A Closer Look at the Ball Engineer II Skindiver Heritage
Ball is a Swiss watchmaking brand with a complicated history. The manufacturer previously sported an American name but is now a Swiss company owned by a Hong Kong entrepreneur. The brand has been making a show in recent years with innovative timepiece designs and affordable prices for a luxury brand. They’re always game to experiment with their classics and they’ve done so with the new Ball Engineer II Skindiver Heritage. It’s a model that is worth a second look and closer inspection.
The Ball Engineer II Skindiver Heritage under review
A Blog To Watch points out that Ball has a habit of taking its classics and evolving them with a few changes here and there. They’ve built a family tree of timepieces bearing Ball DNA with variations in components, styles, concepts, and designs that give them distinct personalities. the Ball Engineer II Skindiver Heritage is a slightly less expensive version of the Engineer Master II Skindiver Heritage, but there are small details that set them apart when you get down to the nitty-gritty. Only one is currently offered by Ball, and that is the Engineer II Skindiver Heritage. Although the two look remarkably similar, it’s important to note that the materials used in their construction are different, along with a few of the design features. For example, the bezels are made of different materials The older model features a ceramic bezel. the Engineer II features a rotating bezel with tritium gas tube-lit markers beneath and a transparent curved sapphire crystal cover instead of the ceramic. The latter also lacks the black titanium carbide coated stainless steel case of the earlier version.
A Closer look at the Ball Engineer II Skindiver Heritage:
The Ball Engineer II Skindiver Heritage is a comfortable watch on the wrist, made for larger hands in a man’s version. It’s a bit large, but it’s well-balanced with a good distribution of the weight.
The case
The case is made of stainless steel material with black coloring. It measures 42 mm in diameter and has a depth of 14.6 mm. The lug to lug distance is 53 mm. The case back is an exhibition-style with a flat sapphire crystal protecting the movement from dust and other contamination, while providing observers with a clear view of the mechanical workings of the power plant beneath. It’s not the most beautiful or delicate movement but Ball has added several gold accents that give the watch a high-dollar aesthetic. They’ve done a magnificent job in dressing up the movement for its presentation at the back of the watch. It’s worth flipping over to show off the lovely detailing applied. The crown is a screwed-in style with no crown guards. The knurled design makes it easy to grasp the crown to make any necessary adjustments.
The dial
Oracle of Time points out the lovely features of the dial with its semi-glossy black background that is as dark as midnight. The date window is set at the 3 o’clock position. The hands are chunky style in black and white with a seconds hand featuring a bright yellow tip that is an eye-catching detail. The bezel’s tritium gas-filled illumination system presents a rainbow of green, orange, white, blue, and pink colors that light up the hour indices and the indications that run the perimeter of the sapphire-covered rotating bezel. The hands feature yellow tritium gas tubes for a fun and novel approach to illumination. Its legibility in dark conditions is unquestionable with a total of 31 tritium gas tubes in the timepiece. It’s a brilliant design concept. The sapphire crystal that protects the front of the watch is treated with a double coating of anti-reflective material on the inside and the outside.
The movement
The Ball Engineer II Skindiver Heritage watch is powered with a Swiss Made ETA 2836 automatic movement. It’s titled the caliber Ball RR110w automatic. Functions include hours, minutes, seconds, and date window. The movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour or 4 Hz with a power reserve of 48 hours.
The strap
The bracelet is stainless steel material in a simple and attractive engineer styling that is particular to the Ball watch brand. It affixes securely to the wrist via a fold-over locking deployant clasp with a stamped metal diver’s extension included. The metal is TiC coated with an attractive and sophisticated black color. A black rubber strap is also available for this model.
Other features of the Ball Engineer II Skindiver Heritage
This model is water-resistant to 200 meters or 660 feet, as indicated in the dial’s center. Ball designed this watch to be resistant to magnetism and shock with a rating that is above average.
Pricing and availability
The Ball Engineer II Skindiver Heritage watch is a limited edition timepiece. Only 390 pieces of the wristwatch are available for distribution throughout the world. This one is going to become a highly collectible piece. It is available through the official Ball website or authorized distributors of Ball watches for £1,750 – £1,850.
Final thoughts
The latest release from Ball watches is a lovely and novel yet practical diver’s watch called the Ball Engineer II Skindiver Heritage. The price is a little lower than the previous iteration, the Master Engineer II Skindiver Heritage. It’s easy to confuse the two variants, but there are distinct differences that set them apart. We love the most about the Engineer II Skindiver Heritage is the unique use of tritium gas tubes that provide bright illumination behind the hour markers, the hands, and the indices on the bezel. When shown with the lights out, it’s a remarkable spectacle. Ball has a winner here, offered in a limited number of examples. We anticipate that the value of this timepiece will only increase with time when all supplies sell out. We’re predicting the Engineer II Skindiver Heritage will become a highly desired collectible within a few years of its release.
