With the introduction of its new Engineer M Challenger, Ball Watch Co. ? the Swiss-made brand with roots in early American railroading ? joins the fraternity of watch manufacturers that produce at least one in-house movement. Here’s what you need to know about the watch and the new manufacture Caliber 7309.
The Ball Engineer M Challenger is available in both 40-mm and 43-mm case sizes.
Among the noteworthy attributes of the self-winding Caliber 7309 are an 80-hour power reserve, a 28,800-vph frequency, and a chronometer certification from the Swiss testing agency COSC. Appropriately, the Engineer M Challenger’s caseback features a sapphire window to showcase the movement ? which is also equipped with the company’s patented Amortiser anti-shock system ? and its haute horlogerie finishing. Ball says that this watch will not be its last timepiece to contain an in-house movement, so it seems likely that Caliber 7309 will serve as a base for adding further complications. Caliber 7309 is a COSC-certified chronometer movement.
At the moment, however, the Challenger is indeed the first and only watch outfitted with the proprietary movement, so let’s examine what else it offers. The stainless steel case is either 40 mm or 43 mm in diameter, water-resistant to 100 meters, and fitted with a screw-down, fluted crown and a nonreflective sapphire crystal over the dial. In addition to the two case sizes, three different dials are available ? black, gray, and blue ?...