BALL Watch Co. ENGINEER Hydrocarbon DeepQUEST

By TLex With the watches just now starting to filter out onto the market, now seems like a good time for second look at the new Ball ENGINEER Hydrocarbon DeepQUEST. Constructed from a single block of Titanium, water-resistant to 3000 meters, shock resistance of up to 7,500Gs and equipped with a rotating bezel that features Ball's new patented setting system, SafetyDIVE®; this is Ball's most advanced dive watch to date . . .



From Ball Watch Co. Engineer Hydrocarbon DeepQUEST - The watch that cast off deep ocean darkness and puts on the armor of light - Holder of several constant-weight free-diving world records and World Champion 2011, Guillaume Néry joined the BALL Explorers Club in 2006. This arrival was therefore for BALL Watch the opportunity to focus its efforts on the development of a line of timepieces implementing the brand's watchmaking expertise for underwater diving. BALL diving watches were previously included in the 'Engineer Master II' series. However, the concentrate of watchmaking technology in the new Engineer Hydrocarbon DeepQUEST means that this explorer’s watch fits naturally in the 'Engineer Hydrocarbon' family



To swim in complete freedom with dolphins, discover the world's deepest underwater gorges or swim beneath the ice are just some of the exploits achieved by Guillaume Néry. In his own words, these are the sort of dreams that the oceans allow you to fulfill. For an enthusiast of the aquatic world, such as Guillaume Néry, a diving watch is the sole personal object that he takes with him when he sets off to explore the world’s seas. The planet's last unexplored frontier, the oceans provide man with the possibility of entering an ecosystem of exceptional wealth and which is the cradle of the life itself on Earth.



By raising the water resistance of the new Engineer Hydrocarbon DeepQUEST to 3,000 meters, the BALL Watch engineers have achieved a spectacular new technical feat and have pushed back the boundaries of their expertise. This exceptional water resistance has been made possible in particular by machining the entire case out of a single block onto which the bezel is directly screwed. This construction reduces the potential interfaces liable to warp under the effects of water pressure. Strengthening the crown seals, generally considered the weak point of a watch in terms of water resistance, has contributed to avoid any entry of water when it is maintained in the screwed-in position. The final aspect of this protective array is the anti-reflective sapphire crystal with its thickness raised to 5.3 mm and an automatic helium release valve.



The generously proportioned titanium case as well as the wide dial opening and its streamlined design also enable immediate and clear reading of the timepiece's indications, another essential feature of any diving watch. The rotating bezel is equipped with the new patented setting system SafetyDIVE® that allows the diver to count down with a half-minute precision its immersion time. Its unidirectional rotation is also an additional source of safety in the event of its accidental movement while in the water. The rigorous accuracy of this model is provided by an automatic chronometer certified caliber ETA 2892.



The dial and the hands are fitted with gas micro tubes, the iconic signature of all BALL watches, to ensure perfect legibility. Until 100 times more efficient than the use of conventional luminescent paint, this Swiss technology ensures perfect luminosity without the need for any external source of light or energy. The patented design of the three-dimensional luminescent vision of the indexes illuminates the dial in blue, the last color which remains visible in the darkness of the deep.



The tapered stainless steel and titanium bracelet, with the BALL patented folding buckle and extension system, mean the watch can be easily and safely worn on the wrist even over a diving suit. Loyal to the exceptional characteristics of its collection, the Engineer Hydrocarbon DeepQUEST has a guaranteed shock resistance of up to 7,500Gs and an antimagnetic endurance of an intensity of up to 4,800A/m. Delivered in an authentic waterproof case that also contains a genuine professional signaling diving buoy, this timepiece is clearly intended to become the instrument of reference for the underwater exploration.



Robust beyond compare, record water-resistance, resistant to even extreme shocks and magnetic fields, absolute reliability and accuracy in even the most adverse conditions: the Engineer Hydrocarbon DeepQUEST is definitively the watch of all superlatives. Today, more than ever, BALL Watch is continuing its journey and asserting its role as a key protagonist in the evolution of watchmaking history.



MOVEMENT Automatic caliber ETA 2892, chronometer certified C.O.S.C

FUNCTIONS 3 micro gas tubes on hour, minute, second hands and 12 patented rectangular micro gas tubes on dial for night reading capability Automatic helium release valve, shock resistant to 7'500Gs anti-magnetic to 4,800A/m, water-resistant to 3'000m/9'850ft, hours, minutes, sweep seconds and date

CASE Titanium single block case Ø 43mm, height 16mm SafetyDIVE®, unidirectional rotating bezel with patented setting system 5.3mm anti-reflective sapphire crystal, screwed-in crown

BAND Tapered titanium and stainless steel bracelet with patented folding buckle & extension system or Rubber strap with standard buckle

DIAL Black or silver