The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD -Assisting the US Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit

Luxury watches with in-built anti-magnetic technology do exist, this is no lie. But do they offer the same level of ruggedness, shock resistance and functionality as a Ball watch? I’d have to say “no”, because the pioneers of the luminous micro gas tube and the standardisation of US railroad timekeeping in the 1900s, can lay claim to one of the world’s toughest timekeeping instruments. It goes by the name of the Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD.

If you’re a fan of Ball watches, you’ll already know that the Engineer watch collection has long been praised for its shock resistance up to 5000G’s and its anti-magnetic protection up to 4,800A/m. But the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD sets a standard of its own. Built for the toughest of conditions, the design is licensed by the United States Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, founded in 1941. The specialist unit team was tasked with cleaning up WWII battlefields and has since become an integral unit of the US Navy. What must it take to fulfil such a role, though?

Any member of the EOD must be able to identify explosives, asses them, recover them, and even disarm and dispose of them. They should be able to perform in hazardous, high-risk environments and successfully complete their duty in the toughest of external conditions, whether that be on land, in the sky, or underwater. These technicians must master small unit tactics, parachutes, helicopter insertions, and be able to dive down to unfathomable depths. Indeed, clearing battlefields is no easy task. These technicians are faced with some of the most challenging of scenarios, after all. To do any of this, a watch like the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD strapped to their wrist is a must.

The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD is a companion for every purpose, every eventuality and every task. The missions that EOD personnel are faced with are dangerous but necessary and when these technicians are often working against the clock, the features and robustness of the Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD prove invaluable. Here’s a look at Ball Watch Company’s most robust mechanical watch yet.

The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD

Ball’s tough and mission-ready Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD watch was designed in partnership with the United States Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and boasts unparalleled resistance to shock, magnetism and water. But it is not simply these values that set the tool watch apart from any other on the market. Moreover, it is the technology implemented into the design that does. As the ultimate companion for eliminating threats, deactivating explosives and assessing high-risk environments - the watch brings lightweight ergonomics to the wrist in the form of a 42mm titanium case. This case incorporates a patented shock absorption elastomer ring that has been especially re-invented for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit. What the elastomer ring does is wrap around the movement and dial to allow the engine to resist 10-meter free falls with its flexible, long-lasting and resistant structure. The band is resistant to UV and sunlight too and compensates for movement between the crown stem, dial and spring during impact. This protective padding proves indispensable for protecting the many delicate parts of the Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD’s engine from breaking.

Now, let’s take a look at some more of Ball’s patented anti-shock technology. The brand’s innovative SpringSEAL® feature has an important role to play in locking and protecting the regulator’s setting. This comes in particularly useful during impact and eradicates the need for the regulator to be re-set. Meanwhile, the SpringLOCK® feature reduces the shock impact on the balance spring by 66%. It limits the unfurling of the coil or breaking of the balance spring. After all, the balance spring is one of the most delicate parts of a mechanical movement.

Aside from the impressive shock resistance of the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD, the company also implements a mumetal shield, which promises anti-magnetic resistance up to 1,000 Gauss. This alloy, made from nickel, copper and iron has high magnetic permeability. With the ability to attract and deflect static or low-frequency magnetic field lines, the watch promises an exceptional advantage over many other tool watches on the market. Other features of the watch case include a patented crown guard for additional impact resistance and an anti-glare and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass front. The watch also promises a 300-meter water resistance for plenty of underwater use, along with a unidirectional rotating bezel for the successful tracking of time underwater.

Onto the dial, and the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD watch showcases one of the brand’s most famous innovations of all – its micro gas tube technology. The glowing self-powered micro gas tubes you see in the dial of this watch feature throughout the brand’s catalogue and require no external charging source. Instead, these gas tubes are filled with tritium, which reacts with phosphorous powder lined on the inside of the tubes to create a constant luminous glow whether under direct light or in the dark. Aside from these bright, legible tubes that represent the Arabic numerals, baton hour markers and hands on the dial, Ball experts choose a Super-LumiNova finish on the 60-minute markers of the bezel.

The engine propelling the luminous hands around the dial of the Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD watch is the chronometer-certified Calibre RR1101-CS. The automatic movement features a second sweep hand, hours and minutes, and a date function under a magnifying lens at 3 o’clock. Ball experts equip the mechanical movement with a special oil that enables its intricate parts to handle temperatures from -45° to 80°C (-49° to 176°F).

To finish the bold and tool-like aesthetic of the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD watch, a lightweight titanium and stainless steel bracelet tapers as it meets a patented folding buckle. You can also choose between a steel or black ceramic bezel, while on the caseback, you can admire a special engraving bearing the United States Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal insignia.

If you’d like to order one of the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon EOD watches, call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453 or email us at help@jurawatches.co.uk.