Hands-on with the BALL Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT Sled Driver Limited Edition
Tuesday - 30 May 2023
Ball Watch Company releases two 40mm and two 42mm versions of its new Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT Sled Driver watch – each one limited to 199 pieces worldwide and equipped with a colourful 24- hour day-night bezel
It seemed at one point that Ball Watch Company had gone quiet on us. It had always been a brand associated with innovative use of materials, cutting-edge luminous technology and a diverse team of ambassadors. As such it had a huge fanbase and a growing dealer network. Over the last couple of years, Ball Watch Company has been finding its groove once again and has recently released some more models to its popular Engineer Hydrocarbon series. Meet the new Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT II Sled Driver Limited Edition watches for 2023…
A brief introduction to Ball Watch Company
Back in the 1890s, Webb C. Ball was appointed with the job of investigating what could be done about a fatal train collision caused by a watch that had stopped working. If only the watchmaker had come along prior to the accident, its timekeeping regulations could have saved lives with Ball’s devised “railroad time” standards. These accurate and reliable watches certified by Ball would assist the conductor of every train across the American rail network and would go on to revolutionise train safety. It is this horological history that makes Ball Watch Company such an interesting brand to follow. Its first purpose-built watch for diving was named the “Skindiver” and launched just before the quartz crisis hit the mechanical watch industry. It was in the early 2000s when Ball was revived once more, bringing MB Microtec tritium gas tubes into the mix. Today, almost every Ball watch maintains a small nod to the brand’s classical railroad-themed connection, but modern Ball watches generally have bold cases and dramatic glowing dial elements that make them perfect for daring exploration.
Ball’s innovative Micro Gas Tube technology
Ball Watch Company’s innovative Micro Gas Tube technology means that one glance is all you need for expert timekeeping whilst out exploring. This self-powered luminosity is 100 times better than conventional lume material and lasts for a minimum of 10 years. Safely sealing pure tritium gas inside its lightweight mineral gas tubes, phosphor powder in different colours enables the numerals and hands of a Ball watch to glow brightly in an array of colours once the tritium emits electrons. The coating inside the tubes gives off a bright light without posing any risk of radioactive levels to the wearer.
The new Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT II Sled Driver Limited Edition watches, like previous models that take the same name, are designed in honour of Major Brian Schul who was shot down at the end of the Vietnam War whilst flying the world’s fastest aircraft, encountering life-threatening burns. Adamant he would not let this defeat him, he went on to pass every physical test demanded of him and returned to the industry to fly the SR 71 Blackbird – the most extreme top-secret aircraft ever.
The AeroGMT II Sled Driver watch has been presented in tones of blue and black before now but for 2023, Ball releases two striking colourways. The blue and red model tips its hat to the iconic Pepsi GMT bezel of yesteryear, whilst the green and black variation looks incredibly modern on the wrist, with night hours represented in black and daytime hours in green. These watches from Ball’s Engineer Hydrocarbon series adhere to the brand’s “accuracy under adverse conditions” motto and have been crafted from stainless steel with an option of a 40 or a 42mm size.
The new Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT II Sled Driver Limited Edition watches
As mentioned, the two new versions of the AeroGMT Sled Driver mark the second generation and come in a choice of a blue and red bezel colour or a green and black bezel colour. Both options are available in 40 or 42mm sizes and are crafted from stainless steel with a specially engraved caseback outlining the major cities of the world. All four new models feature a black dial that has been integrated with the brand’s Micro Gas Tube technology on the hands and baton hour markers. The bidirectional rotating sapphire bezel also features micro gas tubes for unparalleled night-reading capability.
Both models offer a water resistance of 100 meters and have been topped with an anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass front. The screw-down crown at 3 o’clock has been developed using Ball’s patented crown protection system that guarantees superior water and shock resistance. Specially designed for the Engineer Hydrocarbon series, it features a protective plate placed around the crown that ensures it must be screwed into its original position after adjusting the time. The addition of this feature ensures the Engineer Hydrocarbon watch has a durability up to 7,500Gs.
With three time zone features on the main display, the inner 24-hour track and a 24-hour scale on the bezel, the new limited edition Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT II Sled Driver watch is the perfect travel companion for intuitive timekeeping whilst on the move. The 40 and 42mm watches are all powered by the Calibre BALL RR1201-C, which is COSCA certified and capable of producing a 42-hour power reserve. To finish, Ball Watch Company guarantees complete comfort with a tapered stainless steel bracelet engraved with the Ball logo and the Swiss Made lettering upon its patented folding buckle.
If you’d like more information on these new Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT II Sled Driver Limited Edition watches, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453.
