Ball Engineer II Galloping Horse: up for preorder
Celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse
As we’ve mentioned in some other special edition articles, we’re currently in the Year of Fire Horse (year of the horse combined with the element of fire) (more on that here), and a number of brands are bring up commemorative watches. The most recent to cross our inbox is the Ball Engineer II Galloping Horse.
Ball Engineer II Galloping Horse: what it is
Well, it’s an Engineer II, which means you’re getting the swordblade handset, wide tritium markers for the indices, and then the standard triple-resistance (shock, magnetism, and water) built into their 40mm case. There are, of course, some differences from the main model.
For one, there is no date display (nor cyclops on the crystal), undoubtedly to keep life simpler with the dial material. Here, they’ve gone with the semi-precious Tiger’s Eye. Which, yeah, that’s a curious choice to represent fire. Here’s what they say about that decision:
Drawing inspiration from the Five Elements philosophy in Chinese culture – where elements interact in cycles of creation and transformation – the Fire element nourishes the Earth. Thus, BALL crafted the dial from Tiger’s Eye, a gemstone associated with the Earth element. This design signifies the transformation of fire’s energy into fertile ground that gives rise to all life.
Seems a stretch to me, but hey, we guess it’s making it stand out from the other red-dial watches we’ve seen for the Year of the Horse. They’ve also used the Chinese character for horse as a counterweight on the seconds hand. Finally, of course, you’ve got that sculptured galloping horse applied right above 6 o’clock, ensuring you don’t forget what this watch is about.
Wrapping things up
While the Ball Engineer II Galloping Horse is announced, at the moment, you’re pre-ordering the watch (and that’s generally how their new releases go). Still, they’re anticipating shipping later this spring, so you won’t have too long to wait. They’re asking $2,199 for the design, which feels in-line with their other three-handers in the lineup. So, if you’re celebrating the Year of the Horse - or just like horses - this would be a fun way to have a horse with you every day. Check out the details, and order yours, directly at ballwatch.com
Tech Specs
Model number: NM9016C-S11-YTE
Movement: Automatic caliber BALL RR1103
Functions
15 micro gas tubes on hour, minute and second hands and dial for night reading capability
Shock resistant to 5,000Gs
Anti-magnetic to 4,800A/m
Water resistant to 100m/330ft
Hours, minutes and sweep seconds
Case
904L stainless steel
Ø 40mm, height 11.5mm
Amortiser® patented anti-shock system
Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Screwed-in crown
Band: 904L stainless steel bracelet with folding buckle
Dial: Tiger’s Eye
Recommended retail price: US$ 2,199.-
Availability: April 2026