There are lower priced watches with skeletonized movements, but you don’t see them too often in a sport watch. For me that made this model stand out. If you aren’t a serious watch movement aficionado then by all means this skeletonized Japanese Miyota automatic looks pretty impressive. I mean, most any skeletonized mechanical movement is cool. You can see the balance wheel oscillating under the Ballast “B” logo, and even the mainspring barrel is cut open so that you can see the spring tightening as you wind it.
These might not be deal makers for seasoned and well-funded watch people, but for the masses this is pretty cool stuff–especially when they are used to quartz watches. It is even matches with a dial that doesn’t feel cheap–as many do in watches at this price. The hands have flat (versus rounded) polished surfaces and there isn’t a disappointing plethora of unwanted reflective surfaces as I seem to find in so many fashion watches designed by people who may as well be making fake designer handbags.
It is true that the movement, while being skeletonized, isn’t decorated–but I wouldn’t expect that in a watch at this price. The unfinished industrial look even matches the overall character of the watch pretty well. Like I said, this isn’t a serious timepiece, but there is a successful combination of elements that doesn’t make it an uncoordinated Invicta-ish design hog pile.
Over the dial is a mineral crystal, but one of those sapphire coated ones. I am not overly familiar with these crystals but their durability is said to be somewhere between a mineral crystal and a fully sapphire one. Thankfully, the crystal is AR coated and flat which reduces light reflection and assists the overall decent legibility which helps this timepiece look its best.
Attached to the case is a wide, black silicone strap that sits comfortably. The strap is 30mm wide at is widest point and tapers down to 24mm wide. Actually, given the size of the watch, it is actually pretty comfortable–in large part thanks to the sloped lugs and flatter caseback. Also, at 13mm thick, the case isn’t so chunky as to make the the Valiant feel like a brick on the wrist.
A quick search online finds that Ballast watches are also not being dumped into the market and discounted like crazy all over the place–which is a nice thing to know when you are buying a watch from a newer or off brand. Overall, I feel that as a fashion watch the Ballast Valiant ref. BL-3105-02 watch is a well curated timepiece with an attractive set of features for someone looking for a fun sports watch who isn’t what most aBlogtoWatch readers would refer to as a serious watch guy. Price is $595. ballast1903.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Ballast
>Model: Valiant BL-3105-02
>Price: $595
>Size: 47.2mm
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Sometimes
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Watch guy who spends at most a few hundred bucks on each purchase and likes big, bold, yet non-offensive timepieces.
>Best characteristic of watch: Given the fashionable nature of the watch it exhibits a welcome set of features produced from quality parts.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Hands probably don’t need to be skeletonized and could be longer. Brand name that most haven’t heard of.
