The legendary American brand has just started selling its new member of the Trainmaster line. Ther Ball Trainmaster Eternity (ref. NM2080D-LJ-SL) is claimed to be one of the thinnest self-winding watches in Ball’s whole model range. Although the stainless steel case of the Eternity looks similar to the bodies of other Trainmasters, it is in fact slightly refreshed in order to make the timekeeper both slimmer and more comfortable on a wrist.
According to official specifications, the body of the new Trainmaster Eternity measures 39.5 millimeters in diameter and less than 12 millimeters thick: a nice accomplishment for a watch powered by a standard automatic movement and featuring a convex sapphire crystal that adds a millimeter or more to the total thickness of the piece.
Also, the size of this thing makes it better fit into the ranks of “true” dress watches (or, rather, true dress watches with a minor twist, if you, like me, think that tritium tubes are probably the last thing that a dressy timekeeper needs.)
To be frank, I do not like the setting crown, which, to yours truly, seems to be completely out of whack with the rest of the body, but that’s just my personal opinion, nothing more. Also, while I am at it, I must admit that the thin notched part of the crown gives me the shivers: you can cut your finger with this thing! Well, okay: exaggeration.
Of course, what will make this watch a bestseller is its gorgeous dial, which is available both silver-toned and something that looks like, um, anthracite (?)
I don’t know what Ball Watches officially calls the motif that they use to decorate the dial, but it looks absolutely beautiful and you won’t easily find another timekeeper that would feature such an exquisitely decorated face.
By the way, since the new Ball Trainmaster Eternity sports a standard ETA 2836 self-winding movement, it is capable of indicating not only the usual hours, minutes, seconds, and date but also displaying the current day of the week, which makes it even more useful.
As usual, the company wants a reasonable amount of money for its new product charging only $2000 for a version on an alligator leather strap with a steel buckle, and $2100 for a watch on a stainless steel bracelet.
If you search for a dressy and affordable “Swiss Made” timekeeper that combines the elegance of design with unsurpassed legibility both in broad daylight and at night, you should definitely take a look at this one.
See also: Hold the Light: Ball Storm Chaser DLC Glow
Photos: Ball Watches
Ball Trainmaster Eternity NM2080D-LJ-SL specification
Price: $1999 on alligator leather strap / $2100 on steel bracelet
Movement: Caliber ETA 2836, automatic, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 25
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Movement decoration: Branded oscillating weight
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, day of week
Power reserve: 40 hours
Case: Stainless steel
Shape: Round
Size: 39.50 mm
Case height: 11.80 mm
Dial: Silvered or Anthracite
Hour markers: Luminous, stick-shaped tritium tubes
Hands: Dauphine-shaped, luminous, tritium tubes
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Steel bracelet or alligator leather strap with steel buckle
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective
Back: Transparent