Ball Watches pays tribute to Chinese New Year with launch of the Engineer III Invigorating Serpent, find out more about it here in this article.

Introduction

BALL Watch Company is a pioneer in watchmaking and has been known for manufacturing high-quality, accurate and reliable watches since 1891. The company was literally founded in response to an accident. After a tragic head-on train collision in Kipton, Ohio, in 1891, the U.S. railroad companies appointed Webster Clay Ball as “Chief Time Inspector” to oversee newly synchronized time protocols. This standardized “railroad time” efficiency led to the popular saying “Be on the Ball” and inspired the later Swiss Official Chronometer Test Institute (COSC), which today administers the highest standards of watch timing certification.

Inspired by ancient myths from both the East and West, BALL Watch Company presents the Engineer III Invigorating Serpent, a timepiece with tradition released in honor of the Year of the Serpent.

According to prehistoric Chinese folklore, the serpent is a symbol of beauty and reverence. It is also one of the earliest totem animals of the Chinese people. Legends tell that humanity’s divine ancestors, Fuxi and Nüwa, were half human and half snake. In Greek mythology, the snake symbolizes “healing” and “rebirth” because of its biological ability to shed its skin.

The Watch

For this commemorative watch, released in the Year of the Serpent, BALL’s design team chose an entirely new natural material: malachite. The name malachite comes from the Greek word “Molōchē,” referring to the mallow plant, known for its deep green leaves. Because of its refined appearance, malachite has been used by humans for more than six thousand years. In several ancient civilizations, it was considered a symbol of good luck and is said to have mystical powers to protect children and travelers.

Its green color symbolizes rebirth and hope. Because malachite’s texture and color are formed naturally, each dial is a unique work of art. BALL carefully selects rough gemstones with uniform veins and rich colors, then transforms them into dials with extreme precision. Because of malachite’s delicate and soft texture, each production step requires extreme care.

One of the unique features of a Ball watch are the micro gas tubes filled with Tritium. After the tubes are filled with tritium, they are tightly sealed using a CO2 laser. When the tritium emits electrons, the coating inside the tubes emits a cold light and shines. And because the amount of tritium is significantly low, the radioactive level poses no risk to the wearer. A consequence of the choice of these tritium tubes is that they provide continuous light and thus do not depend on daylight or sunlight to provide light in the dark as with Super-Luminova coating. This is the case for the Chinese character for “snake” in calligraphic script applied with Super LumiNova at the 6 o’clock position, which fits perfectly with the watch’s theme. The minimalist design also highlights the natural beauty of the gemstone used for the dial.

On a functional level, the watch certainly does not disappoint either. The 40 mm stainless steel case fits most wrist sizes and is suitable for both formal and sporting occasions. Made of 904L stainless steel, it offers higher resistance to corrosion, rust and acids compared to standard variants and has a unique, shiny look that stands the test of time.

Equipped with a reliable Swiss automatic mechanical movement (Automatic caliber BALL RR1103), the watch offers practical timekeeping with an enlarged date display. With a water resistance to 100 meters and an increased anti-magnetic property to 80,000 A/m (1,000 Gauss), it maintains precision and is wearable in all conditions.

The Caduceus-symbol on the back of the case comes from Greek mythology and originally represented prosperity and peace. Today, it is widely used by medical organizations. The Engineer III Invigorating Serpent embodies BALL’s good wishes and brings peace, happiness and good health in the New Year.

More than ever, BALL continues its journey and affirms its role as a key figure in the evolution of modern times and the history of watchmaking.

Specifications

CASE
904L stainless steell 40mm diameter, 13.15mm height, 100m (10 ATM) water resistance, antireflecting safire crystal.

MOVEMENT
Automatic caliber BALL RR1103 met 38 uur gangreserve, Frequency: 28’800 vibrations / hour. 2 years warranty.

Functions : Hours, minutes, seconds, date with magnification cyclops.

PRICE
2099 euro

REFERENCE
NM9026C-S47-MAL

Conclusion

If you are a fan of Chinese New Year or just looking for a solid timepiece with a beautiful green dial then the Ball Engineer III envigorating Serpent is definitely worth considering.

Click here for more information about the Engineer III series from Ball Watches