Author Topic: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration  (Read 19257 times)

Offline nazren

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Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« on: April 03, 2012, 09:37:52 AM »
Anxiously awaiting...

Price range US$5k to US$8k...


 

Announced at Baselworld 2012

 

BALL Watch Company and BMW share the same values, especially a passion for precision mechanical engineering, an undeniable spirit of innovation and constant attention to technical and aesthetic excellence. Through their quest for perfection, precision and expertise, the watchmaking and automobile worlds are an ideal match.

As pioneer of chronometry standards, BALL Watch Company is worldwide known for having set the official standard watch of the American railroads. It was therefore an obvious step for BALL Watch Company and the legendary German automaker BMW to sign an exclusive cooperation agreement.

This natural union, based on the exchange of expertise and resources between the two brands to drive performance, aesthetics and precision, will in particular lead to the design of a BALL & BMW collection reflecting an assertive and decidedly contemporary spirit.

A new generation of timekeeping instruments with a strong personality, created to pass the test of time while ensuring the pleasure of unsurpassable comfort: that very same pleasure that all drivers experience behind the wheel of a BMW.

To cement and assert the determination defining this association, the watchmaking firm will be injecting the full scope of its expertise: COSC certification for all models in the collection, technological optimization and innovations, aesthetic refinement and balanced proportions.

Dedicated to the automotive world and aficionados of mechanical engineering excellence, the new BALL & BMW timepieces will incorporate various technical feats, especially a revolutionary anti-shock system. The BALL Watch Company’s exclusive patented Amortiser® system will protect the movement against extreme shocks. This exploit of micro-mechanical engineering, inspired by the automotive world, features a shock-absorbing protection ring - also anti-magnetic - enveloping the movement. Safety and performance combined: another two core values shared by BALL Watch Company and BMW.

The aesthetic design of these exceptional timepieces will pay homage to various distinctive hallmarks of BMW’s vehicles. A line based on the lightness that is typical of the German automaker’s dynamism.

BALL Watch Company and BMW have shared values that they will faithfully promote through this new association.

The new BALL & BMW collection will be made available this summer through a network of selective retailers.

Thanks.

Offline chrisyen

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2012, 11:44:38 AM »
Any new watch design out?
Will it be like ball watch price + BMW brand price

Jus like last time pam price + Ferrari price = pam + 20%
Then failed

Offline rusminag

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2012, 11:54:25 AM »
I bet BMW received a big sum from BALL..
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Offline shamtv2555

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2012, 12:56:56 PM »
Read before at base world news

Offline nazren

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2012, 08:58:14 PM »
As far as I can recall, BMW have never diversified into timepieces let alone collaborate with other watchmakers knowing their strict and protective business policies. This I believe would be their 1st with a watchmaker in an exclusive agreement which is joyous news to fans of the car and watch and more so like me if u have passion for both the car AND the watch.

Monetary benefits aside, one wonders why choose Ball? Why not a German watch? Why not a watch with racing history? It'll be interesting to find out what the powers that be come into this agreement? And who approach whom?

This being exclusive as they mention, I think it will be all new models rather than stamping a logo onto an existing watch model. Ferrari on the other hand have been collaborating with various watchmakers and also having their own watch brand as well which to me takes the exclusiveness off their watch brand...

Just my 2 posen.

Offline GlySinn

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2012, 09:24:10 PM »
It would have been more enticing if its a BMW-Sinn collaboration. But then again years ago Sinn collaorated with Audi. I doubt BMW would want to be in "Audi's footsteps"

Offline dpkong

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2012, 09:53:46 PM »
will the watch unlock the car when you walk up to it?

Offline nazren

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2012, 07:48:17 AM »
will the watch unlock the car when you walk up to it?

not with these kind of prices i think....

Offline Laktos Kid

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2012, 10:17:24 PM »
Ball watch caught my eye when my uncle bought one from 1U few years back when the brand was still not that popular, the quality of the watch, the design, the tritium and the comfy feel when wearing just made me feel in love with it. It was a Moon glow engineer (with glow in dark date)  I remember i will take the watch and listen to the ticking sound every night before going to bed when i'm at his place... wont go wrong with this brand ;)

Offline nazren

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2012, 11:39:29 PM »

Offline rusminag

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2012, 04:03:40 AM »
Now... I have to look for my Ball....
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Offline tonykpk

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #11 on: September 22, 2012, 06:27:06 AM »
 GP for BMW, BMW Oracle . regards tony.

Offline nazren

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #12 on: September 22, 2012, 08:56:37 AM »
i think bmw might have another thing in their plans...using tritium tech in their cars...maybe on the dashes perhaps...

Offline tonykpk

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #13 on: September 22, 2012, 02:29:58 PM »
Tritium has been out phased by super luminova.. Tritium has some radioactivity . Maybe what you meant was gas tubes that glow. correct me if I'm wrong. tony.
i think bmw might have another thing in their plans...using tritium tech in their cars...maybe on the dashes perhaps...
« Last Edit: September 22, 2012, 09:23:48 PM by tonykpk »

Offline JPSP

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #14 on: September 22, 2012, 06:39:03 PM »
i don't see/make any sense of this collaboration. Ball is an american origin for railroad - BMW a german brand for automotive...what's the similarity? Spirit of innovation?

