This month, Ball Watch Company is introducing their latest model and offering an exclusive pre-order price for watch fans to take advantage of. The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon DEVGRU is the newest addition to Ball’s Hydrocarbon line-up and a watch that was developed with direct input from the U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team Six – hence, the name DEVGRU. Like many of Ball’s previous developments, you can expect robust construction, a tritium gas micro tube light show, and a sporty design you can take anywhere. But, what makes the Engineer Hydrocarbon DEVGRU so special is the new patented case and movement technology that allows the watch to withstand a 10 meter free fall without damage.
For years, Ball’s SpringLOCK system technology has served to protect their watches from immense force. In the Engineer Hydrocarbon DEVGRU, the system has been redesigned and paired with a new SpringSEAL for enhanced accuracy and an elastomer ring to protect the movement. More specifically, the SpringSEAL is actually meant to guard the regulator assembly so it doesn’t shift upon impact and in turn, this prevents the need to re-regulate the movement after a fall. This works together with the elastomer ring – which comes in grey or red – that isolates and secures the entire movement from impact.
Compared to many of the other models in the collection, the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon DEVGRU is slightly more restrained in terms of design. The stainless steel case measures 42mm wide, offers 100m of water resistance, and features an AR-coated sapphire crystal. Because of the new technology Ball has implemented here, the watch is shock-resistant to 50,000 Gs and anti-magnetic to 4,800A/m. It’s also worth taking a look at the crown, which was also redesigned to further enhance the watch’s protective features.
The crown assembly extends far beyond the case and features a fold-over mechanism that protects the crown from impact. Because some of the worst falls a watch can experience typically result in extreme damage to the crown, Ball wanted to put a system in place to protect it much like the elastomer ring for the movement. The lines are clean and the mechanism functions smoothly for quick access to the time-setting options.
The dial of the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon DEVGRU comes in either black or blue and is also extremely legible. In a way, it’s more minimal than some of Ball’s other offerings with a basic time-only display and a framed day-date window at 3 o’clock. 14 tritium gas micro tubes can be found throughout the hands and markers and provide low-light visibility for around 25 years without the need for external light charging. It’s a Ball signature in many ways and speaks to the practicality of the watch as well as the overall purpose-built design.
The movement is Ball’s RR1102-SL caliber, which is in fact a ETA 2836-2. This makes servicing easy and the wearer can feel safe in knowing that it is a reliable movement that will provide care-free and accurate operation for years. Plus, the added protection of the SpringSEAL and the SpringLOCK systems make it a solid option for a long lasting sports watch.
The Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon DEVGRU can be ordered in a plain stainless steel case or stainless steel with titanium carbide coating. These options paired with the choice of dial colors, elastomer ring colors, and a rubber strap or tapered stainless steel bracelet offer plenty of visual combinations to choose from. Currently, Ball is also offering complimentary engraving and serial number selection. The pre-order pricing for the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon DEVGRU is $1,199 for stainless steel and $1,349 for stainless steel with titanium carbide coating. The watch will also be limited to 1,000 pieces and the special pre-order will end on October 31st, 2017. ballwatch.com
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