Overshadowed by Swiss, German and, of late, the revived British houses, American watch companies are finally making their much-deserved comebacks. Although America’s budget ranges have achieved global sales, the more costly brands enjoyed their greatest success in the home market; rare are non-US collectors of, say, Illinois or Elgin. But thanks to the world’s resurgent enthusiasm for interesting wristwatches, Hamilton, Bulova and others are serious contenders once more. And now you can include the Ball Watch Company, which, its fans would attest, did more to establish precise timekeeping in the USA than any other.