelet, so I didn't buy. The clasp is only supposed to release when both buttons are pushed simultaneously. I was able to release the clasp by pushing only one button. Now this did not happen every time, but it happened often enough to concern me. Does anyone else have a clasp that releases with the push of only one button on occasion? I don't know if there is a design issue or a quality control issue.

I bought this for future son-in-law last fall, and he's worn it daily since then without any issue. Works fine, looks wonderful.

[blackmsport]

I have a Ball Skylab

Great built watch
Comfort to wear even for a big watch
and the best bit... it stays very bright at night for hours

I like Ball, I buy another one if I can ... as a man needs two Balls

[Aivas47a]

Here's a pic of my new Master Engineer II DLC -- the perfect Ball for my needs as discussed in a prior post:



I wish I could take a good lume shot -- numerals are soft blue, hands are orange, all very easy to read in the dark.

Plus, the days of the week can be displayed in either English or French!

[Dr.Brian]

Ball is a nice watch company if you want something decent with tritium tubes.
If you just want a beater, Luminox and Traser make nice inexpensive (<$500) tritium tube watches in various styles for much less.

[WatchTimes]

I have the Nighttrain (or something) with a 3 color lume dial and love it for camping.
The lume is great for when I have to wake up early
as you can easily see the time in the darkest room quickly
and easily without bothering anyone else.

Outside of travel or camping I may wear it once or twice a mth.

A GShock would be a simple answer but I rather a mechanical watch and the Seiko monsters lume do not compare for the long haul.

They are good watches and good to deal with should you have any issues.