Latest Review
When one gets a press release announcing a watch designed and engineered with input from SEAL Team Six, that watch better be built like a tank. BALL’s latest, the Engineer Hydrocarbon DEVGRU, does not disappoint. It’s a beast of the watch chock full of really cool anti-shock tech, and it may be BALL’s coolest tool watch yet.
According to BALL, the Engineer Hydrocarbon DEVGRU can withstand a 10-meter free fall. That would be a death sentence for most watches, so what makes the DEVGRU different? The answer lies in BALL’s patented case and movement technology.
First, there’s BALL’s SpringSEAL, which locks the regulator assembly to prevent it from shifting upon impact. Then there’s BALL’s SpringLOCK system, which is essentially a cage around the hairspring that is designed to prevent severe twisting in case of a sudden shock. There’s also a redesigned elastomer ring that suspends and shields the entire dial and movement, acting as a giant cushion for both. It also rises up and past the dial to provide support to the sapphire crystal. Finally, moving to the case, there’s a new crown system with a special protective cap to ensure the crown doesn’t take the full force of a hit and stays screwed down in case of a fall. Altogether, these elements make for a watch that can handle some major abuse.
