Ball Watch Fireman Night Train SG50: The ball is in your court

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The Ball Watch Fireman Night Train SG50 Limited Edition scores many firsts for the brand. There are at least five good reasons to acquire one. Well, make it six; the sixth reason is what you see above – the prominent luminescent dial in darkness, especially with the fireworks display in the background on a special day: 9 August 2015. Photo: Ball Watch, modified by TimeWerke

The Ball Watch Fireman Night Train SG50 Limited Edition scores many firsts for the brand. There are at least five good reasons to acquire one. Well, make it six; the sixth reason is what you see above – the prominent luminescent dial in darkness, especially with the fireworks display in the background on a special day: 9 August 2015. Photo: Ball Watch, modified by TimeWerke

While the “SG” could well be taken to be the abbreviation for “Simon & Garfunkel” and the “50” could well be the anniversary of their highly popular “The Sound of Silence” folk-rock hit or maybe even that for “I am a Rock”, these aren’t the official reasons for the “SG” and “50” formed by micro gas tubes on the Ball Watch Fireman Night Train SG50 Limited Edition.

Note: The “Sound of Silence” is a song from Simon & Garfunkel’s 1964 debut studio album. The “remixed” single was released in 1965. The song “I am a Rock” was written by Paul Simon and released in 1965.

The Ball Watch Fireman Night Train SG50 Limited Edition is a very special piece and there is actually a very good reason for the “SG” and “50” on the Ball Watch Fireman Night Train SG50 Limited Edition.

Firstly, it is the watch that commemorates the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s independence (1965 to 2015).

The Ball Watch Fireman Night Train SG50 is a commemorative edition that marks the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s independence. It is limited to 1,000 pieces and is priced at SGD2,800. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy

The 45mm Ball Watch Fireman Night Train SG50 is a commemorative edition that marks the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s independence. It is water-resistant to 100m and is limited to 1,000 pieces. Priced at SGD2,800. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy

Secondly, with 93 micro gas tubes on the dial, it scores a first as this is the most (micro gas tubes) ever on any Ball Watch. More micro gas tubes had to be used to make up the alphabet “SG” representing “Singapore” and the Arabic numeral “50” for the country’s 50 birthday on the dial.

Thirdly, the display of alphabets with micro gas tubes marks another milestone for the brand. Ball Watch has never used its micro gas tubes to form alphabets till now.

In addition, there is a red SG50 logo at the nine o’clock position on the dial of this 1,000-piece limited edition series.

That is not all, Ball Watch will donate SGD50 to the Autism Resource Centre of Singapore for every Fireman Night Train SG50 sold.

This organisation has set up Pathlight School that offers education to autistic children. In this regard, Ball Watch has pledged to raise SGD10,000 for this cause.

The Fireman Night Train SG50 is without a doubt a special and meaningful piece. This timepiece has marked many firsts for Ball Watch and there are at least five good reasons to own one.

There are quite a few good reasons to own the Ball Watch Fireman Night Train SG50. Among the reason: This piece has the most micro gas tubes ever on any Ball Watch. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy

There are quite a few good reasons to own the Ball Watch Fireman Night Train SG50. Among the reasons: This piece has the most micro gas tubes ever on any Ball Watch. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy

Make it six if you wish to count what the luminescence of the watch looks like in darkness.

Perhaps add a seventh if you are a fan of Simon & Garfunkel, as we are, especially if you truly enjoy “The Sound of Silence” and “I am a Rock”.

Of course, we would also like to mention other Simon & Garfunkel hits from other years like “Scarborough Fair / Canticle” (1966) and “Bridge over Troubled Waters” (1968).

However, “The Sound of Silence” remains among the best and is a highly emotional song for us.

Will you be the first to make the move in acquiring the Ball Watch Fireman Night Train with the prominent “SG” and “50”?

The ball, as they say, is in your court.

Panerai Mare Nostrum Titanio 52mm PAM 603: Weight and Sea

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Panerai Mare Nostrum Titanio 52mm PAM00603 Special Edition. Introduced in 2015, it features the OP XXV manual-winding movement which uses a base Minerva 13-22. The dial of this 52mm diameter Mare Nostrum is “tobacco brown” and this PAM 603 is limited to 150 pieces. Priced at EUR37,000. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. 2015 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie

Panerai Mare Nostrum Titanio 52mm PAM00603 Special Edition. Introduced in 2015, it features the OP XXV manual-winding movement which uses a base Minerva 13-22. The dial of this 52mm diameter Mare Nostrum is “tobacco brown” and this PAM 603 is limited to 150 pieces. Priced at EUR37,000. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Elfa / Timmy. 2015 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie

The feel of the 2015 Mare Nostrum or PAM00603 unveiled in Geneva at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie came with a surprise.

That is because it is very lightweight relative to its 52mm diameter case. The reason for this is a case made of titanium. The previous re-edition, the PAM 300 Mare Nostrum of 2010 came in steel.

The case and crown of the 2015 PAM 603 Mare Nostrum have a brushed titanium finish. Titanium, as the brand reminds us, is not just lighter than steel but has non-allergenic properties and is able to withstand high pressure, external stress and corrosion.

The 52mm diameter case should not come as a surprise, especially for those who have come across or read of the PAM 300 Mare Nostrum of 2010 as it is said that this is the same diameter of the prototype that was produced in 1943 for deck officers of the Italian Navy.

However, the Mare Nostrum never went into production due to the escalation of the Second World War. Only two or three prototypes were made, notes Mario Paci in the book Panerai watches.

The PAM 603 Mare Nostrum houses the Calibre OP XXV which uses the base Minerva 13-22 manual-winding movement with the column wheel chronograph. While there is no doubting that this is a quality movement with high-finishing, the PAM 603 has a closed case back.

This is unlike the 2010 PAM00300 Mare Nostrum which features the same Minerva base movement and has an open display case back.

For those not in the know, the Latin word mare nostrum means “our sea” when translated to English. According to our progress on its website ourprg.com, the term mare nostrum began to be used by Romans following their conquests of Sicily, Sardinia and Corsica after the first Punic wars.

By 30 B.C., as Roman rule extended from the Iberian Peninsula to Egypt, mare nostrum could be used to refer to the entire Mediterranean sea.

The Panerai Mare Nostrum PAM 603 is limited to 150 pieces. The 2010 version of the Mare Nostrum PAM 300 was limited to 99 pieces.