Whatever you do, don't pre-order Ball watches through one of their authorized dealers. I pre-ordered a watch for myself and one for a friend. You have to pay up front (albeit with a pre-order discount) to preorder. The AD went out of business. I contacted several people at Ball and they acknowledged that I had made the order. But the order was through their AD and Ball would not do anything to fulfill my order.

Ball offered to sell me the watches I already paid for, at full retail price. WTF!

Yes, I agree with your point that trying to hide the sourcing/manufacture of their movements just causes people to distrust the company. I asked the Ball USA sales director who the in-house movement manufacturer is. He acknowledged that Ball didn't make the movements, but the movements were designed and manufactured specifically for Ball. He wouldn't tell me if it's Chinese, Japanase, Swiss, etc.

If it's Soprod, that's fine. I just don't understand why there is a need to hide it. When they hide the manufacturer it makes people feel like the movements could be Miyota, or other cheap Chinese manufacture as Ball is a Chinese owned company. Many of the other components come from China as well.

There's just no need to hide the manufacture.

Love that Zenith.  I have been looking at purchasing one, just haven't pulled the trigger yet.  Skeleton dial, but still very legible.  For me, if I can't see what time it is then there's not much purpose in wearing it.  This one does the job.