People are being encouraged to stay home and work remotely around the world. This is no exception for media outlets that have traditionally focused on on-site reporting. However, Mark Bernardo of WatchTime's editorial team has noticed that the introduction of remote work has actually increased the frequency of interviews with people involved in the watch industry around the world. However, this also means that time differences around the world must be taken into account when making appointments. Yes, remote work is exactly when a worldtimer comes in handy! With this in mind, he began reviewing the Ball Watch Engineer Master II Diver World Time.
Ball Watch "Engineer Master II Diver World Time"
Text by Mark Bernardo
Article published in January 2020
In fact, it is especially important to calculate the time difference when working remotely.
I'm slowly recovering from the isolation of this long and seemingly endless lockdown. I've been stuck at home, continuing to write about the global watch industry, connecting with colleagues, and perhaps even staying in touch more remotely, both in the US and around the world.
A world time watch, which allows you to know the time in any of the 24 standard time zones around the world simply by turning the city ring bezel, would be an ideal timepiece for extended periods of working from home. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there was no actual watch available for testing, so I was fortunate to have a watch that I could keep on hand for longer than usual to review: the Ball Watch Engineer Master II Diver World Time.
The stainless steel case is 42mm in diameter and features a satin-brushed and partially polished finish. The lugs are short and slightly curved, making them comfortable to wear.
The knurled bezel doubles as a diving scale and the aforementioned 24-city ring, meaning it's unidirectional. Its quiet operation means it won't get in the way if you're trying to check the time in different time zones while on a Zoom call with someone.
The crown, which is screwed down securely between two crown guards, features a stylish "RR" relief engraved on its surface, a reference to the "Rail Road watch" that made the company, founded by Webb C. Ball in 1891, world famous.
The world time mechanism is adjusted using the bezel
Rotating the bezel to operate the model's distinctive world time function reveals the names of cities representing the 24 time zones on the black back cover, and the time can be read on a 24-hour scale integrated into the city disc, which divides day and night into white and black.
So if you're in London and have a conference call in Dubai at 1 PM, grab the easy-to-operate bezel, rotate it, and it'll tell you to set your alarm for a time before 9 AM.
As with all Ball watches, this model is notable for its high level of lume, with tritium, found in generous amounts in micro gas tubes, visible in many elements of the dial (though slightly radioactive, the tiny amounts used here are harmless to the human body).
Currently, when people want to improve visibility with luminous paint, they often apply a generous amount of Super-LumiNova, but tritium has a unique advantage.
Our test device was exposed to more sunlight than necessary while hiking in nature, but because it is self-luminous, it does not require any other light source.
The sword-shaped hour and minute hands and rectangular-tipped seconds hand are bright orange in dimly lit environments. Another element that positions this watch as a versatile model is that the day and date combination can be adjusted separately using the crown. Turning the crown clockwise from the first position advances the date display at 3 o'clock by one day. Turning the crown counterclockwise from this position advances the day of the week display. A closer look reveals that the day display uses both English and Spanish abbreviations.
As mentioned above, this watch also serves as a diver's watch and is water resistant to 300m. The sapphire crystal surrounding the case back reveals the COSC-chronometer-certified Caliber RR1501C, based on the ETA2836-2. While the movement is largely unadorned, the rotor is finished with Côtes de Genève. This automatic movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and has a power reserve of approximately 38 hours when fully wound.
The watch comes on a black rubber strap with a checkerboard-like motif and an industrial-looking stainless steel pin buckle secured with small screws.
Multifunctional and strategically priced
The Engineer Master II Diver World Time packs many features into a small, affordable watch, but it may be a bit overloaded. The date and day displays are too small to read. The bezel features both a diving scale and a city ring, and the dial also features a 24-hour scale disc, making the outer edge of the dial feel crowded, and the main time display also seems cramped.
However, on the other hand, for those who like the crowded look of the World Time, it could be an element that makes it a welcome addition to your global travels. Above all, despite being so multifunctional, it has a price tag of 28 yen.
Automatic movement (Cal. RR1501). 25 jewels. 28,800 vph. Power reserve approximately 38 hours. Stainless steel (diameter 42mm, thickness 14mm). Water resistant to 300m. Price: 280,000 yen (excluding tax).
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