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REVIEW: The Ball Trieste Chronograph>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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Published on 08-07-2009 06:29 AM
Number of Views: 5961
REVIEW OF THE BALL TRIESTE CHRONOGRAPH
By: John B. Holbrook, II
Copyright: 2008 - all rights reserved
![Watch Analog watch Product Clock Font]()
I think you really have to hand it to the folks who are at the helm of the modern Ball Watch Company because I think theirs is a real success story. Clearly the brand name of Ball Watch was a well known name among railroad watch enthusiasts, have a long and distinguished history in this particular niche of horology (with roots right here in my own great state of Ohio). The challenge has been making the Ball brand name relevant to the larger segments of horology, and the general population. This review is the first of two reviews which I will do of two watches which I feel embody what is great both about the Ball Watch Company and their watches, but also about their brand strategy.
THE TRIESTE CHRONOGRAPH - A WATCH ENTHUSIASTS WATCH
The Trieste Chronograph (a name which pays homage to the bathyscaphe Trieste of deep diving fame) is one of the newest watches in Ball's Engineer Hydrocarbon line. It's a line which has been quite successful for Ball as it successfully blends the characteristics most watch enthusiasts salivate for in the category of watches which is arguably most popular among watch enthusiasts - dive watches. The line has greatly helped Ball get associated with watches beyond their historically railroad only themed watches.
The Trieste Chronograph is a very beefy, masculine watch - the case has a diameter of 43mm and is 18.4mm height. To reduce the weight from the dimensions of the watch, it's made with both stainless steel and titanium and the finish is entirely brushed in the true "tool watch" tradition. One of Ball's genuinely laudable achievements with this watch is that it is visually very distinctive - the size and shape of the case, as well as characteristic and patented crown protection system make the watch instantly recognizable. This is not a "me too" Submariner diver clone. Neither is this watch simply a desktop diver just for show - it has some extremely impressive specifications, including a water resistance rating of 600m, and the watch is good to operate to -40 degrees C. I certainly hope I never encounter either condition, but watch enthusiasts like over-engineer products, and Ball delivers in spades in this regard. What's particularly interesting is that Ball claims that the chronograph pushers can be safely operated at the maximum depth rating of 600m - I'm not personally aware of any other diver chronograph which can match this claim. Other diver watch features with which the Trieste Chronograph is designed with include a unidirectional rotating bezel, an automatically deploying integrated helium escape valve, and a dive suite extension in the bracelet clasp.
![Watch Analog watch Product Silver Clock]()
![Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Clock Nickel]()
Speaking of the bracelet and clasp, many watch companies could learn great things by studying the Ball design and execution. Solid center and end links are used in the bracelet construction, and the adjustable links use high quality screws (not friction pins) for simple and secure link removal. A tried and true flip-lock style clasp is used, but note how the clasp has solid (not stamped) and thick construction, with a fine adjustment in the clasp for the perfect fit. You simply could not ask for a better bracelet design and execution.
![Silver Rectangle Font Jewellery Auto part]()
![Automotive tire Automotive lighting Automotive design Material property Rim]()
The Ball Watch website lists the Trieste Chronograph as having an ETA/Valjoux 7750 movement under the hood. The Valjoux 7750 is a 25-jewel, self-winding chronograph movement that is low tech as far as mechanical chronographs go, but legendary for its stable and robust performance, and an excellent choice for this no-nonsense tool watch. The Valjoux 7750 has a vibration speed of 28,800 BPH.
Of course, the Trieste Chronograph also features Ball's fantastic micro gas tube technology on the watch dial for low light illumination. There are few watch manufacturers using this technology - it's almost become synonymous with Ball. If the concept of a watch dial has luminescent properties without a battery is "cool" then Ball's micro gas tube technology is cool cubed. As many are aware, many watch manufacturers coat their dials with luminescent chemical compounds (like SuperLuminova) which tend to be very bright after their initial exposure or "charge" but quickly fade in brightness. But Ball's little tritium gas filled tubes remain consistently bright 24/7 and have a life expectancy of about 25 years. Here's a "lume shot" of the Trieste Chronograph dial.
![Speedometer Gauge Automotive lighting Measuring instrument Font]()
Overall, I found there's a lot to like, and very little not to like about the Trieste Chronograph from Ball Watch. With incredible water resistance, tank like construction, and dial that can be seen from the moon in light or dark, the Trieste Chronograph is like a watch enthusiasts laundry list of "must have" features. It's also a limited edition piece (limited to 1000 pieces) which means it carries a price which is a bit higher that what we're used to seeing from the typical Ball watch with a retail price of $3599.00. But the modern Ball company has built their brand on watches which are a genuine value, and the Trieste Chronograph - even if it weren't a limited edition model, it's priced below what most watch manufacturers offer that come anywhere near with competing with the specifications of the this watch. I was also extremely impressed with the packaging of this watch - not only is the watch packaged in a very nice box, but it includes more accessory items than I'm acustomed to seeing from a watch manufacturer including alternate straps, tools for link and bracelet removal, and even a display model of the famous bathyscaphe Trieste for which the Trieste Chronograph pays tribute. Way to go Ball.
![Watch Analog watch Product Silver Clock]()
All text and images contained in this web site are the original work of the author, John B. Holbrook, II and are copyright protected. Use of any of the information or images without the permission of the author is prohibited.
