I have an apology to make, gentle reader. When Stolas first announced the availability of their Ball Call model for pre-order, I had fully intended to bring it to your attention. Of course, that was right at the end of the year, so things got a little hectic, memory got fuzzy, and it slipped my mind. Today, however, is a different day – so lets right that wrong, and see what Stolas is bringing to the table!
To say that this is an aviation-inspired piece is a bit of an understatement. The Warthog model name of course refers to the famous A-10 plane, and even the family name (Ball Call) is a reference to terminology used when landing on an aircraft carrier. Finally, there are some nifty aviation-inspired features, such as the cable-grip on the bezel, referencing the catch cable on an aircraft carrier.
If you’re familiar with any of Stolas’ other models, this case may look a bit familiar – they actually used their Harbormaster case as the basis for this model. That case is made from 316L stainless steel, with a PVD finish on it, and measures in at 44mm. Ticking away inside the case is a Swiss Ronda (quartz) movement; closing the case we’ve got an AR-coated sapphire crystal (up front) and an engraved and threaded bit of steel (around back).
On the dial, you’ll find SuperLuminova has been applied to the indices, hands, and numerals; a date display (with a black background, I’m pleased to report) at the 3 o’clock position. Holding everything in place is a color-matched leather strap, and should you find yourself in the water, the watch will be safe up to 100 meters.
Finally, we come to price. This is the most affordable watch that Stolas has offered to date. While the asking price is normally $475, you can jump in on the pre-order for only a touch over $300. They’re estimating the pieces will be available around May of 2012, and we’re looking into obtaining a review sample to give you a more in-depth review.
