Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Black Watch Review
Friday - 23 August 2013
Ball Watch Company has developed its new Engineer Hydrocarbon Black timepiece for rock climber Alex Honnold.
Alex Honnold holds numerous climbing records, and is considered a "living legend of free solo climbing" - where climbs are performed without the use of harnesses and climbing aids. Honnold recently joined Ball as a brand ambassador.
The Ball Watch Company Engineer Hydrocarbon Black was inspired by Honnold and their shared values of "determination, love of a challenge, precision, strength, excellence and humility".
Designed to be "deliberately free of superfluous detail", the 42 mm all-black watch is the first in the collection to use a DLC coating, which is extremely scratch resistant and offers increased durability. The titanium case ensures the watch is light to wear.
The Engineer Hydrocarbon Black is equipped with a new patented SpringLOCK system, exclusively developed by Ball. The device provides the balance spring with a 'cage' to absorb any external shocks to the watch. Shocks can cause a standard mechanical movement to go out by up to 60 seconds per day, but the SpringLOCK reduces shock impact by up to 66% and protects the accuracy of the calibre.
Alex Honnold holds numerous climbing records, and is considered a "living legend of free solo climbing" - where climbs are performed without the use of harnesses and climbing aids. Honnold recently joined Ball as a brand ambassador.
The Ball Watch Company Engineer Hydrocarbon Black was inspired by Honnold and their shared values of "determination, love of a challenge, precision, strength, excellence and humility".
Designed to be "deliberately free of superfluous detail", the 42 mm all-black watch is the first in the collection to use a DLC coating, which is extremely scratch resistant and offers increased durability. The titanium case ensures the watch is light to wear.
The Engineer Hydrocarbon Black is equipped with a new patented SpringLOCK system, exclusively developed by Ball. The device provides the balance spring with a 'cage' to absorb any external shocks to the watch. Shocks can cause a standard mechanical movement to go out by up to 60 seconds per day, but the SpringLOCK reduces shock impact by up to 66% and protects the accuracy of the calibre.
The timepiece is powered by the automatic ETA 2892-A2 movement, chronometer certified by the COSC. A date window is placed at 3 o'clock, with its display enhanced by a magnifying lens on the anti-reflective sapphire crystal.
The minutes scale and second hand are in yellow to contrast with the black design of the dial, case, bezel and strap. Micro tubes filled with luminescent 3H gas are used on the numerals and hands, making the time instantly legible in darkness. The micro gas tubes do not require an external light source, and are up to 100 times more effective than conventional luminescent paint.
The bezel is made of ceramic, making it extremely resistant to scratches, corrosion and UV rays. It is unidirectional as a safety measure, preventing accidental movement of a time preset. Luminous paint has been added to the figures and scale on the bezel for improved visibility.
Browse our Ball Watch Company watches.
The bezel is made of ceramic, making it extremely resistant to scratches, corrosion and UV rays. It is unidirectional as a safety measure, preventing accidental movement of a time preset. Luminous paint has been added to the figures and scale on the bezel for improved visibility.
Browse our Ball Watch Company watches.
