Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon TMT Ti LE

[chrisyen]

bought this pre owned Ball.... a special one... with mechanical thermometer !

THE ENGINEER HYDROCARBON TMT TI LE



42mm titanium case with st steel dive bezel
300m water resistant
7500gs shock resistant
black dial
st steel hand
tritium gas tube on hour marker and all hands



the bezel is fitted with tritium tube at 12, the other marker are all luminous... lume is poor... but ball upgraded this in the latest spacemaster!
the construction of the bezel is simple, bezel a layer of rubber feel luminous ring and the st steel bezel insert...




the bracelet also mixed of titanium and st steel
the thick double clasps buckle with diver suit extension is made of steel, very well built, but ball against upgraded to butterfly style in the spacemaster which i dont really understand, butterfly clasp is difficult to wear... so i'm very happy with this buckle!
this ball bracelet like i said before in my previous review on the chronograph... is one of the best built- solid, comfortable to wear, top glass finishing!




nothing special on the st steel caseback
but its nicely engraved
laser printed all necessary information and a temperature scale
of cause this series of ball is antimagnetic.... not up to iwc ingenieur and rolex milgauss spec... but good enough for daily use !




the patented crown guard, ball engineer hydrocarbon trademark !
ball upgraded this on the spacemaster, no more long crown... but i prefer the old design, it look better and technically it function well
but heard the reason of upgrade is to reduce the crown length so that it wont touch your hand and cause the discomfort...
since i dont hv such problem so i just prefer the crown guard...




the date is relocated to 1 for  allowing space for the thermometer at six... why not at 12? 
no big issue, but i just dont use to look at one.... its little small, left more space for the ball 1 hour marker tritium tube !
so a magnifier is fitted!

the dial is black finish roughly instead of mirror black... which i like... some like the sunshine engraved....




the most important / highlight of this watch is this... the not really useful THERMOMETER
but who cares.... its unique !
and the index also has tritium lume... not sure how it was constructed !
looks like sandwich construction, meaning a layer of thin layer of tritium gas dial at bottom, a black index dial with opening on top!




sorry for poor lume shot... my tripod is broken....
but for all the ball owner.... we all like tritium / h3 gas tube right?
i'm proud every time i walk into a cinema!


final words... another well built watch from ball... with the unique touch!
the titanium used on reducing the overall weight is + point to some ppl.... but i still like the a full steel case!
i've not time the watch so far... not a guy who measure my watch accuracy everyday!

i felt very satisfy with ball once again!




PS - sorry i didnt wash the watch before i shoot it.... its bit dirty on the sapphire crystal, bracelet, caseback....because im too excited when i got it!

[sshark]

Have u tried testing sub zero temperature with it? I wonder what will happen to mechanic watches when subjected to sub zero temperature. For quartz, the time will go haywire.

[chrisyen]

Have u tried testing sub zero temperature with it? I wonder what will happen to mechanic watches when subjected to sub zero temperature. For quartz, the time will go haywire.

ball engineer hydrocarbon series watches used a different grade of oil.... so it can work till -40degree celcious

[takashi78]

What do you mean by not so useful thermometer?
Is it not accurate?

[chrisyen]

What do you mean by not so useful thermometer?
Is it not accurate?

its accurate.... just mean not really useful to me since i stay in malaysia everyday now, temperature is same everyday!

[danny]

What do you mean by not so useful thermometer?
Is it not accurate?

its accurate.... just mean not really useful to me since i stay in malaysia everyday now, temperature is same everyday!

It will come in useful when you need to check the water temperature of the bath tub before you bath your baby. 

By the way great review, nice pics and good looking watch. Thanks for sharing.
 

[chrisyen]

i always like rubber strap.... finally find some times to change it on rubber! ( but i always find engineer hydrocarbon look better on bracelet!)
clean it brush and soap!


take some quick shot for sharing...










i didnt notice there is temperature scale on the ball rubber strap until now...





regarding the ball hand quality... it wasnt that bad... in fact is very very good !
but how good is good... nothing is that good when u use microscope to see it!






ball actually have the best printed dial wording... but still how good when u look closely?












even a small little hairline scratch is visible

[danny]

Wow. Great macro shots. I think you must have used a microscope for some of the pics you posted. 
 

[chrisyen]

Wow. Great macro shots. I think you must have used a microscope for some of the pics you posted. 
 

thanks... just 105mm macro lens + a japan made add on magnifier

[ck77]

Wow. Great macro shots. I think you must have used a microscope for some of the pics you posted. 
 

thanks... just 105mm macro lens + a japan made add on magnifier

It must be Raynox

[chrisyen]

Yes! I forgot the name! It's raynox 250

[eric_j]

WOW...nice watch and sharp shot. 

Yen,i find that you really like ball watch a lot...   

[chrisyen]

WOW...nice watch and sharp shot. 

Yen,i find that you really like ball watch a lot...   

thanks
yes, i like ball watches... but just hydrocarbon series only !
because

1. it look good overall
2. it has the best bracelet
3. at least 300m water resistant
4. unique crown guard
5. shock resistant to 7500gs
6. -40degree celcious endurance
7. best h3 gas tube
8. not over price
9. best finishing
10. anti magnetic
11. comfortable to wear
12. high resale value

i wish after i listed so many gd thing bout ball... ball will give me a watch free!

[eric_j]

Haha..I think ball company can hire you as their spokeperson.. 

You convince me in getting one....

BTW,i heard ball watches price is going up and up as their watch is getting more attention.

[chrisyen]

price goes up + sales goes up = good brand
this is what happen to panerai, rolex and other good brand...
and never see ball watches sell in grey...
alot of big brand (sensitive to mention here) ended up to grey when price goes up n sales is poor... AD will need cash!

remember i said those who bought fireman and old hydrocarbon those day...
check the pre owned price now... u will laugh... because your ball retain better value than rolex!

[ck77]

Glad to know Ball is doing great  My 3 years old Fireman still going strong 

[djkenishii]

does the illumination last that long?

[chrisyen]

does the illumination last that long?

it will last for 25 yrs.... but brightness will decrease after 12.5 years....
standard for tritium....

[Fei]

This is one good looking watch and am surprised to hear about it's resale value.

Just curious, Do you know roughly how much % less is the resale value vs retail price?

[chrisyen]

This is one good looking watch and am surprised to hear about it's resale value.

Just curious, Do you know roughly how much % less is the resale value vs retail price?

depend on models n condition... u can pm to discuss on price....

[ckmcsk]

Resell value for ball is acceptable still

[shahzh]

That is definitely a nice looking Ball.. It looks good on both bracelet and rubber.

[ckmcsk]

Another great watch from Ball

[Watchnewby]

This is one good looking Ball watch and I am also surprised to hear about it's resale value as compared with other "established" brand.

A "rhyme pantun", I can think of :

This year is Euro 2012 football,
And the year I will think of Ball,
Many people don't have a clue,
On Ball's resale value.

[chrisyen]

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