Ball for BMW watch in total darkness. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

What will you observe on your Ball for BMW Classic model in total darkness? The answer is staring right at you in the image above, according to our “mole”.

Released in 2012, the Ball for BMW collection, as its name implies, features the BMW logo on the dials. In the classic model, the BMW logo can be seen between the 8 and 9 positions on the dial.

Since there are no micro gas tubes on the BMW logo, this explains the empty darkness on that segment of the dial.

Ball for BMW Classic model. Note: the BMW logo and the orange-coloured indexes. Photo: © TANG Portfolio

A better perspective can be seen if the watch becomes visible. What is obvious is the colour orange of the micro gas tubes from 9 to 6 on the hour indexes with the exception of the blue micro gas tube for the index at 12 o’clock. The gas tubes on the hour and minute hands are also in orange.

Question is, why the orange luminescence? According to Ball Watch, the gas tubes have “… a hint of Inka orange, BMW’s iconic colour”. Did the inspiration come from the BMW speedometer?

 

 

Speedometer and fuel tank indicator of the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. Photo:Tang Portfolio

Perhaps part of it did, because our mole reveals that the Inka orange actually originates from this German marque’s legendary BMW 2002 tii two-door sedan with its entire body famously painted in orange. Production was from 1968 to 1976 and it is said that the 2002 was a forerunner to the 3 Series.

BMW tii at the BMW Museum, image courtesy of BMW Asia

Meanwhile the blue index at 12 o’clock is more likely inspired by the lighted circular blue ring on the dials of the dashboard such as the ones for the fuel tank indicator and the speedometer.

TimeWerke’s “mole”. Photo: © TANG Portfolio