You recently got a first look at the new BMW by Ball watch collection here on aBlogtoWatch.com. There you learned that Swiss Ball watches was to be a major timepiece making partner of the Bavarian Motor Works car company. The details were a bit scant but you learned what the pieces were going to look like as well as that there wold be four version to start – one of them a limited edition.
That limited edition piece was the Ball for BMW Thermometer watch – with Ball’s special mechanical thermometer in the piece. While that watch is not again covered in this article, this post has the full set of non-limited edition Ball for BMW timepieces. You’ll see that they are spread in to “Classic, GMT, Chronograph, and Power Reserve” model families.
Each of the three models will have a range of initial styles. There are 28 non-limited versions of the Ball for BMW watches to begin with. I say that with the anticipation that more models and special editions will come as the relationship develops. Ball and BMW haven’t exactly mentioned where the watches will be sold. However, they have noted that the watches will be available through a “network of exclusive dealers.” That likely means customers can buy Ball for BMW watches at some Ball watch dealers and some BMW car dealers.
The most basic version will be called the Ball for BMW Classic. It is 40mm wide in steel with a range of dial color options from silver to blue. You can also get the Classic with a metal bracelet or leather strap. Overall the Ball for BMW watches will have a few strap options including leather, crocodile, and textile. The Classic watch will have a Swiss ETA 2892 automatic movement inside of it and has the largest BMW logo on the dial out of the entire series.
The more interesting models are the 42mm wide Ball for BMW GMT and Power Reserve. Each will come in polished or DLC black coated steel cases. Information from Ball also seems to suggest that the Power Reserve model will be available in an 18k gold case as well. These models have the most interesting dials and of course the extra complication. I also like the smaller BMW emblem logo on the dials rather than then the larger embossed logo. My favorite models are the Ball BMW Chronograph watches. They come in a few styles on a technical fabric strap or a steel metal bracelet. The styling is fantastic and Ball uses Swiss ETA Valjoux 7750 or Sellita SW500 automatic chronograph movements for these rare Ball BMW chronograph models. More technical details are available below.
It goes without saying that all Ball for BMW watches will feature tritium gas tube illumination. Most of the tubes will glow orange with a single blue tube at 12 o’clock. Orange is said to be a signature color for BMW – especially on their instrument panels, so the watches try to use this when possible. Last, another interesting feature will be part of the Ball for BMW watch collection. This feature showed up on a Ball watch last year, and is called the “Amortiser.” It allows you to press and screw down the caseback of a watch to lock the automatic rotor into place. This is meant to be used when the wearer expects the watch to endure shock or trauma to help protect the movement. The wearer must then disengage the Amortiser for the watch to continue automatically winding.
Ball BMW Classic NM3010D-LCFJ-SL
■ MOVEMENT
‧Automatic caliber ETA 2892-2, chronometer certified COSC
■ FUNCTIONS
‧12 micro gas tubes on hour and minute hands and dial for night reading capacity
‧Patented Amortiser® anti-shock system
‧Anti-magnetic to 4,800A/m
‧Water resistant to 50m/160ft
‧Hours, minutes, sweep seconds and date
■ CASE
‧Stainless steel
‧Ø 40mm, height 10.87mm
‧Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
‧Screwed-in crown
■ BAND
‧Tapered stainless steel bracelet or crocodile leather strap with folding buckle
■ DIAL
‧Black / Blue / Grey / Silver
Ball BMW GMT GM3010C-SCJ-BK
■ MOVEMENT
‧Automatic caliber ETA 2893-2, chronometer certified COSC
■ FUNCTIONS
‧13 micro gas tubes on hour and minute hands and dial for night reading capacity
‧Second time zone indication
‧Patented Amortiser® anti-shock system
‧Anti-magnetic to 4,800A/m, Water resistant to 100m/330ft
‧Hours, minutes, sweep seconds and date
■ CASE
‧Stainless steel or Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC)
‧Ø 42mm, height 12,64mm
‧Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
‧Screwed-in crown
■ BAND
‧Tapered stainless steel bracelet, rubber strap or crocodile leather strap with folding buckle
■ DIAL
‧Black / Silver
Ball BMW Power Reserve PM3010C-P1CFJ-BK
■ MOVEMENT
‧Automatic caliber ETA 2897, chronometer certified COSC
■ FUNCTIONS
‧10 micro gas tubes on hour and minute hands and dial for night reading capacity
‧Power reserve indication
‧Patented Amortiser® anti-shock system
‧Anti-magnetic to 4,800A/m, Water resistant to 100m/330ft
‧Hours, minutes, sweep seconds and date
■ CASE
‧Stainless steel, Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) or gold
‧Ø 42mm, height 12,64mm
‧Anti-reflective sapphire crystal, Screwed-in crown
■ BAND
‧Tapered stainless steel bracelet, rubber strap or crocodile leather strap with folding buckle
■ DIAL
‧Black or silver, Black & grey (for gold case)
