Review of the Ball Engineer II Genesis

I pre-ordered this watch from the Ball Website in Dec 2015. However, the shipment only arrived in May 2016. This would be the 9^th mechanical watch that I owned, after the Tudor Pelagos 25600TB. I first saw this piece on the Ball Watch Facebook page as a sponsored post and was intrigued by the technologies like the anti-magnetic shielding properties (up to 4800A/m) and the new 1mm thick tritium tubes that the Engineer II Genesis uses. These are technologies that are not contained in most of Ball’s other watches. This watch was unique as it was first released for online sales via the Ball Website, before being subsequently released to the public at a much higher price. At that time, I was not aware that Ball would subsequently release many limited editions via online sales. Anyway, the Ball Engineer II Genesis was released to commemorate Ball’s 125^th year anniversary and was a limited production model.

The Engineer II Genesis watch (43mm case and is 13+mm thick) has a day-date feature and a brilliant blue sun-burst dial. The sun-burst dial was something that I found very attractive as it gives the watch a dressy look. The day-date feature was also useful and my Ball SG50 nighttrain and Ball Magneto S did not contain them. This watch uses Ball RR1102 movement, which is an ETA 2836. This limited production model was released to commemorate the 125^th anniversary of Ball Watch Company, which was founded by Webb C. Ball in 1891. However, this is not particularly significant to me. Something to note: Ball Watch Company has been releasing quite a number of LEs in recent times.

Ball Watch Company was founded by an American, Webb C. Ball, in 1891. An accident in 1891 prompted him to act. Refer to link for a brief history of the brand and the founder. Basically, he established stringent watch standards for train operators and inspectors in order to keep good time and prevent railroad accidents from occurring. He was instrumental in the development of chronometry and improving of watch accuracy. He emphasized on keeping precise time and created railroad grade timepieces. This was how the term ‘Official Standard’ came about. Ball watches are known for their visual simplicity, elegance and precision.

The Ball Engineer II Genesis is of a unique design, although I must say it resembles the Engineer II Pioneer and Engineer II Arabic. The Engineer II range is known for their classic designs and natural elegance. I simply love the sword-like hands and the RR (RailRoad) design on the second hand. In addition, the hour, minute and second hands are lumed for great night visibility. Ball is celebrating their 125^th anniversary in 2015, and this is testament to the longevity and heritage of the brand. Ball is known for producing reliable watches with good quality. Ball can certainly hold its own against Tag Heuer/Oris in terms of quality and finish. In terms of price point, Ball watches are generally in the affordable range of SGD1.5k to 6k. Ball is also renowned for their use of tritium T25 tubes which can glow up to 25 years and requires no charging. This sets the brand apart from many other luxury brands which use Superluminova. Ball watches are Swiss made, value-for-money and are extremely durable.

The main reason why I found it so attractive was the technical features and also the dressy feel that came with the watch. My reasons are listed below:

The Ball Engineer II Genesis comes in a stainless steel case and a metal bracelet. The watch is relatively heavy due to the 43mm size and the thick bracelet. The bracelet is well built and has polished centre-links, similar to the Rolex GMT Master II. It also reminds me of the Patek Phillippe Nautilus bracelet. The case is highly polished at the sides and at the bezel area. This watch really plays with the light due to the numerous polished surfaces. This contrast gives the watch a dressy and elegant feel.

The watch draws attraction from others, which I like. It has a flat sapphire crystal which is AR coated. Due to the materials used, the watch will not develop patina over time. There are the words ‘AUTOMATIC’ and 100m/ 300ft printed on the bottom half of the dial. This watch is not chronometer certified.

The Ball Magneto S is an everyday dressy watch with 100 meters water resistance and shock resistance to 5000g. This is a watch where you can wear daily without having to worry about it. However, one should be careful not to overly bang the watch around as polished centre-links are scratch magnets. The watch also pairs well with casual clothing on weekends.  After nearly 1 year of use, my watch is almost scratch-free and still in mint condition.

