Find out why professional pilots choose Ball Watch "Engineer Hydrocarbon Blue Impulse"

Ball Watch continues to pursue practicality with a stubborn honesty. Its stoic attitude has resonated with many professionals and led them to choose it as their companion. We will introduce their latest work, the "Engineer Hydrocarbon Blue Impulse," while touching on the company's unique technology.

Professional watches that have supported human progress

　The word "professional" is used in the context of an expert with advanced knowledge and skills. The origin of this word goes back to the Latin word "professus," which means "to swear to God." Although the religious connotation of "God" has faded in the modern world, people who are called professionals share a strong commitment to their responsibilities (oaths).

　The 20th century was a time of great progress for humanity. It was also a time when many professionals, such as pilots, divers, and astronauts, were born or experienced a period of transition. It is no exaggeration to say that one of the reasons behind this was the improvement in the practicality of watches.

　As watches have moved from pockets to wrists, they are increasingly exposed to natural enemies such as shock, water, and magnetism, and so they have been forced to overcome these. As an extension of this, professional watches have been developed, equipped with high functionality and performance for professional use.

　Being able to accurately tell the time at any time dramatically improved the safety of piloting aircraft, exploring rugged mountains, and diving, and contributed to expanding the scope of human activity. Eventually, the technology cultivated through the development of professional watches was fed back into other watches, and today many watches have achieved a level of performance that is sufficient for everyday use.

Ball Watches: Pioneering a New Era of Practical Watches

　Even in today's world, there is one brand that continues to pursue ever-increasing levels of practicality: Ball Watch, founded in the United States in 1891. The company also produced watches for professional locomotive crew members and contributed greatly to the construction of America's vast railroad network.

　Currently, the brand offers seven collections, offering a diverse lineup ranging from dressy, simple watches to pilot watches with chronograph and GMT functions, and diver's watches, and is loved by professionals in a variety of fields.

　The company has earned such great trust not only due to its inherent robustness and reliability, but also due to the unique technologies it has developed. Its product lineup incorporates numerous technologies to improve visibility, shock resistance, magnetic resistance, and safety.

　One of these is the Micro Gas Light, which dramatically improves visibility in dark places. It is a system in which tritium gas is sealed in a vacuum mineral glass tube, causing it to glow naturally. Because it is self-luminous, it does not lose brightness over time like phosphorescent paint, and has the advantage of continuing to glow for over 10 years. Unlike phosphorescent types that lose brightness after a few hours, it continues to glow day and night, making it possible to reliably read the time even when working in dark places for long periods of time.

　The company has also introduced groundbreaking measures to protect against shocks, the enemy of mechanical watches. To prevent shocks from causing the regulator to shift and degrade accuracy, the company developed a spring seal mechanism that secures the regulator with a special plate, and its spring lock shock-resistant system protects the balance spring with a cage to absorb shocks, significantly reducing the risk of deformation, tangling, or breakage of the balance spring.

　In addition, to improve magnetic resistance, mu-metal is used for the inner case to minimize the increase in thickness, and a safety lock crown system is incorporated as a mechanism to physically protect the crown, which is the watch's vital part.

　These unique technologies, which deliver overwhelming toughness, are the reason why professionals working in harsh environments trust Ball Watch.

A limited edition model featuring the shining emblem of the Blue Impulse, the professional aviation team, is now available

　Now, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Ball Watch has announced two limited edition models featuring the emblem of the Blue Impulse, an acrobatic team based at Matsushima Air Base in Miyagi Prefecture.

　Today, the Blue Impulse is a team that performs a variety of aerobatics using six blue and white T-4 training aircraft. They have given demonstration flights at the Japan Self-Defense Forces Air Base Air Show and events across the country, inspiring and inspiring many people. Many people have likely cheered at the team's well-coordinated formations and dynamic solo performances.

　The newly announced "Engineer Hydrocarbon Blue Impulse" is equipped with a chronograph that can measure up to 12 hours, as well as a micro gas light, a unidirectional rotating bezel, and a safety lock crown system.

　It is water resistant to 300m and features screw-down chronograph pushers, a level of spec worthy of being adorned with the emblem of the Blue Impulse, a professional aviation team.

　The sturdy screw-down case back is deeply engraved with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's symbol, which combines a hawk, pentagram, moon, star, and Japanese flag, all of which symbolize the protection of the skies, and is designed to represent powerful protection of the skies.

　This model is available in two variations: one with a lightweight titanium case and a stainless steel bezel, and the other with a stainless steel case and a ceramic bezel.

　Only 70 of each will be sold in Japan, each with a unique number indicating their limited availability. The official online boutique will have a program where you can pre-order and purchase your favorite limited edition number, and the first 70 customers will receive a Blue Impulse body bag made from bulletproof vest material and a spare rubber belt. If you're interested, don't forget to check it out.