BALL Watches
Since 1891, BALL is a timekeeping pioneer and celebrated manufacturer of quality, precise and reliable mechanical timepieces. Every BALL watch runs on the spirit of the American railroads while incorporating today’s premier technology, unique luminosity and finest Swiss craftsmanship – all to ensure accuracy under adverse conditions.
About BALL Watches
Look closely at every BALL timepiece and you’ll see two boldly emblazoned letters: RR. Railroad. This enduring heritage stretches back more than 130 years to the age of powerful locomotives, burgeoning freedom and the obsession of Webb C. Ball, whose watchmaking expertise and high standards of precision revolutionized watchmaking and timekeeping forever.
BALL Watch company was literally founded by accident. Following a tragic 1891 Kipton, Ohio head-on train collision, American railroad companies appointed Webster Clay Ball "Chief Time Inspector" to supervise newly synchronized timing protocols. This standardized "railroad time" efficiency originated the popular "Be on the Ball" proverb and inspired the future Swiss Society of Chronometry (COSC) which governs the highest watch timing certification standards today.
At his death, Webb C. Ball had contributed more than any other person in creating the performance and accuracy requirements for railroad watches. His work in crafting the most precise timepieces and instituting an inspection system was imperative and extraordinary. It not only improved railroad operations, it was an essential part of timekeeping’s foundation. Today functionality remains a top priority, so BALL will go to special lengths to work special technologies into its timepieces and it is one of few brands to use tritium gas tubes to light up the timepieces. With this heritage, BALL is continuing its role today as a key protagonist in the evolution of watchmaking history.
