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Post by timefinder on Jul 30, 2007 10:24:39 GMT -5
So I looked at the links above for the Ball website, and read the history on the watch. It appears it started in Cleveland. So my question is.... Are they still made in America? Also, they use ETA movement, so does that mean the movement is swiss made and imported to the US? Thanks.  |
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Post by udxtdk9 on Jul 30, 2007 11:36:56 GMT -5
They are Swiss made now. The ownership has changed since the old days.
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Post by timefinder on Jul 30, 2007 12:16:27 GMT -5
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Post by timefinder on Jul 30, 2007 12:27:18 GMT -5
BTW, are any automatic watches made in the US anymore. or are they all overseas?
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Post by foghorn on Jul 30, 2007 13:16:05 GMT -5
BTW, are any automatic watches made in the US anymore. or are they all overseas? RGM is manufactured in Pa. |
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Post by eddie on Jul 30, 2007 19:41:41 GMT -5
No matter where is made ...an awesome and unique styled timepiece ,,,don't own one but, is on top of my list  |
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Post by foghorn on Jul 31, 2007 16:50:04 GMT -5
No matter where is made ...an awesome and unique styled timepiece ,,,don't own one but, is on top of my list You won't regret it. If there is an AD in your area check them out in person. They are quite impressive-it took me all of 5 minutes to buy my Ball Fireman after seeing them at the AD's. And I thought I was just "looking: |
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Post by boscoe on Aug 1, 2007 16:21:41 GMT -5
If I recall my Ball history correctly, the brand also used Swiss movements in its early days, too.
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Post by Jeremy from Ball on Aug 6, 2007 21:20:58 GMT -5
Ball Watches are now Swiss made. But we are retaining the American brand spirit, and I feel that definitely shows in our watches and our way of doing business.
Ball Watch Company used American movements such as Waltham, Elgin, Hamilton and others in the railroad pocketwatches that made us famous.
Interestingly, Ball also used Swiss movements as far back as the 1890s. We have several examples using Vacheron & Constantin movements, including the exquisite gold pocketwatch that served as inspiration for last years' 115th anniversary Trainmaster Heritage gold chronometer.
(As an interesting aside, the watch industry back then had reversed. Americans had taken the lead with fully mechanized movements and assembly-line techniques, a technological innovation of the era. The Swiss were occasionally known to produce fakes of American watches!)
Ball began using ETA in the mid-1900s and we are still using ETA to this day. We are rapidly developing our capacity for innovative in-house complications and would perhaps consider an in-house movement in the near future as well.
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Post by timefinder on Aug 7, 2007 7:19:06 GMT -5
Jeremy:
Thanks for the information. That is phenomenal to hear that Ball is spending money in their own R&D for movements, and other technologies.
BTW, I currently do not own one; however, I am seriously considering purchasing one after seeing your watches, looking at the website, and seeing how informative your posts are.
Thanks for joining the forum.
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