Ball Watch has a long history that links the brand to transportation. After all, its eponymous founder, Webb C. Ball, made his name by creating timing instruments for the American railroads. One contemporary way that the brand connects to these roots is through its partnership with BMW. At this year’s Baselworld, Ball Watch brought out a new piece for the special collection: the Ball for BMW TimeTrekker.
Combining Ball Watch characteristics with BMW signatures, the TimeTrekker is a tool watch with racing DNA. Its case is 44 mm wide and made of stainless steel. This case helps the watch maintain its anti-magnetic strength: it can protect the movement from forces up to 4,800 A/m.
While the watch seems primed for a ride in a high-performance car, it also has several features of a diver’s watch. It has a black ceramic bezel that rotates in one direction. The bezel has luminous markings and gradations for the first 15 minutes. The TimeTrekker is also water resistant to 200 meters. And you’d be able to see it well under water, too, since it has 14 tritium tubes on its dial and hands for legibility in the dark.
Inside is Ball’s RR1102-C movement, a COSC-certified chronometer. This is an automatic, 4-Hz movement, based on the ETA 2836-2. You can catch a glimpse of it through the sapphire caseback. The movement is protected by Ball’s patented Amortiser shock absorption system; this also means it’s a good watch to wear during vigorous athletic activity. Its functions are hour, minutes, sweep seconds, day and date; the latter two can be seen on the dial apertures at 3 o’clock.
The dial, which comes in black or blue, has a “perforated” design on its matte coloring, echoing racecar upholstery or a sleek BMW interior. The dial is also cosigned: it has the Ball name at 12 o’clock and a BMW logo to replace the 3-o’clock index. Above the dial is a nonreflective sapphire crystal.
The Ball for BMW TimeTrekker is available with a black, rubberized leather strap or a stainless-steel bracelet, and with the two dial colors. It is currently priced at $2,800.
