My New Arrival - Ball Hydrocarbon Classic I (Image Heavy!)
Discussion
It's been a good few months of painful decision making, finding the next watch to add to my very limited collection. It started with an interest in Traser watches, which later transformed into an unhealthy lusting for a Stowa Seatime Blue (and an increase in budget), and progressed back to my need for a radioactive fix (and a bigger increase in budget!) in the form of a Ball 
It's also been a difficult few weeks sourcing this particular model, although I'm happy to say that it is now here and on my wrist as I type, and I'm not disappointed!
Firstly, there is a fasinating history behind how Ball watches came to be; In 1891 there was a train collision between the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway trains at Kipton, Ohio, which occurred because an engineer's watch had stopped. The railroad officials commissioned Webb C. Ball as their Chief Time Inspector, in order to establish precision standards and a reliable timepiece inspection system for railroad chronometers.
This is the reason why all Ball watches carry the 'Official RailRoad Standard' and 'RR' markings across the range - There is also a few pages on the history of Ball in the owner's manual, which is a nice touch Right! Onto the Hydrocarbon Classic I:
The specifications include an ETA 2892-2 movement modified by Ball to endure temperatures as low as -40C, 16 tritium permanent light gas tubes, a shock resistance of 7,500G, anti-magnetic rating of 12,000 A/m, 300M water resistant, 4mm anti-reflective sapphire glass and patented crown protection system.
My first impressions focused on how solid the watch feels! It is a chunky piece of stainless steel, which wears on the wrist a lot larger than it really is - At 40mm in diameter the dial is fairly small, although the thick 180-click luminova-filled bezel, crown protection clasp and lengthy, aggressively curved shoulders add to the overall size It's also rather heavy weighing in at 203grams!
The sides of the case, sides of the links and crown protection clasp have a polished finish and beautifully contrast with the brushed finish of the bezel, shoulders and surface of the bracelet.
The curvature of the shoulders sit perfectly on my 7.5" wrist and prevent any slippage, as well as being extremely comfortable to wear. However when it is not on your wrist, the design on the case back can be admired
The EHC I receives an engraving of the Bathyscaphe Trieste, a Swiss-designed deep-diving boat, which reached a record breaking depth of 10,900 metres in the Marianas Trench. It is nicely presented and is supposed to symbolise the fact that this watch is designed for adverse conditions, but perhaps a bit overboard for a 300M rating? It also states the -40C endurance that the movement is capable of withstanding.
Now for main attraction! The radioactive tritium tubes! From some of the pictures shown on the Internet it looks as if they glow wildly in low level light conditions, and they may do with larger tubes or tubes with higher tritium content. However the slimline tubes on the EHC I are difficult to see if there is any ambient light in room ... It needs to be pretty dark for them to glow, but that said, when they do it's pretty damn cool! 
The tubes are nowhere near as bright as super-luminova, but will continue to burn through the night when super-luminova has faded away.
I also seem to have an updated bezel in comparison to some of the other EHC's I've seen on the Internet. Mine has a bezel dot at 12, which has it's own tritium tube Here are some badly taken pics with the help of UV:
The clasp is solid and fairly thick in size. It clicks tightly into place, as well as the fold over piece, which is just as difficult to open when closed!
It is very secure and is finished with the 'RR' marking. The bracelet also incorporates a hidden fold out extension for wearing the watch over a wetsuit.
The level of detail on this watch is most excellent! I personally love the date being at 4:30, the intricate crown protection clasp, the text font on the dial and the guilloche finish on the dial, which no pictures can do justice and needs to be seen in real life to fully appreciate - Beautiful! I love the fact that the dial seems to subtly change in colour in differing light levels ...
I am well chuffed and can see why Ball is becoming increasingly popular - I'd definitely buy another, perhaps a Spacemaster next time However I quite fancy a Steinhart Aviation or Speedmaster Date next!
Some more pics to finish
It's also been a difficult few weeks sourcing this particular model, although I'm happy to say that it is now here and on my wrist as I type, and I'm not disappointed!
Firstly, there is a fasinating history behind how Ball watches came to be; In 1891 there was a train collision between the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway trains at Kipton, Ohio, which occurred because an engineer's watch had stopped. The railroad officials commissioned Webb C. Ball as their Chief Time Inspector, in order to establish precision standards and a reliable timepiece inspection system for railroad chronometers.
This is the reason why all Ball watches carry the 'Official RailRoad Standard' and 'RR' markings across the range - There is also a few pages on the history of Ball in the owner's manual, which is a nice touch
Right! Onto the Hydrocarbon Classic I:
The specifications include an ETA 2892-2 movement modified by Ball to endure temperatures as low as -40C, 16 tritium permanent light gas tubes, a shock resistance of 7,500G, anti-magnetic rating of 12,000 A/m, 300M water resistant, 4mm anti-reflective sapphire glass and patented crown protection system.
