Three tough black sports watches

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Three tough black sports watches - Summer watches
2 minutes read
Sport can mean so many different things to so many different people that we focus very specifically here on three tough sports watches as part of our series on summer watches.

With so many different sports practiced around the world and the word “sport” being open to so many different interpretations (just take a look at the variety of models that were submitted to this year’s Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix for an example – LINK), it is all but impossible to pick one watch to exemplify what a “sports watch” is.

For this reason, we have chosen an admittedly very small selection, but one which comprises models from some of the lesser-known brands which pack just as much – if not more – punch than their competitors.


Ball Watch Engineer Hydrocarbon Black

Take the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Black, for example. Its design was inspired by free climber Alex Honnold, who delights in scaling rock faces without using any safety equipment whatsoever. As a result it is both tough and clearly readable, with the large Arabic numerals around the dial formed out of micro gas tubes that offer a light intensity for night reading that is more effective than conventional luminescent coatings and requires no external energy source. The same tubes are also used on the three hands and to complete the excellent visibility Ball Watch has pioneered the use of luminous paint on the black ceramic bezel.

To ensure that the Engineer Hydrocarbon Black lives up to its tough image, it is equipped with the Ball Watch SpringLOCK® mechanism, which acts as a kind of cage surrounding the balance spring, absorbing external shocks and reducing their impact by up to two-thirds. This patented device is fitted to the ETA 2892-A2 COSC-certified chronometer calibre that powers the watch.

 

Ball-watch-Engineer-Hydrocarbon-black


Cvstos Challenge Chrono II

This evolution of the Cvstos Challenge Chronograph offers a more lightweight construction without sacrificing the strength that customers of the brand, many of whom are active in high-performance sports, expect. The design changes include a repositioning of the chronograph counters for improved readability, thicker hour markers with broader SuperLuminova elements, a redesigned bezel and new pushbuttons for the chronograph functions that have a distinctive and tactile grooved surface.  

The new Challenge Chrono II comes in stainless-steel, titanium-rose gold and all black titanium versions and is powered by the Cvstos 577 self-winding chronograph movement, which offers a 42-hour power reserve.

 

Cvstos-Challenge-CHRONO-II


Cuervo y Sobrinos Robusto Manjuari 1882

As its name suggests, this watch is the sportiest model in the entire Cuervo y Sobrinos collection and sports a modular case in steel, titanium and rubber that is water resistant to 600 metres. The Manjuari comes from the rare Manjuari fish that is indigenous to Cuba and the brand loses a few metres in the conversion to imperial measures in order to fit the waterproofing with the year the brand was founded, 1882, which is reproduced on the dial and perforated on to the black rubber strap.


The “black velvet” dial is a model of clarity with bold luminescent hour markers and a uni-directional rotating bezel in titanium with dive time indications and red accents on the bezel, dial and contrasting red stitching on the rubber strap add an extra sporty touch. The Robusto Manjuari 1882 is powered by the CyS 5102 self-winding movement, which has a SW 200-1 base and offers a power reserve of 38 hours.

 

Cuervo y sobrinos Robusto Manjuari 1882

 

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