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stew77 Admin 
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Arriving this week is my second Ball timepiece, the Ball Spacemaster X-Lume (sometimes referred to Spacemaster Glow outside the USA)…yes, yes…finally a pair of Balls!  The Spacemaster has been out a while, so I know it is not a new, hot piece to many here that know it very well, but hopefully some will find my post helpful.Got a great deal which caused me to finally pounce…this piece was sized by the original owner and then sat in a safe for months ever since (  )…as I received it, the piece looks brand new and in the first 24 hours is running at + 0.5 to 1 second…the Spacemasters are COSC certified (and come with a very fancy, thick, Ball presentation folio with the COSC certificate inside) so I guess not a complete surprise. My first exposure to Ball watches was the Fireman II, which I still really love…great build quality, simple dial layout, and those wonderful Tritium Tubes that Ball does so well. I have always liked the Engineer Hydrocarbon line from Ball, and thought that I would someday have something from that lineup…I really thought I’d go for another very simple dial design without the added tritium numerals that can sometimes seem like “too much” going on, but ever since Ball first introduced the Spacemaster about a year ago, I’ve always been drawn to the Spacemaster X-Lume model due to that fantastic, count them, 80 Tritium Tubes on the dial, hands, and bezel pip. The three color tritium tube layout in Blue, Yellow-Orange, and Green with the Bezel is pretty much guaranteed to bring a smile to your face…and it brought a big smile to mine.  The bezel (except for the pip) is lumed with regular, non-tritium lume, which I've seen listed as luminova based and also Ball proprietary so I'm not sure which it is...but it is a very nice frosty blue which reminds me of the frosty blue superluminova...it is very bright. In going with this X-Lume model, you forgo the guilloche textured dial that comes on the regular Spacemaster, but you get 80 tritium tubes versus 29 tubes for the regular Spacemaster. Ball made some design changes to the overall proportions of the Hydrocarbon case for the Spacemaster line including a larger diameter dial and a thinner bezel width which I think contributes to better wrist presence for a piece that is nominally 42mm wide and 17mm thick…I think the piece wears larger than those dimensions and, to me, feels like a 44mm piece on the wrist. (The case measures about 42.5mm at the widest dimension in reality). I really also like what Ball did with making the bezel height “less tall” relative to the case design…just seems more attractive and proportioned to me anyhow. Ball also redesigned the unique “crown retention system” which now covers the screw down crown completely, rather than having the crown stick into the retension device. Anyone that has owned a Ball timepiece knows the high level of fit/finish that shows through when you hold one in your hand…the Spacemaster is no exception…this is a high quality built piece from the very tight tolerances of the bracelet and case, to the excellent finished “satin” ss on the case and bracelet that can go from a brighter, more typical ss look, to a more “dark grey” appearance (on the bezel for instance)…the level of fit/finish on this piece is right near the top of everything I’ve seen including the very big watch-making names. Basic specs from Ball: Movement : Automatic ETA Cal 2836-2 (COSC Certified Chronometer) Case: Satin finish. Solid Stainless Steel, patented crown protection system Bezel: Luminous unidirectional rotating bezel Crystal: 4mm thick anti-reflective sapphire crystal Band/Clasp: Satin finished solid stainless steel, Factory logo engraved/embossed Water Resistance: 333m Shock Resistance: 7,500 G’s Antimagnetic: 12,000 A/m In conclusion – Very impressed with the Spacemaster X-Lume, Ball continues to make some of the best built watches out there. Some pics:        ...and that Spacemaster X-Lume   |
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watchdaddy1 3T WIS 
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LET ME BE THE 1st Chris  VERY INFORMATIVE REVIEW CONGRATULATIONS--. 80 TUBESDrool_27.gifI LOVE ME SOME TUBES |
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Paxman 3T WIS 
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Let me be the first to respond and congratulate you on your pair of beautiful Balls!! I understand your comments regarding the dial and how sometimes it seems "too much." I usually feel that way about the big block cardinal numerals on the Hydrocarbons. In this case the dial being free of the guilloche seems to help balance the chunkiness of the numerals. I think it works quite well. And of course the overall glow with the multitude of tubes in various colors and the lumed dial make for a spectacular glowing Ball. Congrats Chris on a very sweet and special watch.  |
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srh_pres 3T WIS 
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Congrats and nice tubes pics... glad to see they improved the bezel lume - you can hardly see it on my Madcow... |
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watchdaddy1 3T WIS
