In the Flesh: BALL Skindiver II

We continue to be impressed with the watches being manufactured by BALL. They are a company that has a style all their own and pays very close attention to the details and features comparable to those in watches that can cost over twice as much. The BALL Skindiver II is a perfect example of this philosophy. Part of their Engineer Master II collection, it has been redesigned and improved and is definitely a step up from the previous model. More than just color changes or different hands, BALL sought to create a completely different watch and we are lucky enough to review it. Outside of some specs for reference, this review is not meant to be a comparison between the Skindiver and Skindiver II, in fact when you read this you’ll see there’s hardly any comparison at all. The BALL Skindiver II stands on its own, so read on to find out why.

The most noticeable changes from the previous generation are the dial, hands, crown, removal of the day complication, and of course the increased size. It has grown from 40mm to 43mm, though the thickness is essentially the same at 14mm. Although it is large, it it quite well balanced on the wrist. You feel its heft when holding it but once you’re wearing it it doesn’t feel nearly as heavy. This is at least the case with the model with the bracelet, which is what I had for review. I would be very interested in wearing it on the rubber strap, which is vastly improved and looks to be top notch. It’s hard to make a rubber strap exciting but I think BALL has accomplished that feat. The mesh style steel bracelet is no slouch either. It is very well built and comfortable. Oftentimes, these types of bracelets can feel flimsy, but BALL’s is strong and secure. It tapers ever so slightly from 22mm at the lugs to 20mm at the diver’s extension clasp. Also robust is the bezel. It clicks 120 times per rotation and feels like a tank. It does hang over the case edge a bit which increases the wrist presence, but this also aides in quick access and operation, even with gloved hands.

The lume is absolutely incredible, especially for tritium which is housed in micro tubes. I set the watch on the table at night and when I went to put it on about 8 hours later, the lume was almost as bright as when I left it the night before. A key detail, which BALL does so well, is the bright orange color of lume at 12:00 vs the green the rest of the dial. Even the hands are yet another yellow-orange color. The ceramic bezel also has excellent lume in a light blue color, though that is luminova. All these colors just draw you in when illuminated and make it hard to stop staring at it.

It’s nice to see tritium still being used. For those that will actually use this to dive to deeper depths, the advantage of the tritium micro tubes is that they need need no external light sources to glow, which is not the case with luminova. Plus, as a vintage lover, I love seeing “T25” on the dial. Continuing with the dial, neatly tucked away between 4:00 and 5:00 is the date, and the removal of the day was an improvement. Of course, I’m always partial to no date at all to keep the dial clean and symmetrical, but at least the Skindiver II’s date window doesn’t distract from the rest of the dial. Still, I think a black, color-matched date window with white lettering would perhaps have been a better choice. Another aspect of the dial that is impressive is that it has a ramped inner bezel that frames the markers and gives nice depth to the matte textured dial. I haven’t seen this exact feature on other watches so kudos to BALL for trying something new.

Also improved is the movement. What was previously the non-COSC ETA 2836-2 based RR1102, the new movement is the BALL caliber RR1103-C, which is COSC certified and based off the ETA 2824-2. This is housed in an anti-magnetic case that now has an impressive 500m water resistance aided by a helium release valve at 9:00. The case back features the logo of the US Coast Guard Reserve. While stating that the watch pays homage to the Service, they don’t really go into much greater detail than that. Hey, at least it’s not a bright Top Gun logo.

Not only did BALL find a way to improve on their previous Skindiver in almost every way, they also found a way to innovate and add details to the Skindiver II. It stands on its own and this is type of watch that keeps us coming back to BALL for more. My only real issue, which is minimal, is the 43mm size and that is only because I don’t have large wrists so anything larger than 41mm really stands out on me. Most customers will find no issue with this at all, and the well-fitting bracelet, tapered lugs, and no crown guards help to keep an easily wearable profile. Overall this is a very well made watch. The BALL Skindiver II is an excellent choice for those the want a watch inspired by a classic vintage piece, but with a modern take all its own that won’t look like all the other dive watches out there, especially at their $2,800 price point.

by