Hands-on with the BALL Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond Limited Edition
Friday - 24 February 2023
American-Swiss watchmaker BALL has mastered many ground-breaking technologies over their 130 year history, whether it be their in-house chronometer certified movements, Amortiser patented anti-shock system or their brilliantly luminous micro gas tube technology. Offering all this and more is the luxury watch brand’s latest limited edition, the BALL Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond watch which calls to the wrists of underwater explorers.
The Case
The BALL Watch Company is no stranger to the creation of high-performance dive watches and the new BALL Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond Limited Edition is just another example of their prowess in underwater technologies. It’s durable stainless steel case is fully equipped to take on both land and water, boasting a water resistance of 300 metres, anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass and a screw in crown and case back. The case measures to 41.5mm in diameter and 13.8mm in height and presents a domed sapphire bezel with a glossy blue insert for measuring elapsed dive times. The bezel is unidirectional and presents an easy-to-read 60 minute divers scale in white. Like the bezel, the glass used to protect the dial is also domed and boasts a thickness of 5mm for high levels of durability and resistance to water pressure.
As if that wasn’t enough, the BALL Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond watch ensures even further reliability for adventure with the brand’s patented Amortiser system housed inside the case. The anti-shock system protects the manufacture movement against damage caused by external shocks which could otherwise seriously spoil the mechanisms within. As such, the limited edition of 1,000 pieces is rated shock resistant to 5,000Gs to pair with its anti-magnetic rating of 4,800A/m. The BALL Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond watch’s exterior is completed by a sturdy three-row link stainless steel bracelet and folding buckle.
The Dial
Matching with the deep nautical blue hue of the sapphire bezel is the BALL Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond watch’s dial, also finished in a handsome dark navy. As always, BALL’s dive watches are generously adorned with their micro gas tube technology which is truly unlike any other luminescent material used in luxury watchmaking. For those unfamiliar with this technology, BALL encapsulates H₃ gas in glass microtubes and when the gas strikes the internal-coloured surface of the tubes, they emit a brilliant light. Unlike traditional luminous material, BALL’s micro gas tubes require no external light or energy source, glowing endlessly in the dark for up to 25 years.
In the same way, the BALL Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond Limited Edition illuminates beautifully in low lighting, placing 35 tubes across the domed sapphire bezel and on the dial. The tubes are coloured in a combination of green and yellow with 1mm micro gas tubes at each hour marker and even slimmer tubes positioned on the hour, minute and seconds hands. The dial of the BALL Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond watch also presents a magnified date window at 3 o’clock and a few red accents which can be spotted on the tip of the minutes hand and on the lettering marking its chronometer status.
The Movement
BALL Watch Company made history with the launch of their first in-house manufacture chronometer movement back in 2018 and it is this very movement, the tried-and-tested BALL RRM7309-C, that fuels the new BALL Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond Limited Edition. The “C” at the end of its name implicates its chronometer certified status which means it has been rigorously tested by Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres for its quality and accuracy. The RRM7309-C also provides an impressive 80 hour power reserve and a high frequency rate of 28,800vph. The movement is kept hidden behind the screw down case back handsomely engraved with the image of a diver.
Price & Availability
The BALL Engineer M Skindiver III Beyond watch is a limited edition of 1,000 pieces and retails at £3,050. If you’d like to learn more about this model and secure one of these pieces for yourself, you can do so by visiting the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
