Author Archives: Timmy Tan

Ball Watch Engineer Master II Volcano: A Case Against Magnetism Part I

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Mount Agung in Bali, Indonesia. This stratovolcano, which last erupted in 1963, stands at 3,148 metres or 10,328 feet and it is the highest point in Bali. Photo: © TANG Portfolio / Elfa.

Mount Agung in Bali, Indonesia. This stratovolcano, which last erupted in 1963, stands at 3,148 metres or 10,328 feet and it is the highest point in Bali. Photo: © TANG Portfolio.

Mount Agung or Gunung Agung in Bali, Indonesia is an active volcano that last erupted in 1963.

Also known as a stratovolcano, Mount Agung towers at 3,148 metres or 10,328 feet and not only is it the highest point on Bali, it is considered the most sacred on the island.

Stratovolcanos are also known as composite cones. They have gentle slopes that rise steeply near the summit and the overall morphology is concave in an upward direction. The summit area usually has a small summit crater.

Well-known stratovolcanos include Mount Fuji in Japan, Mount Mayon in the Philippines and Mount Agua in Guatemala.

While deemed the most picturesque, stratovolcanos are the most deadly of volcano types, according to the website, www.geology.sdsu.org, a site constructed by Dr Vic Camp from the Department of Geological Sciences at San Diego State University. This is an educational resource site sponsored by NASA under the auspices of Project Alert (Augmented Learning Environment and Renewable Teaching).

Why are we highlighting volcanos? Well, Ball Watch Company explains that volcanos are a source of inspiration for their research and development team focusing on anti-magnetic protection in watches. That is because of the link between volcanos and magnetic fields.

Prior to a volcanic eruption, magma travels up into a form of holding reservoir beneath the volcano. This hot material will change the local magnetic, thermal, hydrologic and geochemical conditions.

Moreover, when older volcanic rocks are heated by fresh magma, the original magnetic properties of the rocks after they had cooled and crystallised may change.

Basalt is one type of volcanic rock that forms from lava of volcanoes. It is characteristically dark in colour, contains 45% to 54% silica and is generally rich in iron and magnesium. This explains why it can have strong magnetic signatures after it cools.

The Ball Watch Engineer Master II Volcano, launched in 2016, features a unique case that is highly resistant to magnetic fields. Photo: © TANG Portfolio.

The Ball Watch Engineer Master II Volcano, launched in 2016, features a unique case that is highly resistant to magnetic fields. Photo: © TANG Portfolio.

In 2016, Ball Watch introduced its Engineer II Volcano featuring a case material featuring strong anti-magnetic resistance, a result of the brand’s research and development efforts into this subject matter.

More on the Ball Watch Engineer Master II Volcano on timewerke.com in the article: “A Case Against Magnetism Part II“.

Longines Heritage Military: At the battle font

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The Longines Heritage Military. Introduced in 2016, it is inspired by a Longines military wristwatch made for either the British or Americans during the early 20th century. Photo: © Longines

The Longines Heritage Military. Introduced in 2016, it is inspired by a Longines military wristwatch made for either the British or Americans during the early 20th century. Photo: © Longines

The Longines Heritage Military is yet another reminder of the brand’s long watchmaking history and is inspired by a watch from the brand’s historical collection housed within the Longines Museum located at its headquarters in Saint-Imier, Switzerland.

The Heritage Military is a modern reinterpretation of a historical 1918 Longines watch produced for the military (possibly British or American) in the early 20th century.

The 1918 version had Breguet-type hour and minute hands and a subsidiary sweep seconds dial. In those days, quite a few brands had similar stylized fonts for watches used by the military during the First World War (1914 to 1918).

On the modern version – the Breguet-type hands are not used. The hands of the Longines Heritage Military are applied with SuperLuminova and features a date display at 6 o’clock with a case that is larger and sturdier as compared to the historical version that has wire lugs.

The train track chapter ring remains and so does the stylised Arabic fonts. In those early days, such wristwatches were also what Konrad Knirim has described as “wristlets”. Knirim is the author of the well-researched reference books Military Timepieces and British Military Timepieces.

[Note: A wristlet today may be an ornamental band or bracelet and even a small bag accessory.]

The wristlets or wristwatches in those days were identical in style and were made by many companies including Longines and Omega, notes Knirim.

Longines is one of the few brands today that continues to breathe life into such a stylised font which has its own unique and appealing character.

Note the stylized Arabic numeral font reminiscent of the type used in the past on the Longines Heritage Military. Photo: © Longines

Note the stylized Arabic numeral font reminiscent of the type used in the past on the Longines Heritage Military. Photo: © Longines

Longines Heritage Military
Introduced in 2016
Technical Specifications:
• Calibre L615.3 (ETA 2895/2) automatic movement
• Movement diameter: 11½-lignes
• 28,800 vibrations per hour
• 27 jewels
• 42 hour power reserve
• Date display
• Black matte dial with 12 painted Arabic numerals with SuperLuminova, rhodium-plated hands with SuperLuminova
• 44mm diameter case in stainless steel
• Water-resistant to 3 bar (30m)
• Black alligator strap