Ball
NM9026C-S50CJ-YTE Engineer III Bright Path 40mm

Introducing a special tigerite dial.

They tried to change him, to steal his chances, to erase him from the history books. But athlete Jim Thorpe proved that desire and perseverance always prevail – from his gold-medal performances in Stockholm in 1912 to continually raising the bar of human resilience.

In tribute, BALL Watch Company presents the Engineer III Bright Path, featuring a special tigerite dial. A symbol of strength, tigerite displays uniquely distinct patterns and color variations. No two dials are ever the same. Limited to 1000 pieces each, encased in 904L stainless steel case and complemented by unwavering luminosity.

A burst of lightning.

In daylight, BALL’s micro gas tube hour batons offer a striking contrast against the beautiful tigerite dial. But once the sun goes down, the batons come alive. Like no other form of luminescence used in watchmaking, the tritium gas inside each hour baton shines automatically in darkness, emitting an intense glow that does not fade over time. The miniature tubes also adorn each hour hand for full-circle brightness. When the road to greatness runs through darkness, gear up with luminosity that goes the distance.

Tigerite: strength carved by time.

An emblem of resilience, strength and courage, tigerite is a golden-brown gemstone known for its chatoyancy. This reflective quality creates a cat’s-eye effect that makes the dial appear to shimmer depending on the angle of the light. Creating a tigerite dial is a meticulous process with the goal of showcasing the stone’s natural beauty, all while ensuring its hardness. Every dial features the fascinating interplay of golden-brown hues, subtle stripes and shimmering qualities. No two tigerite dials will look exactly alike. Ever.

Simply incomparable.

The Engineer III Bright Path is available either in 36mm, 40mm or 43mm case size. A highly-prized material, 904L stainless steel ensures excellent corrosion resistance due to its unique composition that includes high amounts of nickel, chromium and molybdenum. From saltwater environments to acidic conditions, 904L is made to thrive – and look good along the way. The steel’s distinctive, high-polish finish is unmatched, while its hardness withstands the wear and tear of everyday use, ensuring longevity without compromising on comfort.

Precision proven and protected.

Surrounding the automatic COSC certified movement, BALL’s patented mu-metal ring ensures anti-magnetic protection to an intensity of 1,000 Gauss. It is a shield with extremely high magnetic permeability, diverting magnetic fields away from every component of the Swiss-made movement. This ingenious ring is complemented by our patented Amortiser® anti-shock system that absorbs the energy created by external shock impact. And it is complemented by shock resistance to 5,000Gs and water resistance to 100 meters. Tested in every conceivable condition from all angles, the Bright Path is ready for action.

An icon of sport and spirit.

Born into a Native American family on May 22nd, 1887, Jim Thorpe was an athletic force. His Native American name Wa-tho-huk translated to "Bright Path" – perfectly guiding his road to greatness. While attending the Carlisle Indian Industrial School as a way to assimilate to American culture, his all-around athleticism became impossible to ignore.

In 1912, Thorpe represented the USA in Stockholm against the world’s best athletes. After discovering that his track shoes had been stolen just before competition began, he quickly improvised by wearing mismatched shoes – one from the trash bin and the other from a teammate. Undeterred, he glided to gold-medal performances in both the decathlon and pentathlon. And even after he was unfairly stripped of his medals a year later for violating amateur status rules due to playing semi-professional baseball, it was his unshakeable mindset that guided him. He went on to dominate pro sports as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Proving that his legacy was never forged in gold, but rather in resilience.

Today, more than ever, BALL is continuing its journey and asserting its role as a key protagonist in the exploration of modern time and the evolution of watchmaking history.