This article is an interesting read. they didn't make any watches then....assembly movements from other watchmakers, cased them up and called them BALL watches is hardly what i call "undeniable spirit for innovation"     
 
http://www.oldrailroadwatches.com/ball_railroad_watches 

Maybe Ball and Chrysler or some well known american automobile company makes more sense.

« Last Edit: September 22, 2012, 06:44:08 PM by JPSP »

Offline nazren

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #15 on: September 22, 2012, 11:18:42 PM »
Tritium has been out phased by super luminova.. Tritium has some radioactivity . Maybe what you meant was gas tubes that glow. correct me if I'm wrong. tony.
i think bmw might have another thing in their plans...using tritium tech in their cars...maybe on the dashes perhaps...

Hmmm...i thought tritium=gas tubes that glow...same thing no?

Offline zameenzahari

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #16 on: September 23, 2012, 04:41:37 AM »
Tritium has been out phased by super luminova.. Tritium has some radioactivity . Maybe what you meant was gas tubes that glow. correct me if I'm wrong. tony.
i think bmw might have another thing in their plans...using tritium tech in their cars...maybe on the dashes perhaps...
Markers with tritium paints have been phased out due to the health hazard it poses to watch service personnel. Ball on the other hand encapsulates tritium gas within a translucent glass tube (hence claiming that the tritium is safely contained). The added benefit is the gas glows brighter than the paint ever did. Bottom line, still tritium.
« Last Edit: September 26, 2012, 03:42:59 AM by zameenzahari »

Offline nazren

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #17 on: September 23, 2012, 09:06:19 AM »
Thx for the clarification zz...

Looking at bmw business strategies in the past, they definitely collaborated with ball coz they wanted to learn about their glow in the watches. I remember when bmw wanted to build the 1 series, they bought over mini, before they work on the X5, they bought land rover, now they own rolls royce...

Offline rusminag

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #18 on: December 12, 2012, 08:23:53 PM »
Tempting....
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Offline RaymondT

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #19 on: December 12, 2012, 08:35:50 PM »
Did anyone get a chance to check it out? How much it is listed ?

Indeed very very tempting!...

Offline nazren

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #20 on: December 12, 2012, 08:53:47 PM »
Nice...the more i look at it...anyone knows how much this retails for?

Offline RaymondT

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #21 on: December 13, 2012, 04:31:41 AM »
I just answered my own question , it is featured in paultan today

http://paultan.org/2012/12/13/ball-for-bmw-watches-three-models-from-rm11-8k/

So excited , must go check it out  :Dancing_banana:

Offline JOS2012

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #22 on: December 13, 2012, 06:03:00 AM »
both start with 'B'.... ;D

altho I must admit the design is attractive (I'm partial to black PVD/DLC cased watches for now..)  but no innovation in complications.. a standard 3 handed watch with power reserve.... if they had come up with a diffrentiating technology, I'd really be piqued..

Cars at the higher brackets are about hi-performance or luxury or exclusivity or hi-tech...where's the common branding point of these 2...

I think amongst the most hi-tech or innovative watch/car collaboration is still the Amvox.

The Sinn/Audi chrono watch is in the same boat as the BMW/Ball.... just a brand name on a ETA driven watch which looks like any other Vj7750 watch except the second hand has 4 rings counter-balance and worse priced higher than a usual Vj7750 watch due to co-branding.
So altho I drive the car and love it, the watch attracts me not...I just wish Audi had co-branded with Urwerk or RM but then I can't afford the watch then....
At least the Sinn/Audi has 1 common thing, they're both German...(well Sinn is actually half German/half Swiss until they come up with their own made in Germany movement)

i don't see/make any sense of this collaboration. Ball is an american origin for railroad - BMW a german brand for automotive...what's the similarity? Spirit of innovation?

This article is an interesting read. they didn't make any watches then....assembly movements from other watchmakers, cased them up and called them BALL watches is hardly what i call "undeniable spirit for innovation"     
 
http://www.oldrailroadwatches.com/ball_railroad_watches 

Maybe Ball and Chrysler or some well known american automobile company makes more sense.
« Last Edit: December 13, 2012, 08:05:51 AM by JOS2012 »
Personal taste and preferences evolve over years, hopefully not 1 full circle otherwise it means we haven't learnt a single thing.

Offline Timeless

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #23 on: December 13, 2012, 07:56:48 AM »
Kinda ovesell if the price range between US$5k to US$8k as the gas tube preety less..

Offline rusminag

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Re: Ball Watch & BMW Collaboration
« Reply #24 on: December 13, 2012, 08:44:29 AM »
Kinda ovesell if the price range between US$5k to US$8k as the gas tube preety less..

Actually, the retail price at USD 3.5k to USD 4.5k range... maybe with some more discount...
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