Ball Magneto S uses the Ball automatic calibre RR1102, which is essentially a clone of the ETA -2836. This a certainly a workhorse movement that is widely used with many other watch brands whom they get ETA as their supplier. Of course, Ball modifies the movement via adding decorations and also to make it more shock resistant. The movement comes with a 38 to 42 hour power reserve and I have no qualms about the movement at this price point. For an in-house movement, one can be expected to pay at least double. Some of the more expensive Ball models are COSC chronometer certified (-4 to +6 seconds/day). I have tested my watch on a Timegrapher and it currently runs at a decent -7 seconds/day, which is well within my expectations.

The sun-burst blue dial on the watch has different textures under sunlight/artificial lighting. This is certainly very attractive to look at. There are tinges of blue, white and green on the dial and this gives the watch a playful feel at times. Overall, there are only 2 lines of text on the dial and it does not appear cluttered. The issue I have with this watch is the large case and that the 3-6-9 hour markers are too large, giving the dial an unbalanced feel. My other qualm is that the date window is white and does not blend well with the blue dial.

The Ball Engineer II Genesis has a closed caseback. There is an engraving of a railroad train from the 1800s and also the engraving ‘125^th anniversary’. The watch is shock-resistant to 5000g and anti-magnetic to 4800A/m. These are some of the features that allows Ball to stand out from the other brands.

I have saved the best for last, just like hitting the ‘climax’ of a movie. The Ball Engineer II has incredible lume due to 28 1mm thick micro-sized tritium tubes. Although you cannot charge the lume, tritium tubes can glow up for to 25 years. I have compared the lume to my other 2 Ball Watches and this is by far the most impressive. At times, it even appears as bright as charged Super-luminova. Tritium emits electrons through beta decay, and, when they interact with a phosphor material, fluorescent light is created, a process called radio-luminescence. The radiation exposure is so weak that it doesn’t affect human health.

To be honest, I have not worn this watch as frequently as I have liked as I am not used to the weight of the watch and the 3-6-9 markers are too large. With slightly smaller markers, this watch would have been a keeper. The problem with purchasing online is that it is not possible to tell how heavy the watch is and how exactly it will sit on your wrist. In March 2017, I traded this piece for the Ball Trainmaster 60 seconds, which I will be reviewing shortly. The Ball Engineer II Genesis is a dressy watch which will also pair well with casual clothing. The three most outstanding features are its (1) Ball Bracelet; (2) 1mm thick tritium tubes and (3) sun-burst dial. The watch was purchased online for SGD 1,310. If purchased from retail stores, the RRP would be SGD 2,200. If you want a dressy quality Swiss made piece, this might be the watch you want.

Rolex Watches for Men and Women by Leonard Lowe

Some of the models have changed gradually over time. Learn to understand vintage Rolex movements. Be smart and do research before purchasing.

A photo cannot capture the beauty of a watch. The best place is to go to dealer to try the watch. The watch should fit snugly on your wrist and have a nice feel. The only way to know whether your watch fits is to try it. Rolex doesn’t change its models very much. The Datejust has a very timeless design. Rolex has a rich history.

Why Rolex? Rolex is known as a luxurious item and many people associate the brand with a gold watch. They were known for making technically superior timepieces. In 1953, their watches were waterproof. In 1953, the Rolex Submariner was introduced and it was useful for military divers. This is the strong heritage that Rolex is based on. The brand is just over a 100 years old. Despite other brands having a richer history, Rolex rose up the ranks because they made high quality tool watches. They use white gold for the hands on the dial to prevent corrosion. Rolex made the steel models popular. A tool watch is made for a special purpose. The Explorers are known for rough environments. The GMT Master II are good for travellers. The Submariners, Sea-Dwellers and the Deep Sea are good for diving. The timing bezel can be used to time other sort of events too. The Daytona is used for timing the speed of things and is associated with Paul Newman and racing. The Milgauss is associated with anti-magnetism and scientists. Rolex is actually an innovative company which kept improving on their movements.