This article was originally published in forum thread:
REVIEW: The Ball Trieste Chronograph>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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Published on 08-07-2009 06:29 AM
Number of Views: 5961
REVIEW OF THE BALL TRIESTE CHRONOGRAPH
By: John B. Holbrook, II
Copyright: 2008 - all rights reserved
I think you really have to hand it to the folks who are at the helm of the modern Ball Watch Company because I think theirs is a real success story. Clearly the brand name of Ball Watch was a well known name among railroad watch enthusiasts, have a long and distinguished history in this particular niche of horology (with roots right here in my own great state of Ohio). The challenge has been making the Ball brand name relevant to the larger segments of horology, and the general population. This review is the first of two reviews which I will do of two watches which I feel embody what is great both about the Ball Watch Company and their watches, but also about their brand strategy.
THE TRIESTE CHRONOGRAPH - A WATCH ENTHUSIASTS WATCH
The Trieste Chronograph (a name which pays homage to the bathyscaphe Trieste of deep diving fame) is one of the newest watches in Ball's Engineer Hydrocarbon line. It's a line which has been quite successful for Ball as it successfully blends the characteristics most watch enthusiasts salivate for in the category of watches which is arguably most popular among watch enthusiasts - dive watches. The line has greatly helped Ball get associated with watches beyond their historically railroad only themed watches.
The Trieste Chronograph is a very beefy, masculine watch - the case has a diameter of 43mm and is 18.4mm height. To reduce the weight from the dimensions of the watch, it's made with both stainless steel and titanium and the finish is entirely brushed in the true "tool watch" tradition. One of Ball's genuinely laudable achievements with this watch is that it is visually very distinctive - the size and shape of the case, as well as characteristic and patented crown protection system make the watch instantly recognizable. This is not a "me too" Submariner diver clone. Neither is this watch simply a desktop diver just for show - it has some extremely impressive specifications, including a water resistance rating of 600m, and the watch is good to operate to -40 degrees C. I certainly hope I never encounter either condition, but watch enthusiasts like over-engineer products, and Ball delivers in spades in this regard. What's particularly interesting is that Ball claims that the chronograph pushers can be safely operated at the maximum depth rating of 600m - I'm not personally aware of any other diver chronograph which can match this claim. Other diver watch features with which the Trieste Chronograph is designed with include a unidirectional rotating bezel, an automatically deploying integrated helium escape valve, and a dive suite extension in the bracelet clasp.
Speaking of the bracelet and clasp, many watch companies could learn great things by studying the Ball design and execution. Solid center and end links are used in the bracelet construction, and the adjustable links use high quality screws (not friction pins) for simple and secure link removal. A tried and true flip-lock style clasp is used, but note how the clasp has solid (not stamped) and thick construction, with a fine adjustment in the clasp for the perfect fit. You simply could not ask for a better bracelet design and execution.
The Ball Watch website lists the Trieste Chronograph as having an ETA/Valjoux 7750 movement under the hood. The Valjoux 7750 is a 25-jewel, self-winding chronograph movement that is low tech as far as mechanical chronographs go, but legendary for its stable and robust performance, and an excellent choice for this no-nonsense tool watch. The Valjoux 7750 has a vibration speed of 28,800 BPH.
Of course, the Trieste Chronograph also features Ball's fantastic micro gas tube technology on the watch dial for low light illumination. There are few watch manufacturers using this technology - it's almost become synonymous with Ball. If the concept of a watch dial has luminescent properties without a battery is "cool" then Ball's micro gas tube technology is cool cubed. As many are aware, many watch manufacturers coat their dials with luminescent chemical compounds (like SuperLuminova) which tend to be very bright after their initial exposure or "charge" but quickly fade in brightness. But Ball's little tritium gas filled tubes remain consistently bright 24/7 and have a life expectancy of about 25 years. Here's a "lume shot" of the Trieste Chronograph dial.
Overall, I found there's a lot to like, and very little not to like about the Trieste Chronograph from Ball Watch. With incredible water resistance, tank like construction, and dial that can be seen from the moon in light or dark, the Trieste Chronograph is like a watch enthusiasts laundry list of "must have" features. It's also a limited edition piece (limited to 1000 pieces) which means it carries a price which is a bit higher that what we're used to seeing from the typical Ball watch with a retail price of $3599.00. But the modern Ball company has built their brand on watches which are a genuine value, and the Trieste Chronograph - even if it weren't a limited edition model, it's priced below what most watch manufacturers offer that come anywhere near with competing with the specifications of the this watch. I was also extremely impressed with the packaging of this watch - not only is the watch packaged in a very nice box, but it includes more accessory items than I'm acustomed to seeing from a watch manufacturer including alternate straps, tools for link and bracelet removal, and even a display model of the famous bathyscaphe Trieste for which the Trieste Chronograph pays tribute. Way to go Ball.
All text and images contained in this web site are the original work of the author, John B. Holbrook, II and are copyright protected. Use of any of the information or images without the permission of the author is prohibited.
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This article was originally published in forum thread:
REVIEW: The Ball Trieste Chronograph>>>>>>>>>>>>>
started by
JBHII
View original post
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- BALL
