Roadmaster Rescue Chronograph - Ltd Ed 1000pcs Ref. DC3030C-S-BE

In 1891, about 40 miles west of Cleveland, a fast mail train collided head-on with a passenger train. This accident later became known as the Great Kipton Train Wreck. The cause of the accident? The passenger train’s conductor’s watch had stopped functioning for a mere 4 minutes before restarting.

After that collision, renowned jeweller Webb C. Ball was appointed Chief Time Inspector to investigate the accident’s timekeeping issues. Ball then formulated a new timekeeping system for the railroad industry, revolutionising timekeeping (in the industry) and thus making train travel significantly safer for both passengers and employees. The watches that employees used were certified and issued by Ball, which led to the birth of the legendary company known today as Ball Watch Co.

Ball Roadmaster Rescue Chronograph - Ltd Ed 1000pcs Ref. DC3030C-S-BE

Ball watches are renowned for their precision, robustness, and durability. This new Roadmaster Worldtime Black continues to uphold Ball’s official railroad standards. The Roadmaster Rescue Chronograph is a specific model within the Ball Watch Roadmaster collection. It features a chronograph function, which allows the wearer to easily track time in record timing on the go. This feature is particularly useful for frequent professionals or individuals who frequently needs to time events in their lives.

With a wearable 42mm diameter, the watch has a thickness of 14.8mm and a lug-to-lug of only 49.8mm. This set of dimensions helps ensure the timepiece will sit nicely on the wrist and is suitable for almost all wrist sizes. While it might seem like the watch is a tad thick, a 14.8mm thickness on a 42m watch will not look out of place and its case design helped to look balanced on the wrist. The watch is made out of titanium material, adding to its wearability due to the reliable lightweight yet robust nature of the material. The oblong case is finished mostly with satin-brushed, only to be contrasted with mirror-finished bevellings, adding a utilitarian effect to the watch.

Automatic caliber BALL RR1402, Special movement oil to endure -45°C / -49°F

The deep blue dial has several features going on. First off,  there are applied hour markers with sword-style hands, paired altogether with a total 37 micro gas tubes for night time readability. A day/date complication is at 3, providing a helpful complication if this were to be a daily piece. The watch clads two sub-dials in sunburst effect, measuring the minutes at the top and hours at the bottom respectively.

 By using innovative Swiss laser technology, the gas tubes are up to a hundred times brighter than your typical luminescent paint used in the watch industry. The gas tubes have a lifespan of over 25 years and also do not require an external energy source to function. Each of the sub-dial hands are clad with the gas tubes for night readability. The running second is seen though a small cutout at the 9 o’clock, where the running second hand is replaced with a black and white background.

Titanium case with sapphire crystal

As a chronograph timepiece, the watch also features a black steel bezel that clads 60-minute markings, in tandem with a pulsation scale on the rehaut. The unique feature of the Ball Roadmaster lies in the ways to record  different measurements for its wearer.

Of course, being a Ball watch, this watch is shock-resistant up to an insane anti-magnetism to 4800 A/m. The screw-down crown, and caseback also give the timepiece 100m of water resistance, making it truly capable of handling whatever you throw at it.

The Rescue Chronograph  clads an automatic caliber BALL RR1402, a chronograph movement based on the reliable Valjoux 7750 movement. The 25-jewel movement beats at 28,800BPH and runs a power reserve of 42 hours. As a Ball’s doing, the movement’s oiling is modified in-house by them with special movement oil to endure -45°C / -49°F.

37 micro gas tubes on hour and minute and dial for night reading capability

Ball pairs the Roadmaster Worldtime on a 20mm titanium bracelet. The satin-brushed areas on the bracelet are satined finished, while the center links that feature polished bevel edges. The bracelet feels sturdy and well-built, which allows the user to wear the watch on the wrist for a long time without feeling the need to take it off due to any discomfort.

All in all, this latest addition to the Roadmaster Rescue Chrono is a welcomed one that brings a fresh new design that we think will prove to be highly popular among collectors and the average watch-wearer alike. As a limited edition timepiece of just 1,000 pieces worldwide, this Ball timepiece is one that you do not want to miss. Blink, and it could already be gone.