By Jovan Krstevski
To mark the 130th anniversary of the adoption of standard time in the United States, BALL Watch Company unveils a new classic, timeless model: the Trainmaster Standard Time.
Before the adoption of standard time in 1883, time was set depending on the position of the sun. This resulted in every city having its own time zone, making the synchronization of railroad timetables extremely complicated. From 1883 onward, U.S. railroad companies put in place a new system to divide the nation into four time zones. This change led to the disappearance of over 70 official time zones, and has continued as the officially accepted system to the present day.
In 1883, Webster Clay Ball, was the first jeweler in Cleveland, Ohio, to use the time signals emitted by the United States Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., bringing accurate time to the residents of the “C-Town”. In 1891, Webster Clay Ball was appointed as Chief Time Inspector by the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway Co. The unreliability of the watches used on the railroad networks made traveling by train a perilous business, and the introduction of a system of controls and inspections had become an urgent priority. Webb C. Ball laid down standards of quality, accuracy and design for all the watches used by the railroad. To ensure the greatest possible accuracy of each employee’s watch, a list of approved timepieces was submitted to the workers and compulsory inspections were made once every two weeks for comparison with standard Washington time.
This new watch from BALL, evokes my emotions and passion for watches. The Ball Watch Company, created the Trainmaster Standard Time watch with design inspired of 19th century pocket watches. The watch features Breguet-styled Arabic numerals, white enamel dial, plume-shaped hands, subsidiary seconds dial at 6 o’clock and 14 micro tritium gas tubes for night reading capability. The micro gas tubes have been added to the hour and minute hands, and also to the hour-markers on the dial. These micro-tubes do not require any outside source of light or power and are up to 100 times brighter than the use of conventional luminous paint. All of it, gives the watch a elegant, classic and modern look at the same time.
As a break with the spell of time, the words “BALL & Co.” have been styled to form the number 7 to make this watch truly unique.
The trifling case size of 39.5mm, gives an impression of being bigger thanks to the thin bezel and the big white dial. The case in 18k rose gold and the crocodile leather strap highlight the luxury aspect of this elegant watch. On top protecting the lovely dial is a anti-reflective convex sapphire crystal. Ticking inside, is the COSC-certified automatic chronometer BALL RR1105-C that is based on the ETA 2895-2. The watch is also water-resistant to 30m/100ft and shock resistant to 5,000Gs.
The Trainmaster Standard Time will be available through dealers in December and will be available at a recommended at price of $7,700. Reference-Nr.NM3888D-PG-LCJ-WH For more information visit: ballwatch.com
Jovan Krstevski – Founder, Proprietor & Executive Editor
Watch collector, aficionado and a Event profile in the Swedish nightlife. He launched Watchgeek back in 2011, which is now known as WristReview. He quotes ’WristReview is a site to help people find, explore, discover and enjoy wristwatches.’ His passion jump started in his early teens, when he was given his first mid-range wristwatch which was an Omega Seamaster. Since then he has always been in love with wristwatches!
