My Ball Engineer III Legend II
Hello,
Today I will review my Ball Engineer III Legend II.
I really like Ball, and I own 2 more Ball watches (Marvelight and Trainmaster)
I think that Ball is an underrated brand. It punched well above its weight both in tech and finishing.
CASE:
Stainless Steel 316l
Full polished case and bezel
40mm diameter
47mm lug to lug
11,5mm thickness
20mm lug opening
100m water resistance
1000 Gauss or 80 000 A/m of magnetic protection using the MU-Metal Shield
5000G Shock resistance using the Amortiser Technology
The case shape seems like an oyster casem but when more closely inspected Ball's case has a more curvaceous nature and it has more intricate details and more rounded profile.
It features both mu-metal and amortiser for magnetic and shock protection.
The screw down caseback has an engraving and information about the watch.
The screw down crown is signed with the RR logo and when closed the logo alings correctly.
DIAL:
The dial features a matte black dial (I wished it was a more darker tone or even laquered black dial).
The minute track, logo and info are printed in white.
The indiced are glass tritium tubes applied on polished metal indices. This gives the watch a more premium looks as they play well with the light.
The date is black on white for maximum legibility and it centered in the beveled date window.
The hands are thick pencil shaped hands rhodium plated with tritium tubes
CRYSTAL:
It has a shappire crystal with inner AR coating and a cyclops at 3.
The watch is very legible even when in direct light.
I just wished that the cyclops magnification was greater.
MOVEMENT:
BALL RR1101-C which is an ETA 2892.
It is COSC certified coming in at +1 per 2/3 days.
Work horse realiable movement with 4hz and 42h power reserve.
If is antimagnetic and shockproof up to 5000Gs.
BRACELET:
The bracelet is H shaped. It has raised polished center links with beveled lines on the tops. The H shaped link is brushed and it is beveled on the outer part. The sides are polished and the underside of the bracelet is brushed.
The endlinks are solid and fit perfectly with no wobble or gaps.
The bracelet has tight tolerances and it is quite confortable (i was expecting it to be worse), probably one of the most confortable bracelets I've ever worn.
It has a friction fit butterfly claps with no micro adjust - just 2 half links. But it is quite secure and it doens't feel flimsy. It has a very secure click when closed down.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I really like this watch. It can be dresses down, using a rubber or a nato strap, or dressed up using the metal bracelet or a leather strap.
The legibility and the ruggedness is visible, the watch feels solid and it weights near 200g with full links.
I've done hikes, mountaineering and rock climbing and it has survived.
It keeps good time and it is possible on suggestion for one person looking for a 1 watch collection.
I just wished it was 904l steel like the marvelight.
My Ball Engineer III Legend II
Yes
No
- Quality and finishing
- Tritium Tubes
- High legibility (both day and night)
- Very confortable bracelet
- COSC Certified
- Shockproof and Antimagnetic
- Dial should have been darker
- No micro adjust system
- Not 904l steel
I agree that Ball is an underrated brand. I have 3, a RoadMaster, a Trainmaster (both with the TMT mechanical thermostat complication), and a Railroader quartz I bought as an initial test for the brand. They are all great watches, and I’d recommend the brand to anyone that is interested. I would also have to mention that Ball tends to suffer on ‘value retention’ because so many end up on the grey market.
Nice detailed review!
I agree that Ball is an underrated brand. I have 3, a RoadMaster, a Trainmaster (both with the TMT mechanical thermostat complication), and a Railroader quartz I bought as an initial test for the brand. They are all great watches, and I’d recommend the brand to anyone that is interested. I would also have to mention that Ball tends to suffer on ‘value retention’ because so many end up on the grey market.
Does the TMT complication actually show room/outside temp (depending on where you are obviously) or like many other watches with the temp reading does your body heat affect the readings and you have to take it off to get a "true" air temp reading after an adjustment period?
Does the TMT complication actually show room/outside temp (depending on where you are obviously) or like many other watches with the temp reading does your body heat affect the readings and you have to take it off to get a "true" air temp reading after an adjustment period?
Yes, it works. I would suggest, for best accuracy, to take the watch off the wrist and let is set for a bit to get an reading. Exactly how accurate? Well I’ll admit that I have not checked it against a standard for calibration. I could put the two Ball watches with TMT I have in my fridge with a calibrated thermostat to check that. I loved the complication, because I used to have motorcycles and feel that knowing if the temp is under freezing point I’d water that would be of value.