Ball made this high spec Engineer Magnate GMT to be a reliable, accurate instrument.  Model reference GM2098C

HOW DO WE DATE THIS WATCH?

We sadly don’t have the box and papers for this, but we have found a period review when this model was launched dated from 2010.  You can read that here.  The asking price in 2010 was $2,900.

CONDITION

Ball were founded in Ohio in the aftermath of a deadly train crash – one guards watch had stopped and restarted, meaning it was four minutes out.  So the driver thought the track was clear, but a mail truck was heading their direction.  The accident cost eight people their lives, and timekeeping became Webb C. Ball’s obsession.  He founded the company to make highly accurate watches to be used by the railways, hence all their watches carry the double R for Rail Road standard.

This model also carries an extra mark, that of Chronometer, meaning it was and is a great timekeeper.   This is a high specification watch – as well as COSC regulated, it could withstand shocks of 7,500G and magnetic fields of 4,800 A/m.  Part of the extra resistance is via the unique crown protector – once you screw the crown down the bar clips down, ensuring it could never unscrew accidentally.  The watch uses tritium tubes for lume, and the downside is that they are never going to be as bright as they were when new, as tritium has a half life (gets half a strong) every 12.3 years.  On top of all these features, you also get a GMT hand to see the time in a different area, and a quick date behind a magnifier.  It is hard to think of another watch that does so much, yet is still legible to read.  The bracelet is quite long and our sister website, SpareLinks.com, may have extra links if required.  The bracelet has a clever extension system, on both sides of the clasp, so you half extend it if you needed.  The watch has some small marks, but nothing terrible, and presents very well indeed.

This watch will be supplied with our branded presentation box and our Certificate of Authenticity.

Please see the HD video for more detail.  All photos and videos are part of the description and are of the actual watch unless mentioned.  We do not photoshop any pictures, and the images are copyright of birthyearwatches.com and should not be used without permission.

​SIZE

Width with crown  45.1 mm

Width without crown  40.0 mm

Between lugs  20 mm

Lug to lug length  50.9 mm

Case Thickness  12.2 mm

Bracelet will fit a maximum wrist size of 199 mm.  The bracelet can be sized for you if you give us your wrist size when placing the order.

All sizes are approximate.

Included with this watch is a 3 month guarantee and free delivery to UK addresses.  If you live outside the UK we can still deliver to most countries.  Please see our Worldwide Shipping information, or Contact Us.   Payment can be made by most credit or debit cards, bank transfer or PayPal.

From 1st September 2021 we will be planting a tree for every watch we sell, working with the International Tree Foundation (Est 1922) to make this business positive on carbon.  By buying anything pre owned you are effectively reusing what already exists, but this takes it further and makes us feel good.

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