Ball Engineer III King - Review, Measurements, Tritium

[@Lee_K_5555]

This is the best real-life demonstration of the difference between tritium tubes (manufactured by MB Microtech) and traditional luminous paint. There is often a mistaken belief that tritium tubes glow like neon torches in the dark, and they really don't -- it is much softer and muted but still cool nevertheless. As you you say, a dark-adjusted eye will easily see this, and I find that these kinds of watches are the best performers in regards to legibility at 5:00 am. Tritium has a half-life of a little over twelve years, so the TTL tubes will diminish to half their brightness after a decade, and one-quarter after two decades. Ball supposedly will refresh the tubes on their watches when they get too dim (for a price, of course) as part of maintenance. As for the Ball Watch Company, they are a watch enthusiast's brand and make high-quality timepieces for 1/2 to 1/3 the price of the big boys of the Swiss watch industry. They also embrace some pretty funky designs in their line. Great review!

[@minitwatch]

Pinning this. Good info and thank you!

[@thumperjdm]

I've owned a few Ball watches, and had a few of them serviced. When you want new tritium tubes, you can purchase new hands and/or a new dial. Ball does not physically change the old tubes on your dial for new ones---they simply replace the entire dial. I've been very impressed with Ball's service.

[@Lee_K_5555]

That's good to now -- thank you for the clarification.

[@rustyshackleford17]

There also doesn't seem to be a whole lot of consistencies amount tritium power. T25 can change in brightness....even within a company.

[@chefgav1]

Ball new will make you cry $$ when you part ways.

[@harvardford8752]

The first time I’ve ever touched my ball, i shrivelled in excitement.

[@minitwatch]

LMAO. You crack me up dude.

[@WatchGeek]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂Thru the whole video I was trying to come up with a funny comment on Ball/Balls and then BAM!!!! The puppets stole the show!! Screw watch reviews, I want a full episode of a puppet show!!!!

[@minitwatch]

haha, BAM! Maybe :)

[@noice9709]

Nice looking watch - simple, classic. Thanks for specs, details and info on the tritium. Great review!

[@minitwatch]

You're welcome, David and thanks for watching!

[@WrongTimeWatch]

I really like the depth of the dial due to the indices. It would look much better with a white on black date wheel though.

[@ivanshevchenko2188]

Damn. What a watch. What a review.

[@minitwatch]

Thanks, Ivan!

[@khronokraze]

Ball are nice watches and maybe one of the most notable brands to carry tritium tubes in their watches than any other. I like a watch with tritium tubes.. I've owned several in the past myself. I like the fact you can not only get glowing in low light all the time for at least 20-25 years. More so, I like the the fact tritium tubes can come in a variety of colors than standard lume can.. I particularly like the ones that have blue lume as it is a very cool blue lume.. very true blue in glow and does not have that greenish tint many standard blue lume can still have... they are like mini lightsabers on the watch face. I'm not blown away by this particular ball design. I like the new Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT II. See attached link. Nearly everything lights up including the GMT bezel which is really cool they fit little tritium tubes behind the numbers. But, it's rather expensive for me right now otherwise I may have just put a pre-order downpayment on one. The only thing that potentially bugs me on this model is the crown area... it appears quite large and long since it has this extra crown guard thing that rotates out of the way at the very end. Seems like it would push into the back of your hand/wrist quite often unless you wear the watch away from the wrist/hand more than you may normally.. which I fear may make it too loose fitting and uncomfortable because it's dangling around the wrist too much. IDK? Maybe it's not actually that bad, but from the pics, I feel it sticks out the side quite a bit. Anyways, thanks for the video review! www.ballwatch.com/global/1/collections/engineer-hydrocarbon---11/aerogmt-ii---dg2018c-sc-bk---1967.html

[@minitwatch]

I also absolutely adore blue tritium. If I ever get a Ball, it is going to be a Marvelite or a Fireman Victory. I don't need it to be massively bright. That Hydrocarbon is amazing. The GMT bezel is lit up by Super Luminova, though. Still, pretty freaking rad and I would LOVE to play with it for a while. As for the crown sticking out, It never bothered me. I now that some crowns bother people but I do think it's dependent on wrist size/shape. I never get bothered by crowns. I do get seriously bothered by certain straps and bracelets, though. Thanks for the thoughtful comments!

[@sylvainpaquette6132]

I discovered ball long after I knew some military watches used it like the marathon line. I really like my gsar but wanted something more day to day but using tritium and found ball tracer and couple others. The marathon gsar is my most worn watch and the tritium vials are just one of the reason I really like this watch. My next tritium watch will be the trainmaster worldtime.

[@joexg50]

Very nice watch & review, in fact one of your best!!

[@minitwatch]

Wow and here I am thinking it was a garbage review! Thanks, Joe!

[@LeoVinteler]

Nice watch. Great review LeoV

[@alfredsfunvideos4270]

You said why people love balls lol!!! Great review sir!!

[@minitwatch]

Balls are good! lol. Thanks, Victor!

[@garethb6173]

Hi Kurt. That case has a pearl finish. Saahhweeeeet!!!!

[@minitwatch]

Vedddy sweeeet!

[@kaisnowbird]

Teddy is the funniest 😂 Excellent review too.

[@nightstalker824]

Cool watch. The coating is no better than any other watch in this price point any price point for that matter. I had fireman racer dlc and managed to put a few marks that went through the DLC within a week of owning the watch. The watch was great however, and I honestly don't mind some wear and tear on a black watch.

[@bigg1779]

King of the balls😂great review👍

[@minitwatch]

Thanks, Gordon! I appreciate it!

