Related to the American Railroad system, Ball Watch is now a Swiss watchmaker that flies below the radar however delivers some severe worth and high quality. Providing a ton of worth for the cash, this Ball Roadmaster Marine GMT is not any totally different. A titanium watch with a ceramic bezel and a COSC-certified GMT motion, it’s greater than a worthy competitor for considerably pricier choices just like the Tudor Black Bay GMT or the Grand Seiko Spring Drive GMT. The Marine GMT seen right here is the black dial and inexperienced/black ceramic bezel mannequin, however there are greater than 20 coloration choices by my final depend.
The Roadmaster Marine GMT leans into a few of the model’s quirks, nevertheless it’s nonetheless mainstream sufficient for a broader attraction. Whereas it doesn’t have an independently adjustable hour hand, the Marine GMT does have a novel pusher system for setting the GMT hand. Together with the bidirectional ceramic bezel (with 24 clicks), this lets you monitor three time zones. You’ll see the pushers on the left aspect of the case, one at 10 o’clock to maneuver the GMT hand ahead and one other at 8 o’clock to maneuver it backward. It’s extremely simple and easy to make use of, although I’m certain it’s to not everybody’s style. A easy rotation of the pusher in both path locks it, with one other rotation in both path to unlock. It’s quite simple and simple to make use of — kudos to Ball.
As for the titanium case, the proportions are affordable at 40mm-wide, 14mm-thick, and a lug-to-lug top of 47.8mm. That lug-to-lug measurement could also be technically correct, however the best way the tip hyperlinks match provides to that quantity. The sensible lug-to-lug measurement is extra like 51mm if you consider that added bit. I want Ball had used a half-link for the primary middle hyperlink, because it doesn’t actually curve downward on the wrist, leading to a rigidity I may do with out. These points can be moot for those who modified the bracelet or choose to put on it on a strap, however I’m judging it primarily based on the product as it’s.
That mentioned, the bracelet properly alternates between having titanium H-links and polished metal middle hyperlinks (the Butterfly clasp is finished in metal, as properly). Total, it’s fairly snug, and I admire the beveling carried out on the H-links. The titanium case goes a good distance in holding the watch light-weight, scratch-resistant, and difficult. If you additionally issue within the 200m of water resistance, I believe it’s honest to say we’re speaking a few very sturdy journey watch that may simply deal with what 99% of us can throw at it.
This being Ball, the lume is great with 28 tritium fuel tubes on the dial and Tremendous-LumiNova on the bezel. The utilized indices double as lumed numerals and are such a wonderful contact in addition to a testomony to Ball incomes its cult favourite standing.
The COSC-certified automated RR1203-C motion is a modified ETA 2893-2 with an in-house GMT module that enables the distinctive pusher configuration, in addition to the day/date complication. Based on Ball, that is the primary GMT with a day/date complication (although the Seiko SARN001 and Ulysse Nardin El Toro may additionally stake this declare). The RR1203-C operates at 28,800 vph and has a 38-hour energy reserve.
A COSC-certified GMT in a titanium case with ceramic bezel, the Ball Roadmaster Marine GMT can be a strong worth even in a crowded market section. Alas, the GMT market is comparatively tight with Tudor and a few others dominating the under-$5,000 market. It’s not utterly excellent, missing an independently adjustable hour hand — however a minimum of considerably makes up for it with the pusher system that’s distinctive and unobtrusive on the wrist. All issues thought of, the Roadmaster Marine GMT greater than simply warrants its worth of $3,099. I beforehand talked about the numerous coloration choices which can be obtainable, which you’ll be able to browse right here. For every part else to do with the model, go to ballwatch.com.
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