Ball Introduces the Engineer III Marvelight, with a Special Rainbow Dial

Ball’s newest watch, the Engineer III Marvelight, is in many ways a “typical” Ball watch. That’s not a slight, it’s just that the watch seems to capture the aesthetic of the brand in a really natural and simple way. The brand describes the Engineer III Marvelight as an everyday tool, and that, quite honestly, sums it up nicely. But there’s a little more than meets the eye with this one, and like most Ball watches, it becomes more apparent what that is when  you turn out the lights.

Ball Engineer III Marvelight

• Case Material: Stainless steel
• Dial: Black, blue, silver
• Dimensions: 40mm or 43mm
• Crystal: Sapphire         
• Water Resistance: 100 meters                    
• Movement: Ball RR1103-C
• Strap/bracelet: Stainless steel bracelet  
• Price: $2,199 (pre-order price of $1,849)
• Reference Number: NM2026C-S27C-BK, NM2026C-S27C-BE, NM2026C-S27C-SL, NM2026C-S28C-BK, NM2028C-S29C-BK, NM2028C-S27C-BK, NM2028C-S27C-BE, NM2028C-S27C-SL
• Expected Release: Delivery in November/December 2020

While some Balls that we’ve covered on the site in the past have incorporated, shall we say, a somewhat dramatic and delightfully overbuilt design language, the Engineer III Marvelight really can’t be put in the same category. This is a stripped down, no nonsense sports watch through and through, available in your choice of 40mm or 43mm case sizes, with a chronometer certified movement. What makes this watch special is the use of tritium tubes to light the dial, and not just in the applied hour markers on the surface, but underneath as well. We saw Ball use this technique with the Engineer Hydrocarbon Original earlier this year, and it appears that they are now expanding the under-the-dial use of tubes to other watches. On the Marvelight, tubes have been placed under the dial at every minute marker, which should make the dial glow like a torch in low light situations. 

Ball is also producing a version of this watch with a special multicolored dial. The Caring Edition features rainbow colored tritium tubes at the hour markers and under the dial. While the watch is available for pre-order, $300 from each sale will be donated to the Salvation Army to aid in their Covid-19 relief efforts. The Caring Edition variant features a black dial, and the standard version of the watch can be ordered with your choice of silver, blue, or black dials, all with a subtle sunburst finish.

The movement is the Ball RR1103-C, a modified ETA 2824-2 that has been certified as a COSC chronometer. As with other Ball watches, this movement uses their Amortiser anti-shock system and a mu-metal shield to protect the mechanism from magnetic fields. The Amortiser is essentially a cage that is designed to absorb energy from an impact situation, and the mu-metal shield is said to be resistant against magnetic fields up to 80,000A/m. A screw down crown adds another level of protection, keeping the watch water resistant to 100 meters. 

The Engineer III Marvelight is available for pre-order right now at a discounted price of $1,849. All configurations (both case sizes, and all dials) are the same price. Delivery is expected in November. Ball