[@Ruthlessbone]

Is this brand a luxury brand or a quality brand or a bit of both?

[@minitwatch]

I would say a bit of both.

[@rustyshackleford17]

They're certainly a higher end brand though I wouldn't say of the level of Rolex. But if you browse around the forums, their accuracy is typically that of those in a higher price bracket.

[@tifosomatt]

Once again, Uncle Jimmy and Ted steal the show. Funny af. The watch content is essential, that cannot be argued, but more of those puppets dude, they are awesome and make me very much joy in my belly. wha-wh-what.

[@minitwatch]

Thanks, man! Joys in the belly is important! I'll try to incorporate them more.

[@sylvainpaquette6132]

There are marathon gsar that offer tritium and swiss made but they are more of a indestructible tool watch. My gsar has became my favourite watch real quick. I don't like all ball designs and the one where they try to make numbers with the tritium tubes look weird to me. Fortunately ball has a wider offering so you can find a model that you like. When you try tritium for the first time you get hooked real fast since no lume come close to it. You can wake up in the middle of the night and check the time in total darkness where regular lume would had long faded away.

[@hillbillyartscrafts4367]

you should check out Nite watches if you want something with big tritium tubes but priced way under $1000

[@VictorC1891]

This is a very nice and elegant watch !

[@minitwatch]

I really want to get a Ball. I just can't afford it at the moment :/ Thankfully, I can play with Balls once in while. :p

[@VictorC1891]

Yes friend i know what you mean sometimes i like to play with balls to, but i would like to own them not to play with borrowed balls like you do. :-D

[@minitwatch]

LOL! Indeed.

[@VictorC1891]

:-))

[@jean-baptistecardamone7775]

Is it COSC certified ?

[@carlosmaeda776]

how satisfied is your friend with this watch? I’m considering the preorder of the engineer 3 legend but have no experience or knowledge of Ball watches.

[@minitwatch]

He absolutely loves it!

[@carlosmaeda776]

minitwatch thank you for the reply! decisions decisions..!

[@Bobsbargainbasement]

Sweet watch, great review thx!

[@minitwatch]

Thanks, Robert!

[@nnhdamki]

Bought this watch quite disappointed ,, Gas illumination slightly faded after 4 months the crown is damaged ,, will check with the agencies how to fix that

[@eradnegan1094]

interesting video, ever change watch hands or dial. love to see someone like you, as a watch enthusiast, change hands... hard thing for me 2do

[@DavidBrown-in8hi]

Tritium as a half life of 12 years though, that means you’ll get at least 12 of decent lime from this watch before half of the tritium is gone

[@hectordemarchena4414]

Great review!

[@minitwatch]

Thank you, Hector!

[@joe12524]

Hi, I'm considering buying the ball fireman enterprise watch. Is this brand any good and does anyone have any thoughts on this watch? Many thanks.👍🏻

[@largecarken8504]

Not one of Ball’s better pieces. They have some really nice pieces and a very rich history.

[@collwynjones5075]

Nice review...I was so close to buying the blue face shiny steel engineer 3, but the storm chase pro looks a better watch.

[@minitwatch]

Oh man, I really like the Storm Chacer DLC Pro!

[@neilglucente]

The watch looked much better on the wrist than off. In general, I like Ball watches. Or Balls. Rolexes, Omegas, Seikos -- can't get around it -- plural for Ball is . . . Balls. "Good Golly, Miss Molly, She sure likes to ball." --Little Richard.

[@minitwatch]

yes it is! And I love it! Balls are great!

[@ats7485]

Can't say I'm crazy about the 12 and the 6. I know the design is limited by the technology to some extent, but those numbers look a bit like a youngster's arts and crafts project. This watch reminds me so much of your Seiko airwolf mod. If they were placed side by side, my guess is that people would say the mod looks better.

[@minitwatch]

Oh, I absolutely think the Airwolf mod looks better. I may be a bit biased, though :p If I were to get my own Ball, I would opt for something such as the Fireman Victory or Marvelite.

[@DavidBrown-in8hi]

Traser makes those Tritium tubes…..Aragon watches make inexpensive tritium watches

[@abdelmercifulgaming7890]

am i high or your voice changed

[@minitwatch]

Puberty? I dunno lol. What do you mean?

[@twistygrip4180]

Beautiful watch..........

[@twistygrip4180]

Bahahahaha!!!!! The best ending!!!!

[@minitstop]

lol. *thumbs up*

[@chrisdsx5]

I'm going to stick with my 30 dollar Casio!

[@minitwatch]

I have another 30 dollar Casio review coming up! :D

[@DavidBrown-in8hi]

Good review…

[@eldridgepalmer6083]

I love the watch. I would prefer it without the complications. Just me.

[@sadaka201]

Great Review. BALL is King! Just pre-ordered the new Engineer M Challenger which has the first Ball inhouse manufature movement with 80hrs power reserve. That's something I was waiting for... Pre-order phase is on until 31.1.18. Just go to shop.ballwatch.ch

[@AstrayDaisy]

Futungqooooooooooqqq !!! Huyungqoooq ! Nice !

[@minitwatch]

Woohoo!!! lol

[@StiloNautica]

so...if i am correct..i have to torch my watch with a bluelight before is go to sleep? I don't have one. it is not realistic and all watch reviewer do it. I dont even believe you do that before you go to sleep..i don't. I call BS..

[@omarmabbadi]

First

[@minitwatch]

Boom!

[@steve8510]

No one ever does weight, every other useless measurement