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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.
This Ball timepiece, completed in 1926, features one of the finest metal dials we have ever encountered. The Ball-signed dial presents an intricate guilloché centerpiece interwoven with floral motifs, framed by vertical striping, and bordered by a guilloché perimeter. The detail and preservation are extraordinary—remarkable for a metal dial approaching a century in age—with minimal patina or oxidation. Its condition and design place it among the most impressive guilloché dials we have seen. Produced in partnership between the Ball Watch Company and the Illinois Watch Company, this watch is powered by the Commercial Standard movement—an Illinois design refined by Ball. Only 8,000 were ever made, and they have become increasingly rare. Every movement component has been meticulously refinished: screws and hardware feature vivid blue accents achieved through traditional open-flame thermal coloring (read more here), while the jewel settings, gear train, balance, and balance weights were individually hand-polished to restore their golden luster. The heat blued hands remain in their original, untouched condition. This scarce collaboration between Ball and Illinois pairs a hard-to-find movement with a dial of exceptional artistry and preservation—an enduring example of American watchmaking at its peak.
The timepiece is housed in our 316L stainless steel conversion case, designed with adjustable lugs that not only make winding and setting easier but also ensure a tailored fit across a wide range of wrist sizes. Built with front, back, and crown gaskets, the case offers water resistance up to 50 meters, though we recommend removing the watch before swimming or water activities. Fully serviced and meticulously prepared, this piece is ready to accompany you on your next adventure.
Watch Performance
Accuracy: +/- 10 seconds per day
Amplitude: 300 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 (guilloche)
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
Original Case Included: No
Serial Number: B403958
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
All Frett & Co. Clockworks watches come with a full 1-year warranty unless otherwise stated.