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HA HA MARK I BEAT YOU TO THIS 1 |
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Paxman 3T WIS
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watchdaddy1 wrote: HA HA MARK I BEAT YOU TO THIS 1 Well I'm still first to mention his Balls!!  |
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stew77 Admin
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William, Mark, and srh_pres...thank you guys for the kind words and comments on the Spacemaster X-Lume!!!! ...yes, while William was the first to compliment my tubes, Mark was the first to compliment my Balls!!! hammer.gifWilliam - yes, the tubes on this thing are just crazy...I was out with the family last night attending an outdoor movie under the stars, and I have to admit I was literally mezmerized and staring at this dial all movie long...Drool_27.gif ...you do need to have your somewhat "dark adapted" eyes on to fully appreciate it, but it is just so awesome! Mark - I agree with your comments on the overall X-Lume design 100%...the "free of guilloche" definitely helps balance the dial in the day...and one thing I noticed with regards to the design direction of the regular Spacemaster versus X-Lume, the X-Lume tubes are pushed to the outer edge of the dial (versus the regular Spacemaster which has an outer chapter ring and numbers outside the actual tubes) which helps the clarity of the dial day and night. Thanks again guys! Last edited on Sat Sep 11th, 2010 09:00 pm by stew77 |
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Jeep99dad 3T WIS 
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Amazing piece Chris! The build quality and finish looks really impresssive down to the clasp, just unbelievable... Actually Looks better than many much more expensive brands IMHO. It has amaZing wrist presence and does look larger than 42mm. Another great addition to your already awesome collection! Wear it in good health! Brice |
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bigrustypig 3T WIS 
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I have never, in all the forums, ever read about a guy discussing his balls ....Big Congrats, Chris and to chime in, tha deployant looks uber super and really capable of thousands and thousands of clicks! Enjoy it in good health. |
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Gregger 3T WIS 
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Congrats on the new ball!! Love the lume... |
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ndburley 3T WIS 
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I would love to play with your ball! That is sleek and smart. I cannot find fault myself in this it is just a greatly designed watch and the contrat of lume is great also. Enjoy and wear it in good health Neo |
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stew77 Admin
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Brice, Jeff, Gregger, and Neo...thanks for the kind words and congrats on the Ball!!! Brice and Jeff - you are right on regarding the build quality...this piece oozes quality (very, very tight tolerances all the way down to the clasp) ...and as you said, build quality that equals or exceeds many more expensive brands. I should also add the thing is built like a tank...bracelet attaches to the case with TWO screw bars, and the clasp is easily the best built quality clasp I've seen on any watch at any price...PERIOD!!! (all IMO...as I'm still just a young grasshopper in the watch wisdom world). Thanks again all... |
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aujang 3T WIS 
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Congrats! Looks terrific and love the lume!  |
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GX9901 3T WIS 
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The X-Lume is sweet! It's one of my favorite designs from Ball as I like lots of tritium tubes. Congrats on a great watch and wear it in good health. |
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Hammerfjord Moderator 
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Outstanding watch: Great choice |
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stew77 Admin
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aujang, GX, and William...thanks for the continued kind words on the Ball Spacemaster! It is a special piece indeed! |
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wardog 3T WIS
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Sweet! Love the tubes! |
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oagaspar Site Founder 
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Awesome watch and pics Chris!....Congrats....after seeing your pics I may just have to add this Spacemaster Glo to my short list!...the case is out of this world!  |
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Shel 3T WIS
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Stew Excellent review, and congrats on a great watch! Having the Spacemaster, I agree 100% on your opinions of the case, bracelet, etc. This is one tough, well built timepiece! Enjoy yours, I know you will! |
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