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The Ball Watch Company was founded by Webb C. Ball, who established the specifications for railroad grade movements. The Ball Watch Company purchased movements from top pocket watch brands and further worked on the watches to perfect them.
The dial on this Ball Illinois timepiece from 1926 is absolutely incredible. It features an elegant silver finish with a striped guilloché motif at its center, surrounded by an intricate circular pattern that beautifully frames the prominent Ball signature. The dial takes clear inspiration from America's railroad heritage, with bold Arabic numerals along the perimeter and an outer minute track featuring prominent indices at five-minute intervals. The original Breguet hands were carefully restored in our workshop, first mirror-polished to remove corrosion and then individually heat-blued over an alcohol lamp to recreate their original vibrant blue finish. The deep, iridescent blue of the hands provides striking contrast against the dial. The combination of intricate guilloché detailing, railroad-inspired design, and elegant Breguet hands makes checking the time an absolute pleasure.
This timepiece is powered by Ball’s Commercial Standard movement, an Illinois design refined to meet Ball’s exacting standards for precision and reliability. With only 8,000 examples produced, these movements are increasingly difficult to source. The movement was meticulously restored and refinished in our workshop in Little Rock, Arkansas. Screws and steel hardware were individually thermally colored by hand over an alcohol lamp using slow, controlled heat, producing vibrant blue accents that beautifully contrast with the movement’s original finish (read more here). The jewel chatons, gear train, balance, and balance weights were each individually hand-polished to restore their original golden color.
The timepiece is housed in our 316L stainless steel conversion case designed with adjustable lugs for ease in winding and setting and to allow for a more tailored fit across wrist sizes. The case, featuring front, back, and crown gaskets, provides water resistance up to 50 meters, although it is advisable to remove the watch before engaging in water activities. The watch is fully serviced and ready for your upcoming adventures.
Accompanying this timepiece is its original 14-karat gold-filled pocket watch case, beautifully preserved with intricate decorative engraving along its exterior. The interior is stamped “Ball Model” and bears the original Keystone Watch Case Company markings, including the 14-karat gold-filled designation. Having the original pocket watch case alongside the converted timepiece adds another layer of historical significance, preserving an important part of the timepiece's original presentation and century-long history.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 275 degrees
Beat Error: 1.5 ms
Power Reserve: 24-30 hours
Complication: Sub second hand
Watch Specifications
Manufacture: Ball Watch Company
Partnership: Illinois Watch Company
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Dial Material: Metal
Jewels: 19 jewels
Case Diameter: 44 mm
Front Crystal: Domed AR coated sapphire
Back Crystal: Flat AR coated sapphire
Case Material: 316L stainless
Lug width: 22 mm
Lug to Lug: 47 mm (52 mm with crown)
Height: 13 mm
Serial Number: B401218
Original Case: Yes, 14 karat gold filled ‘Ball Model’
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.