This timepiece is designed as a tribute to the 110th anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first flight
2013 marks the 110th anniversary of the first flight of American aviation pioneers, the Wright brothers. On 17th December 1903, Wilbur (1867-1912) and Orville Wright (1871-1948) successfully made in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (USA), the first ever motorized flight in their aircraft Flyer.
Like Webster Clay Ball (1847-1922), the Wright brothers were from the American state of Ohio and hailed from the golden age of the 19th century industrial revolution in the United States. Just as Wilbur and Orville Wright had been pioneers in the field of aviation, so Webb C. Ball played a similar role in watchmaking history by introducing the first chronometric standards to be used by American railroad companies. The system developed by Webb C. Ball from the end of the 19th century set such accurate and reliable criteria that it inspired the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) to issue its own certification standards in 1973.
With the newest Trainmaster First Flight, BALL Watch Company is writing the latest chapter in the history of the Trainmaster collection. Bringing together BALL’s classic timepieces, this collection harks back to the very first watches to bear the “BALL’s standard” signature. The accuracy and reliability of those early watches ensured that the railroads ran smoothly throughout that great era of rail.
The Trainmaster First Flight’s stainless steel case is 41 mm in diameter and features a black dial with a design of fine vertical lines. The satin finish of the case contrasts with the polished bezel. The transparent sapphire crystal case back reveals the movement mechanism and features a silk-screen printed design of Flyer's first flight. It is also engraved with the individual number of each timepiece in this limited edition of just 600 pieces.
The ability to read information easily is a key feature of any aircraft navigation instrument. Here the watch's easy readability is ensured by distinctive metallic hour markers and a large date display positioned at 12 o'clock. The hour and minute hands have also been designed to evoke the distinctive elliptical propeller blades found in early airplanes.
The most important technical feature of the Trainmaster First Flight is its automatic BALL 651 caliber, based on an ETA 2892 movement. By modifying in-house this movement, BALL Watch Company added a large date display and elegant sub-dial for a second time zone positioned above 6 o'clock. To ensure that wearers can read the timepiece even in total darkness, the twelve markers on the dial and the main hands are fitted with micro tubes containing luminescent 3H gas. This state-of-the-art Swiss technology requires no external light or energy sources and is up to 100 times more effective than conventional luminescent paints. The yellow micro tubes on the hands and 12 o'clock marker are subtly distinguished from the green tubes on the other markers.
The aesthetic features of such a classic watch should not detract from its high resistance, a feature that is integral to all BALL timepieces. The Trainmaster First Flight is designed to be water resistant to depths of up to 50 meters and shock resistant against impacts of up to 5,000 Gs. A screwed-in crown and anti-reflective sapphire crystal add the final technical touches to this model.
The Trainmaster First Flight comes with either a crocodile leather strap or a stainless steel bracelet.
The watch is presented in a custom leather pouch, evoking the iconic briefcases used by pilots in the early days of aviation. A genuine navigation plotter customized with the BALL logo is included within the pouch. The Trainmaster First Flight is a limited edition of only 600 pieces.
Like Webster Clay Ball (1847-1922), the Wright brothers were from the American state of Ohio and hailed from the golden age of the 19th century industrial revolution in the United States. Just as Wilbur and Orville Wright had been pioneers in the field of aviation, so Webb C. Ball played a similar role in watchmaking history by introducing the first chronometric standards to be used by American railroad companies. The system developed by Webb C. Ball from the end of the 19th century set such accurate and reliable criteria that it inspired the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) to issue its own certification standards in 1973.
With the newest Trainmaster First Flight, BALL Watch Company is writing the latest chapter in the history of the Trainmaster collection. Bringing together BALL’s classic timepieces, this collection harks back to the very first watches to bear the “BALL’s standard” signature. The accuracy and reliability of those early watches ensured that the railroads ran smoothly throughout that great era of rail.
The Trainmaster First Flight’s stainless steel case is 41 mm in diameter and features a black dial with a design of fine vertical lines. The satin finish of the case contrasts with the polished bezel. The transparent sapphire crystal case back reveals the movement mechanism and features a silk-screen printed design of Flyer's first flight. It is also engraved with the individual number of each timepiece in this limited edition of just 600 pieces.
The ability to read information easily is a key feature of any aircraft navigation instrument. Here the watch's easy readability is ensured by distinctive metallic hour markers and a large date display positioned at 12 o'clock. The hour and minute hands have also been designed to evoke the distinctive elliptical propeller blades found in early airplanes.
The most important technical feature of the Trainmaster First Flight is its automatic BALL 651 caliber, based on an ETA 2892 movement. By modifying in-house this movement, BALL Watch Company added a large date display and elegant sub-dial for a second time zone positioned above 6 o'clock. To ensure that wearers can read the timepiece even in total darkness, the twelve markers on the dial and the main hands are fitted with micro tubes containing luminescent 3H gas. This state-of-the-art Swiss technology requires no external light or energy sources and is up to 100 times more effective than conventional luminescent paints. The yellow micro tubes on the hands and 12 o'clock marker are subtly distinguished from the green tubes on the other markers.
The aesthetic features of such a classic watch should not detract from its high resistance, a feature that is integral to all BALL timepieces. The Trainmaster First Flight is designed to be water resistant to depths of up to 50 meters and shock resistant against impacts of up to 5,000 Gs. A screwed-in crown and anti-reflective sapphire crystal add the final technical touches to this model.
The Trainmaster First Flight comes with either a crocodile leather strap or a stainless steel bracelet.
The watch is presented in a custom leather pouch, evoking the iconic briefcases used by pilots in the early days of aviation. A genuine navigation plotter customized with the BALL logo is included within the pouch. The Trainmaster First Flight is a limited edition of only 600 pieces.
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