Why a Field Watch?
Nearly every person I talk to has a favorite type of watch. Some love the look and chunkiness of a big diver, while others prefer the svelte slim profile of a dress watch. Other groups love tool watches, some all too eager to time a race with a chronograph while others can’t stand the busy dial of a chronograph, opting for a different type of tool watch in a field watch.
When I closed in on a subject to highlight for our first totally original design, John Ball quickly emerged, but so did possibilities for nearly any kind of watch. John Ball was not known to wear a wristwatch, because for people like him, they didn’t exist! While many (myself included) think of wristwatches as some ancient invention that’s many hundreds of years old, the first wristwatches were only made in the early to mid 1800s, and were so expensive that they were owned exclusively by royalty, at least for a time. With that as a backdrop, an argument could be made for nearly any kind of watch. A dress watch would have been right at home on John’s wrist during his service to the Michigan Legislature. A chronograph could have been a valuable tool during his extensive travels. While a pilot’s watch would initially seem too far fetched since flight wouldn’t be accomplished by man for nearly 20 years after his death, the clear legibility and directional capabilities of a pilot’s watch would likely have been a welcome addition to his travels. Only a diver was likely out of the realm of possibility.
So, Why a Field Watch?
Field watches were a natural progression of the trench watches of World War I. Their rugged, shock resistant, understated and compact profiles were perfect for military time coordination as well as general outdoor activities. Whether he was aboard an ocean liner to Europe or literally cutting his own path on the way through uncharted parts of Michigan, John’s legacy was defined by travel. A compact watch that could easily fit below a shirt sleeve while also providing scratch resistance and a solid waterproof rating quickly emerged as the most important characteristics of a John Ball inspired watch. Typical pilot’s watches are too big, chronographs typically don’t carry the water resistance necessary, while dress watches don’t carry the spirit of travel. A field watch was the best choice to honor John’s life while also providing solid capabilities for use by people today. Quickly, the John “Ball 40” was born, and is available to pre-order now!
Ball 40 Watch Against a Black Background
Eighty Year Old John Ball in 1875