My first impressions focused on how solid the watch feels! It is a chunky piece of stainless steel, which wears on the wrist a lot larger than it really is - At 40mm in diameter the dial is fairly small, although the thick 180-click luminova-filled bezel, crown protection clasp and lengthy, aggressively curved shoulders add to the overall size
It's also rather heavy weighing in at 203grams!The sides of the case, sides of the links and crown protection clasp have a polished finish and beautifully contrast with the brushed finish of the bezel, shoulders and surface of the bracelet.
The curvature of the shoulders sit perfectly on my 7.5" wrist and prevent any slippage, as well as being extremely comfortable to wear. However when it is not on your wrist, the design on the case back can be admired
The EHC I receives an engraving of the Bathyscaphe Trieste, a Swiss-designed deep-diving boat, which reached a record breaking depth of 10,900 metres in the Marianas Trench. It is nicely presented and is supposed to symbolise the fact that this watch is designed for adverse conditions, but perhaps a bit overboard for a 300M rating? It also states the -40C endurance that the movement is capable of withstanding.
Now for main attraction!
The radioactive tritium tubes! From some of the pictures shown on the Internet it looks as if they glow wildly in low level light conditions, and they may do with larger tubes or tubes with higher tritium content. However the slimline tubes on the EHC I are difficult to see if there is any ambient light in room ... It needs to be pretty dark for them to glow, but that said, when they do it's pretty damn cool! The tubes are nowhere near as bright as super-luminova, but will continue to burn through the night when super-luminova has faded away.I also seem to have an updated bezel in comparison to some of the other EHC's I've seen on the Internet. Mine has a bezel dot at 12, which has it's own tritium tube
Here are some badly taken pics with the help of UV:
The clasp is solid and fairly thick in size. It clicks tightly into place, as well as the fold over piece, which is just as difficult to open when closed!
It is very secure and is finished with the 'RR' marking. The bracelet also incorporates a hidden fold out extension for wearing the watch over a wetsuit.
The level of detail on this watch is most excellent! I personally love the date being at 4:30, the intricate crown protection clasp, the text font on the dial and the guilloche finish on the dial, which no pictures can do justice and needs to be seen in real life to fully appreciate - Beautiful! I love the fact that the dial seems to subtly change in colour in differing light levels ...
I am well chuffed and can see why Ball is becoming increasingly popular - I'd definitely buy another, perhaps a Spacemaster next time
However I quite fancy a Steinhart Aviation or Speedmaster Date next!Some more pics to finish
Thanks all! I'm loving it so far
Speedtwelve: Ball also do a Master II Diver with white 12-3 bezel background, which may be a little less 'in your face'? There is also the option of the titanium CSOC certified Diver too
http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/watch.asp?productid=5...
http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/watch.asp?productid=2...
Ball are appearing in quite a few Ernest Jones branches, so go try a few on and see what you think
Speedtwelve: Ball also do a Master II Diver with white 12-3 bezel background, which may be a little less 'in your face'? There is also the option of the titanium CSOC certified Diver too
http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/watch.asp?productid=5...
http://www.jurawatches.co.uk/watch.asp?productid=2...
Ball are appearing in quite a few Ernest Jones branches, so go try a few on and see what you think
Ikemi
I've seen the 'plain' Master II Diver bezel (and the red one), but it was actually the green that caught my eye the first time I saw the watch in the flesh. It was indeed in Ernest Jones IIRC.
I like the idea of a Ball; well-engineered and finished, a bit of historical provenance behind the name, tritium lights practical (and, let's face it, pretty cool), and some relative exclusivity at the price bracket, compared to ubiquitous Omegas and Tags.
I've seen the 'plain' Master II Diver bezel (and the red one), but it was actually the green that caught my eye the first time I saw the watch in the flesh. It was indeed in Ernest Jones IIRC.
I like the idea of a Ball; well-engineered and finished, a bit of historical provenance behind the name, tritium lights practical (and, let's face it, pretty cool), and some relative exclusivity at the price bracket, compared to ubiquitous Omegas and Tags.
HereBeMonsters said:
Love it, and I curse myself for wearing my watch on the right wrist because I can't wear watches like this.
Mabe I'm being dense but why does wearing it on your right wrist stop you from having one?I've got the EHC C1 (same as OP) and I tend to wear it on the right so that the crown doesn't interfere with my hand. If I need to change the time I just take it off.
OP - I'm with you. Beautiful watch, and it's replaced my B&R Space 3 as a daily wear watch. Just love the tritium tubes, although the luminova on the bezel is a little underwhelming s I find it doesn't last. It has the same dot tube at the 12 o'clock position though.
My Mrs laughed when I told her it could operate at -40 deg c or under 300m of water. Apparently in space or at the foot of the Mariana Abyss (where it's that cold / pressured) I might have more pressing issues than the time.
What does she know, eh?
the rev3rend said:
HereBeMonsters said:
Love it, and I curse myself for wearing my watch on the right wrist because I can't wear watches like this.
Mabe I'm being dense but why does wearing it on your right wrist stop you from having one?I've got the EHC C1 (same as OP) and I tend to wear it on the right so that the crown doesn't interfere with my hand. If I need to change the time I just take it off.
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