Fergus Nash
Ask anyone to name any explorer and there’s a good chance that Ernest Shackleton’s name will come up. His fame faded after his final expedition and death in 1922, but over the past 50 years or so his heroic exploits in Antarctica have been widely recognised. The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917 is particularly acclaimed for Shackleton’s courageous leadership. Shackleton and five men battled against unimaginable odds to rescue the entire first party with no loss of life. Ball Endurance 1917 Series It is dedicated to Shackleton and his expedition and is named after the Endurance.
Incident
Ironically, the Endurance got stuck on drift ice and sank. Ball Endurance 1917 The watch is, as the name suggests, very tough. Ball uses 904L stainless steel, which contains more chromium, molybdenum, nickel and copper than the typical 316L steel used in most watches. This not only gives the polished surface a slightly different sheen, but also makes it more resistant to corrosion from saltwater, extreme temperatures and acids. The entire case is polished to a lustrous shine, a very unusual feature for a tool watch. It adds to the watch’s old-fashioned appeal and makes it look premium as well as durable.
While the style is the same across the watches, with gently flowing truncated lug tips, each of the four in the Endurance 1917 series has different dimensions. The smallest and largest diameters are the time-only Ball Engineer Master II Endurance 1917, with a 40mm case that is 46.6mm long and 13.6mm thick, and the 45mm diameter version is 52.9mm long and 14.05mm thick. The flagship model is the Engineer III Endurance 1917 GMT, which is 41mm wide, 47.6mm long and 13.15mm thick, and finally, the Engineer III Endurance 1917 TMT, which comes with its own complication, at 42mm wide, 50mm long and 13mm thick.
Dial
Despite the 1917 in the series name, the watches all meet Ball’s contemporary aesthetic standards. There’s a traditional feel to some, especially the models that feature Ball’s signature “RR” counterweight on the seconds hand, but the shiny sunburst finish on the dial makes it feel entirely contemporary. The Engineer II Master Endurance 1917 is the simplest model, with a three-hand display and a large date magnifier. The 40mm version is available in silver, blue, black and ice blue, while the 45mm references are available in black, ice blue and green.
The Ball Engineer III Endurance 1917 TMT features an attractive thermometer using a patented mechanical thermometer that operates from -35°C to 45°C (-31°F to 113°F). You can choose from a green or ice blue dial that displays the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, and it is also available with a black TIC case coating. The Engineer III Endurance 1917 GMT is a versatile option with a fourth GMT hand and a 24-hour chapter ring that is coordinated to ice blue, gray, or blue to match the dial color. The glow-in-the-dark tritium gas microtube colors are also available in rainbow assortment or standard yellow and green.
strap
The black-cased Engineer III Endurance 1917 TMT models come on a black rubber strap, while the other combinations come on a 904L steel bracelet with a folding buckle. The Engineer Master II watches have an Oyster-style bracelet featuring brushed outer links and a polished center section for a slightly more utilitarian look. The TMT and GMT watches have the same arrangement of polished and brushed surfaces, but with a steeply angled H-link style for a slightly more showy look.
motion
All Ball Endurance 1917 Series They are powered by Ball’s COSC-certified movement, which gives them chronometer status and an accuracy of -4 to +6 seconds per day. The caliber RRM7337-C found in the GMT models is Ball’s new flagship, in-house manufactured caliber. They all vibrate at a smooth 4Hz sweep and have a power reserve of 38 to 42 hours suitable for everyday wear. They are also shock-resistant to 5,000 g and antimagnetic to 4,800 A/m, proving their reliability and durability. The movement is hidden behind a sturdy caseback, but Ball has decorated it with beautiful engravings. The Engineer Master III GMT model features the standard Ball train painting, while the time-only Master II and TMT feature the Endurance sailing under sail.
Pricing and availability for the Ball Endurance 1917 Series:
Each watch in the Ball Endurance 1917 series is limited to 1,000 pieces and customers have the option to select their own number at checkout, which can be purchased from the Ball Store once the option has been selected. herePrice: $2,049 (Engineer Master II 40mm), $2,649 (Engineer Master II 45mm), $3,199 (Engineer III GMT), $3,549 (Engineer III TMT)
Brand Ball Model Engineer Master II Endurance 1917
Engineer III Endurance 1917 GMT
Engineer III Endurance 1917 TMT Case dimensions 40mm x 46.6mm x 13.6mm (Master II 40mm)
45mm x 52.9mm x 14.05mm (Master II 45mm)
41mm x 47.6mm x 13.15mm (GMT)
42mm x 50mm x 13mm (TMT) Case Material 904L Stainless Steel Water Resistance 100m Crystal Sapphire Dial Black, Silver, Green, Blue, Ice Blue, Grey Lug Width 20mm (Master II 40mm)
22mm (Master II 45mm)
20mm (GMT)
21mm (TMT) Strap Steel Bracelet
Rubber Strap Movement RR1103-C (Master II 40mm)
RR1108-C (Master II 45mm)
RRM7337-C (GMT)
RR1601-C (TMT) Power reserve 38-42 hours Availability Limited to 1000 pieces each Price $2,049 (Master II 40mm)
$2,649 (Master II 45mm)
US$3,199 (GMT)
US$3,549 (TMT)