The Rolex (Sports) Models. The Oyster is the waterproof case. Every Rolex tool watch is an Oyster watch. Perpetual means automatic. Although Rolex didn’t invent the first waterproof case, they made it so well that they were so renowned at producing it. The Explorer 2 has an orange GMT hand. Both the Explorer 1 and 2 are very versatile Rolex watches. The Datejust is one of the most successful models around. The Submariner is one of the most iconic watches around. Ref 6200 was introduced in 1953, ref 1680 in 1966. Some people prefer the Submariner without date because of the symmetrical dial. The Sea-Dweller has a depth rating of up to 1,200 metres. The Deep Sea can go up to 3,900 metres, an incredible feat. The GMT Master II ref 16710 has the Pepsi, Coke and Espresso models. NR = noir, BL = bleu, RO = rouge. You can identify the GMT model with a GMT hand. The Pepsi is one of the most iconic colours in the Rolex line-up of watches. The Blue represents night and the Red represents daylight. For the modern models, the Pepsi is only available in white gold. The Batman is a popular model too.

The Speed-Freak. Before 1989, Rolex obtained their movements from Zenith. Because Zenith was a small manufacturer, people had to wait before they could get a Daytona. In 2016, Rolex introduced a scratch resistant ceramic bezel for the Daytona, making it more reminiscent of vintage ‘Paul Newman’ models. Should one get black or white? White dials are more feminine and elegant to the touch. Black dials are more tool like and rugged. The black dial is better for formal clothing and the white dial works better in summer and with light coloured clothing. The black one is similar to the Ref 1655 in 1970. The white one is more suited for mountains. There is an orange 24 hour GMT hand. The white dial Daytona is very uncommon. Black dials have better readability. The white dial is more eccentric and jewellery like.

Precious Metals. The author does not like two-tone watches. It is lukewarm and looks gay. White-gold is understated and subtle and cool. The Yacht Masters are for sailors. It has polished centre links, white gold hands and a platinum bezel. The watch is also very comfortable to wear. The sunburst dial is also a thing of sheer beauty. There are also white gold submariners, GMT Pepsi and the Daytona. Having a pure gold watch is a strong statement. Only wear a full gold Rolex when you are filthy rich. The platinum Daytona is downright beautiful.

To be honest, I don’t like two-tone at all. It is not precious metal and not steel, it’s somewhere in between, somewhat undecided, lukewarm and gay. Two-tone for me is like gold plated: it tries to be more than it actually is. And that is completely uncool. – Leonard Lowe

Historical Rolex Models. Some vintage Rolex will appreciate in value due to how robust they are. You buy the Rolex for your next generation as well. Sometimes, even after 10 years of daily wear, the watch can still run accurately. There is also the story behind the previous collector, making the watch even more precious. Rolex doesn’t change their designs very much. From 2005 to 2015, Rolex introduced their supercase and maxi-dial. These changes make the watch appear larger. The clasp and bezel have also been improved. Ceramic bezels are being used now. Some people did not like these new changes, as they felt it changed the character of the watch. The vintage models, being limited in numbers, started to appreciate. Now, super-luminova replaces old tritium dials. The old bracelet had hollow end-links, but were lighter and more comfortable.

The real (modern) Rolex Classics. The Explorer 114270, being 39mm, might seem too big to some. Small watches were the in-thing between 1920s to 1970s. However, smaller watches might make a come-back next time. Small watches are also more comfortable and wear lighter. Simplicity is indeed timeless. The new Explorer II 116570 is 42mm and is quite large. The author prefers the older 16570. Even for the Sub, some people still prefer the 14060, rather than the newer 114060. The older GMT, 16710, appears more elegant and dressy. The latest Daytona, 116500, appears classier than the 116520. Both of them share the same case. The new one looks more like a Paul Newman.

The (old) vintage Rolex Classics. This refers to watches in the 1960s and 1970s. There is patina developing on such dials because the aged tritium. No two watches age in the same way. Some of the old Rolex Explorer models are the 6610 and the 1016. The first Bond submariner was the 5510. Roger Moore, from 007, wore the 5513 in the film, Live and Let Die. The Pussy Galore is the GMT master II ref 6542, worn by the Bond Girl. The circa is 1959. Paul Newman wore the Daytona in the 1970s. The ref 6262 goes for at least USD 25,000. The Explorer II, ref 1655, is particularly beautiful. They go for about at least USD 15,000 each.