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Ball Watch Co anyone?
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Author:  JustinFournier [ Sun Dec 05, 2010 2:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Ball Watch Co anyone?
Looking for one more piece this year to use at the pool over the winter, and ideally at the beach or in the water next summer. < $2000.

Ball watch has the cool Tritium tubes and was looking at a Diver, then saw this....(stole the pic from Ball forums over on TZ)

Looks to be a Spacemaster w/ white dial. Pretty cool!

Image

Was hoping people here who understand my UN-DIEING devotion to Ling would steer me clear of the pickup of another brand if it wouldn't be in my best interest.

Any input at all?
Author:  Iantheklutz [ Sun Dec 05, 2010 6:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
I don't have anything bad to say about them. I think their pieces are hit or miss on styling - but the ones that I like, I really like. The tritium tubes area cool feature. I also really like that the short end of the center second-hand is a stylized "B" - very similar to Breitling.

As far as the movements, there are COSC versions of a few of their models but nothing special under the hood of these bad boys otherwise.
Author:  Drtymrtini [ Sun Dec 05, 2010 6:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
:yeahthat very well said.
Author:  JustinFournier [ Sun Dec 05, 2010 6:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
I feel the prices they ask reflect the movements in them. One Diver FS on TZ with a OEM rubber strap on deployant and a bracelet rated by the seller as 99% rated by TZ complete boxes & papers, for $1100. It would be around $2000 new.

Not a terrible deal. And those Tritium tubes are cool.... I wouldn't cry if I dinged it off the tile in the pool.

About all I see close to that range from Breitling is the SO, and it's a wee bit more than $2000.

Tough call...
Author:  BroncoSport [ Sun Dec 05, 2010 8:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
There are several Ball models that I like, just not enough to move up on the "gonna buy it" list. I was really close on an Engineer II model once. The closeup shot of the dial sold it. It had applied hour markers that looked tall. Very distinct. The gas tubes are a cool feature, although the life on them isnt appearently as long at Superluminova. Some of the models look a little too "futureistic" in thier layout, IMO. They seem to over populate the dial with the tubes, just to make it stand out more. For me less, is more.
Author:  FEAR [ Sun Dec 05, 2010 10:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
JustinFournier wrote:
Looking for one more piece this year to use at the pool over the winter, and ideally at the beach or in the water next summe <2000

Sounds like a super ocean on rubber to me. A new one can be had for a tad over 2k
Author:  Montexn [ Sun Dec 05, 2010 11:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
Justin, I got to see several of these at my watch repair shop, who is also an AD for them and they are nice pieces. I thought the craftsmanship was very good and they wore very nice on the wrist. The bracelets were not cheap affairs made of thin metal and the clasps functioned easily and securely. The tubes are awesome and supposed to have a lifespan of about 20-25 years from what I was told and have read. Many of their models are COSC certified and they all come housed in anti-magnetic cases. The company itself has an interesting history and they developed some of the industry standards still in use today. Personally I think that one you are looking at would be a great deal, give you a nice classy feature packed watch that didn't cost you a lot, be a great day wearer, and serve your needs well. My vote is nab that one, I think you will be pleased. :thumbsup: If not I might want to take it off your hands....at a reduced rate of course. :poke: :rofl: :nana:

Oh and another interesting side note....Kevin Dunn is sporting one of Ball's Conductor Chronographs on the Big Screen in the movie "Unstoppable". 8)
Author:  Roffensian [ Mon Dec 06, 2010 5:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
BroncoSport wrote:
The gas tubes are a cool feature, although the life on them isnt appearently as long at Superluminova.



Tritium has a relatively short half life, tritium will be dead in less than 20 years, but can be replaced.
Author:  Driver8 [ Mon Dec 06, 2010 6:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
The half life of tritium is a little over 12 years, so in 20 years, any hour markers equiped with tritium would have around a 1/4 of the luminosity as when they were new.
Author:  Flynbyu [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
Great piece for divers. VERY LUMINOUS at depth.

There are 3-4 I really like.

~Brian
Author:  anez [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
Driver8 wrote:
The half life of tritium is a little over 12 years, so in 20 years, any hour markers equiped with tritium would have around a 1/4 of the luminosity as when they were new.


This was my initial concern when I saw it-- GREAT looking watch today, but in ten or fifteen years, the luminosity is going to die and then it's going to look a bit odd. That said, it's not a hugely expensive watch, and I have a funny feeling that in ten or fifteen years it's going to look pretty "retro" anyway. I say go for it-- I do love the SO which is the most comparable Ling, but this is more unusual and different to have in one's collection, and I have a feeling it will catch more interest/compliments, too, especially on a bracelet and reports here seem to indicate that you could only get the SO on a strap for this price, so...

Can't actually stop scrolling down to peek again at this one, it's definitely a high-vis choice.
Author:  JustinFournier [ Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
Thanks all.

I think I will wait for the 2011 models to come out. The cover of the Wristwatch Annual 2011 has a black Ball, might be lots of new models in the works.

I'm not worried about the tubes lifespan. I have no problem paying to have them replaced if I like the watch enough in 12ish years, if not it will only have cost several hundred a year to own between now and then, more than reasonable.
Author:  JacksonStone [ Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
Generally how expensive is it to have the tubes replaced? Obviously this figure will change in 12 - 15 years, but just as a general ballpark.
Author:  JustinFournier [ Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
Couldn't tell you Nathan. Doubt it would be anything crazy.
Author:  Roffensian [ Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Ball Watch Co anyone?
I think it's $200 - $300 from memory.
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