A companion that makes your ocean adventures even more fun! Ball Watch "Roadmaster Ocean Explorer"

Ball Watch was founded in Ohio, USA in 1891. Inheriting the philosophy of producing standard railroad watches at the time of its founding, the brand is now based in Switzerland and focuses on developing mechanical watches that are highly accurate, durable, and legible. This time, we'll be focusing on the Roadmaster Ocean Explorer, which features multiple tide indicators. This timepiece is designed to enhance the enjoyment of marine activities such as fishing and surfing.

Ball Watch's ambitious creation beautifully incorporates a tide display

　Ocean lovers' year-round desire for fun in the ocean is unrelenting. For example, in winter, sea bass fishing involves a wide variety of bait patterns, making lure selection challenging. However, this difficulty is precisely what drives avid anglers to pursue the game, repeatedly guessing and casting bait in the inner bays on cold nights. The same goes for surfing. In winter, low pressure moving eastward is a boon for surfers on the Pacific coast, especially those north of Chiba. They aim for the best spots where northeast swells come in and enjoy the harsh winter waves. There's a tough mechanical watch perfectly suited to such active ocean lovers. That's the Ball Watch Roadmaster Ocean Explorer, equipped with numerous functions useful for marine activities.

　Let's take a look at this watch's "ocean-related functions" one by one. First, please take a look at the inset dial at 6 o'clock. This is where you can determine whether it's a spring tide or a neap tide. If the compass-like needle points to "SPRING," it's a spring tide, and if it points to "NEAP," it's a neap tide. A spring tide is the day when the difference between high and low tide is greatest, while a neap tide is the day when the difference is smallest, and both occur about twice a month. Spring tides, when the tides are most active, are said to be when "fish are biting," so this is information that sea fishing fans always check.

　The times of low and high tide are read using the inner disc, which is divided into black and white, and the outer bezel, which is painted red and green. First, turn the day of the week display on the inner disc to the high tide time position. Next, turn only the outer bezel to align the "HIGH TIDE" notation with the set high tide time. This will tell you the high tide times for the next two weeks (the position indicated by the short scale line directly below the day of the week notation) and the low tide time for the current day, indicated by the "LOW TIDE" notation.

　In addition to these unique features, it's also worth mentioning its toughness. The case and bracelet are made of 316L stainless steel, which is highly corrosion-resistant, meaning it's resistant to rust. It's also water-resistant, durable, magnetic-resistant, and shock-resistant to an extremely high degree. Robustness is an essential requirement for worry-free outdoor activities. This is a testament to Ball Watch's reputation for crafting durable timepieces for over 130 years since its founding. Nighttime visibility is also a breeze. The bezel lettering is coated with Super-LumiNova. The moon phase display incorporates a self-luminous micro gas light, clearly displaying the phases of the moon, even in the dark.

　The Roadmaster Ocean Explorer is perfect for all kinds of marine activities, from fishing and surfing to snorkeling, clam digging, and even family outings on the rocks. With its smart look, this watch looks great both at the beach and around town. It's also a companion that lets you feel the ocean even when you're in town.