The John “Ball 40”
When searching for a great Michigander to honor with the first numbered release from Grand Rapids Watch Company, we did not have to look far. John Ball was our own version of Lewis & Clark, becoming the first American to farm on the French Prairie, and the first public school teacher in Oregon. By his own admission, he was “Born to Wander,” as shown by his autobiography with that title. Not one to relax, after “settling down” in Grand Rapids, John Ball was also a realtor, lawyer, legislator, school board member, and an author. He was extraordinarily popular in Grand Rapids and was known to help locals, especially other farmers. Upon his death he fulfilled his final promise to the city and donated 40 acres of land to become a park for all to enjoy. This became locally known as the “Ball 40”.
The Ball 40 watch honors his legacy; it’s a tool forward field watch that’s just as ready for exploration as it is for a stroll around the zoo that bears his name. From the old style cream dial to the brushed sides of the field watch case, we believe we’ve created a watch that John would have been proud to wear as he journeyed through the rugged West Michigan landscape.
Grand Rapids Watch Company is donating $10 from every watch sale to the John Ball Zoo to honor his legacy. Grand Rapids Watch Company has no formal relationship with the John Ball Zoo. These donations will be made after watches are delivered.
This is a non‑refundable pre‑order, as these watches will be made‑to‑order. Refunds will be issued if the watch does not meet the threshold to be produced.
When searching for a great Michigander to honor with the first numbered release from Grand Rapids Watch Company, we did not have to look far. John Ball was our own version of Lewis & Clark, becoming the first American to farm on the French Prairie, and the first public school teacher in Oregon. By his own admission he was “Born to Wander” as evidenced by his autobiography with that title. Not one to relax, after “settling down” in Grand Rapids, John Ball was also a realtor, lawyer, legislator, school board member, and an author. He was extraordinarily popular in Grand Rapids and was known to help locals, especially other farmers. Upon his death he fulfilled his final promise to the city and donated 40 acres of land to become a park for all to enjoy. This became locally known as the “Ball 40”.
The Ball 40 watch honors his legacy; it is a tool‑forward field watch that is ready for exploration, with a scratch‑resistant sapphire crystal and 10 ATM water resistance. As versatile as John himself, the Ball 40 is just as ready for a visit to the state legislature or a stroll around the zoo that bears his name. From the old style cream dial to the brushed sides of the field watch case, we believe we’ve created a watch that John would have been proud to wear as he journeyed through the rugged West Michigan landscape. Read more about the creative process that led to the Ball 40 being made here!
Ball 40: A watch honoring a great person, made to be worn by great people everywhere.
Grand Rapids Watch Company is donating $10 from every Ball 40 watch sold to the John Ball Zoo to honor his legacy independent of the charity’s endorsement.
Grand Rapids Watch Company has no formal relationship with the John Ball Zoo. These donations will be made after watches are delivered.
Watch Features and Specifications:
Design: Grand Rapids Watch Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Product Photography: Grand Rapids Watch Company at GRWC Headquarters, Grand Rapids Watch Company at John Ball Park/Zoo
Logo Design: Zander Mack, Cleveland, Ohio
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel (China)
Case Size: 37mm
Case Size with Crown: 39mm
Lug to Lug: 45mm
Thickness: 9.8mm
Crystal: Sapphire
Movement: Seiko VH31 “Meca-quartz” Movement (Japan)
Water Resistance: 10 ATM
Lume: Blue BGW9
Strap: Black FKM
Help us unlock additional features:
If we receive 100 pre‑orders:
All orders will receive a code for 15% off a future strap order.
If we receive 200 pre‑orders:
Every order will receive the benefits of the 100 pre‑order tier plus an extra strap at no additional cost.
We estimate that orders will ship before the end of 2026. Regular updates will be communicated via the Grand Rapids Watch Company Blog.
Prototypes are not finalized products and are subject to change. This watch is covered under Grand Rapids Watch Company’s warranty. Learn more about our warranty coverage here.
More about how john ball inspired the features of the ball 40…
John Ball journeyed to Michigan in July 1836 for the first time to prospect for land for investors, and the trip did not go well. Undeterred, the investors who sent him to Michigan sent him for a second time in October. This trip was much more successful. After a brutal winter scouting land around the state, John Ball settled in Grand Rapids.
This rugged spirit is the reason that our watch had to be able to withstand the elements— John did it, so the watch that bares his name must as well.
John Ball first arrives in Michigan
The State of Michigan tasked John with scouting land for improvement in 1842. Being very partial to the area at this point, most of the land John selected for improvement was near Grand Rapids itself.
Later, in 1847, the Rev. Albertus Van Raalte led a large contingent of Dutch settlers to the region. Not knowing where to go, Van Raalte tapped local expert John Ball. The settlers ended up establishing Holland, Michigan in its current location partially based on the expertise and recommendation of John Ball.
John was a workhorse of a man, hardly pausing between tasks, whether that was shaping the region, serving in the state legislature, practicing law, or advocating for public schools for the children of Michigan. To honor this, the Ball 40 features a Seiko VH31 meca-quartz movement, providing the satisfying sweep of an automatic with the lower maintenance “set and forget” quartz advantages.
More exploration
While John traveled extensively during his final years to the American South and Europe, among other places, he always returned to Grand Rapids. Upon his death in 1884, he fulfilled his final promise to the city that he called home. He donated 40 acres of land in the city to be made into a park that could be visited by all in Grand Rapids, regardless of status. This 40 acres became the foundation on which John Ball Park and Zoo stand on to this day.
To honor this local legend, $10 from the sale of every Ball 40 will be donated to the zoo that shares his name.
A Life well lived
This is a non‑refundable pre‑order, as these watches will be made‑to‑order. Refunds will be issued if the watch does not meet the threshold to be produced.
