Trainmaster Cleveland Express

[cougar]

Hi
According to the Ball website, the Cleveland Express is available with either:
- Silver dial with blue applied arabic numerals
or
- Blue dial with silver numerals

Yesterday, I stopped by my local Ball AD to see one in person - very sharp! They had two in stock - one silver dial, one dark dial. That's the rub.
The one with the silver dial sure looked like it had silver numerals. They sure didn't look anything like the rich blue I saw on the web.
And on the other one, the dial looked to be matte black - with silver numerals.

Can anyone clear this up for me?

thanks
Steve

[timefinder]

Cougar: that is news to me. Jeremy may be able to answer better. BTW, see the link (I can't find it right now) about the movement in the watch. They do not use a high end ETA movement IMHO. I LOVE that watch; but, I am hesitant to purchase due to the movement.

[cougar]

Thanks for the reply.
I'm wondering if it was just bad lighting, or if what I saw was a new version of the Cleveland Express.

As for the movement ... I am most certainly NOT an expert by any stretch, however ...
As I see it, it IS an ETA movement - not a cheap knockoff. And it IS COSC certified. I also note that this price range (sub 2k) is pretty much an entry level for the automatic market. It would seem to me that it's a heck of a good value to get a watch as nice as the Trainmaster Cleveland Express, with COSC chronometer cert., 5,000g shock protection, and anti-magnetic protection.

Am I off the mark here?

thanks

Steve

[timefinder]

Actually, Foghorn and Scott D., may be able to chime in here. And you are correct. That price for a COSC movement, shock, & anti-magnetic protection is a good bargain. No doubt about that!

[CalDiver]

The thing I have learned about Balls is that not all models with all variations are available in every country/area. Models you see in the USA seem not to be available in Asia and vice versa. If you can't find what you want in your country, make enquiries with dealers in other countires about availability. The dealers in Hong Kong seem to be able to get any Ball watch that is still made.

[Jeremy from Ball]

The silver dial with blue numerals varies quite a bit in color depending on the lighting. I've noticed that in the past too. It can look quite light.

The blue dial is extremely dark, but is also a satin finish like the silver dial. The coloring of the dial really affects the look, if that makes any sense.

There is some variation in the models that each market wishes to sell. For instance, in Asia we still sell quite a few of the Engineers and Trainmasters in the 38mm case. In the US, we rarely even stock these models (with a few exceptions like the Engineer Ohio or Trainmaster 60 Seconds).

But as long as a watch is not sold out or discontinued, then any market can order it from the Swiss factory.

Regards,
Jeremy Hogan
Ball Watch Company

[timefinder]

Jeremy:

Thanks for the reply, and the open policy. It is nice to know that anyone can get a watch they desire, even if by ordering, no matter where they reside.

[cougar]

Jeremy,
Thanks very much for this info. I suspected that the lighting was affecting the apparent color. I did notice that the "blue" dial did vary in color as I moved the watch to try to catch the light.
I do like the Cleveland Express, but am thinking that it may be a little too "formal" for my needs. Right now I am leaning toward the Trainmaster 60 Seconds with white dial - a more casual look.
This weekend I'll re-visit the AD to see one in person.

thanks again for the fast, factory reply.

Steve

[timefinder]

Cougar:

My thoughts on pricing may have been off, and it appears to others that Ball is in line. See this link (in General forum)

jholbrook.proboards33.com/index.cgi?board=Chat&action=display&thread=1191252358

[timefinder]

This is another good one as well.

jholbrook.proboards33.com/index.cgi?board=ball&action=display&thread=1187796680