Vaessen is a family firm that has been in business for three generations. The quality of its services has earned it a distinction awarded by the Dutch Royal Court. This sought-after and rare recognition rewards Houses with an age-old family tradition and a reputation for perfect integrity. Meanwhile, Ball Watch has been pursuing since 1891 the endeavours of its founder Webster Ball, a watchmaker who worked for the American railway companies and devoted his energy to developing the most accurate possible timepieces in order to improve trains’ punctuality and safety.
A one-year personal test
The two brands made their way through the 20th century, each pursuing its own path. Their first encounter took place at Baselworld in 2007: “It was upon entering Hall 1, the domain of institutional brands, that I first saw the Ball Watch booth” recalls Victor Vaessen, the current manager of the eponymous firm. “I stepped in alongside my father to find out more, and came away convinced that we had found a true gem”.
Nonetheless, the Vaessens, who are seasoned professionals, took only one piece with them: their own watch that they wore for an entire year! “We already had several brands operating in fairly similar fields and we simply wanted to make sure that the added value promised by Ball Watch was in fact delivered”, adds Victor Vaessen.
For Ball Watch, this added value is expressed through multiple innovations introduced since its beginnings is simple: to offer sturdy and accurate watches designed for daily use while adding something that could not be found anywhere else.
The brand has recently distinguished itself with the invention of the SpringLock, a protection system for the balance-spring that displays exceptional shock resistance far superior to that of traditional escapements. The same goes for the luminescent hour-markers based on micro tubes filled with a luminous gas or watches equipped with specific oils enabling them to operate even at the most extreme temperatures (from -40°C to +60°). This technological excellence is implemented on Swiss Made movements guaranteeing the highest precision. As far as Victor Vaessen is concerned, it soon became clear that “not only did Ball Watch perfectly live up to its technical specifications, but also offered real and very varied innovations”.
Extreme watches for connoisseurs
In the 21st century, there is no longer any need to be an adventurer to wish to wear a Ball watch. Victor Vaessen nonetheless salutes the brand’s perseverance: “what really interests our customers, who are generally collectors or at least enlightened connoisseurs, is quite simply the added value our brand offers in relation to its price. In this respect, a Ball Watch customer comes out ahead and always will do. These are innovative watches to which one easily becomes attached. They are also very reliable, and we haven’t had a single one returned for repairs!”
Today, Vaessen, a jeweller honoured by the Dutch Royal Court, has become one of the world’s leading purveyors of Ball watches! Above and beyond the apparent gap between them, the two Houses share the same high demands in terms of quality, added value and excellence in their respective fields. Ball Watch is stepping up its European development, but the brand’s railways will always make regular stops in The Netherlands at the Heerlen station, which is home to the Vaessen family.