When searching for a great Michigander to honor with the first numbered release from Grand Rapids Watch Company, we did not have to look far. John Ball was our own version of Lewis & Clark, becoming the first American to farm on the French Prairie, and the first public school teacher in Oregon. By his own admission he was “Born to Wander” as evidenced by his autobiography with that title. Not one to relax, after “settling down” in Grand Rapids, John Ball was also a realtor, lawyer, legislator, school board member, and an author. He was extraordinarily popular in Grand Rapids and was known to help locals, especially other farmers. Upon his death he fulfilled his final promise to the city and donated 40 acres of land to become a park for all to enjoy. This became locally known as the “Ball 40”.
The Ball 40 watch honors his legacy; it is a tool‑forward field watch that is ready for exploration, with a scratch‑resistant sapphire crystal and 10 ATM water resistance. As versatile as John himself, the Ball 40 is just as ready for a visit to the state legislature or a stroll around the zoo that bears his name. From the old style cream dial to the brushed sides of the field watch case, we believe we’ve created a watch that John would have been proud to wear as he journeyed through the rugged West Michigan landscape. Read more about the creative process that led to the Ball 40 being made here!
Ball 40: A watch honoring a great person, made to be worn by great people everywhere.
Grand Rapids Watch Company is donating $10 from every Ball 40 watch sold to the John Ball Zoo to honor his legacy independent of the charity’s endorsement.
Grand Rapids Watch Company has no formal relationship with the John Ball Zoo. These donations will be made after watches are delivered.
Watch Features and Specifications:
Design: Grand Rapids Watch Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Product Photography: Grand Rapids Watch Company at GRWC Headquarters, Grand Rapids Watch Company at John Ball Park/Zoo
Logo Design: Zander Mack, Cleveland, Ohio
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel (China)
Case Size: 37mm
Case Size with Crown: 39mm
Lug to Lug: 45mm
Thickness: 9.8mm
Crystal: Sapphire
Movement: Seiko VH31 “Meca-quartz” Movement (Japan)
Water Resistance: 10 ATM
Lume: Blue BGW9
Strap: Black FKM
Help us unlock additional features:
If we receive 100 pre‑orders:
All orders will receive a code for 15% off a future strap order.
If we receive 200 pre‑orders:
Every order will receive the benefits of the 100 pre‑order tier plus an extra strap at no additional cost.
We estimate that orders will ship before the end of 2026. Regular updates will be communicated via the Grand Rapids Watch Company Blog.
Prototypes are not finalized products and are subject to change. This watch is covered under Grand Rapids Watch Company’s warranty. Learn more about our warranty coverage here.
This is a non‑refundable pre‑order, as these watches will be made‑to‑order. Refunds will be issued if the watch does not meet the threshold to be produced.
When searching for a great Michigander to honor with the first numbered release from Grand Rapids Watch Company, we did not have to look far. John Ball was our own version of Lewis & Clark, becoming the first American to farm on the French Prairie, and the first public school teacher in Oregon. By his own admission he was “Born to Wander” as evidenced by his autobiography with that title. Not one to relax, after “settling down” in Grand Rapids, John Ball was also a realtor, lawyer, legislator, school board member, and an author. He was extraordinarily popular in Grand Rapids and was known to help locals, especially other farmers. Upon his death he fulfilled his final promise to the city and donated 40 acres of land to become a park for all to enjoy. This became locally known as the “Ball 40”.
The Ball 40 watch honors his legacy; it is a tool‑forward field watch that is ready for exploration, with a scratch‑resistant sapphire crystal and 10 ATM water resistance. As versatile as John himself, the Ball 40 is just as ready for a visit to the state legislature or a stroll around the zoo that bears his name. From the old style cream dial to the brushed sides of the field watch case, we believe we’ve created a watch that John would have been proud to wear as he journeyed through the rugged West Michigan landscape. Read more about the creative process that led to the Ball 40 being made here!
Ball 40: A watch honoring a great person, made to be worn by great people everywhere.
Grand Rapids Watch Company is donating $10 from every Ball 40 watch sold to the John Ball Zoo to honor his legacy independent of the charity’s endorsement.
Grand Rapids Watch Company has no formal relationship with the John Ball Zoo. These donations will be made after watches are delivered.
Watch Features and Specifications:
Design: Grand Rapids Watch Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Product Photography: Grand Rapids Watch Company at GRWC Headquarters, Grand Rapids Watch Company at John Ball Park/Zoo
Logo Design: Zander Mack, Cleveland, Ohio
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel (China)
Case Size: 37mm
Case Size with Crown: 39mm
Lug to Lug: 45mm
Thickness: 9.8mm
Crystal: Sapphire
Movement: Seiko VH31 “Meca-quartz” Movement (Japan)
Water Resistance: 10 ATM
Lume: Blue BGW9
Strap: Black FKM
Help us unlock additional features:
If we receive 100 pre‑orders:
All orders will receive a code for 15% off a future strap order.
If we receive 200 pre‑orders:
Every order will receive the benefits of the 100 pre‑order tier plus an extra strap at no additional cost.
We estimate that orders will ship before the end of 2026. Regular updates will be communicated via the Grand Rapids Watch Company Blog.
Prototypes are not finalized products and are subject to change. This watch is covered under Grand Rapids Watch Company’s warranty. Learn more about our warranty coverage here.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. The retail price includes tariffs to the United States.
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Our goal is to release the Ball 40 and get it shipped to customers by the end of 2026. This timeline is subject to change.
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No, we were not able to successfully locate local partners for this watch. Servicing will be handled in Grand Rapids or the Grand Rapids metro area whenever possible. Are you a machine shop or leather tannery? Contact Us!
Locally assembled watches are available here!
Sources: WoodTV, Wikipedia, “Ball Family History”