The main servicing procedure
- A Complete Service involves the watchmaker checking the watch’s functions, diagnosing the cause of any faults.
- The complete dismantling of the movement with the correction of any faults and replacement of any damaged / worn parts.
- All parts are then cleaned in a series of ultrasonic chemical baths which removes all the old oil, grease and dirt.
- While the movement is being cleaned the case will be completely broken down (case back, bezel, crystal,pushers etc. removed) and, having removed all the seals and gaskets, refinished and cleaned in large ultrasonic tanks.
- Once the case is clean it is reassembled with new seals and gaskets, which are lubricated as required with special greases. The case is now ready to receive the cleaned movement.
- The cleaned movement and pristine components are systematically reassembled and lubricated using up to 8 different fine synthetic oils and greases, before having the dial and hands refitted.
- The watchmaker will now reset the clean movement with the dial and hands mounted into the watch case ensuring there are no hairs or dust in the case and recheck the watch regulation on the timing machine.
- Once the case is closed the watch is then tested for water resistance and the final aesthetic, timekeeping and power reserve checks are made to ensure the watch is performing correctly.
Warranty
We will rectify any defects arising from any service provided by us provided you report such defects to us as soon as reasonably possible. In respect of a partial repair we provide a 12 month warranty and in respect of a full service, a 24 month warranty. We reserve the right to invalidate the warranty if repairs are performed by persons not authorised by us to take such action. Provision of the warranty will be free of charge. We will decide in our absolute discretion whether provision of the warranty will be in the form of a repair or the replacement of a part of the watch. Evidence of purchase must be provided and any replaced parts pass into our ownership. Limit of warranty. The provision of services under warranty neither extends the terms of the warrant nor sets in motion a new warranty period.
The provisions of this warranty do not extend to defects caused by general wear and tear, accident, negligence or lack of care; or component parts that are expected to require periodic replacement.
Ball pricing guide 2019
Partial Repairs:
| Type | RRP Inc. VAT | Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Partial Repairs: | From £49.00 | 12 Months Warranty on the part(s) replaced and the water resistance. |
Complete service:
| Movement Type | RRP Inc. VAT | Warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | £350.00 | 24 Months Warranty |
| Mechanical Chronograph | £475.00 | 24 Months Warranty |
Aesthetic Options:
| Type | RRP Inc. VAT | What can be Refinished? |
|---|---|---|
| Case | £125.00 | Stainless Steel, Yellow and Rose Gold, Silver and Titanium. |
| Case + Bracelet | £175.00 | White Gold and Platinum can also be refinished but will be subject to estimate as it may require Rhodium plating once refinished and this cannot be assessed until we receive the watch and may take longer to complete. |
| Laser Filling + Case Repair | From £75.00 + Refinishing Fee | Laser welding offers high quality invisible filling on stainless steel, gold, platinum, silver and titanium. This allows refurbishment without compromising the integrity and original form of the case or bracelet. |
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Brief history of Ball Watch Company Service
Webster Clay Ball was a jeweller and watchmaker who after a two-year apprenticeship, settled in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1891 there was a collision between two trains at Kipton, Ohio, which occurred because the watch of the engineer on one of the trains had stopped.
The Ohio railway officials commissioned Mr Ball as their Chief Time Inspector and asked him to establish timekeeping and reliability standards as well as a rigorous testing and maintenance program for railway chronometers being used on their railway. He established strict guidelines for the manufacturing of reliable precision pocket watches whose testing included parameters for magnetic resistance, timekeeping, isochronism, power reserve and a standard dial layout.
Each pocket watch also had a full written service record documenting the results after each regular inspection. Ball went on to produce the first wrist watches which were allowed to be used on the railway, initially using a Swiss manual-winding movement however these were quickly replaced by the first American made wrist watches which were produced by Elgin.
Ball remained family owned by Webster Clay’s direct descendants until the 1990’s when the right to use the name was sold and the Ball Watch Company moved to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The new company continues his tradition for exacting standards, using Swiss-made (primarily ETA) movements and making robust watches, some even for some small railway companies.
Innovation remains an important part of the companies DNA and they were among the first to integrate a micro gas light technology into their dials and hands. This technology ensures the dial and hands are clearly illuminated in low light or the dark with very little degradation for 25 years, which was an advance on tritium and other luminous products used in the past.