Topper: BALL Watch dials have either a T, or T25 marking. Can you explain what each term means?

T25 means that the watch can contain up to 25 Milli-curies of tritium. This is the longtime designation that was thought to be the limit of the amount of self-luminous materials. Examples of these watches include the Enginner Hydrocarbon Chronograph and the Engineer Hydrocarbon Titanium "Mad Cow".

We also use this designation for our watches that have smaller amounts of tritium. So, for instance, the Cleveland Express and the Engineer II Ohio are dress watches with very small tritium tubes. They are called T25, but have closer to 10-12 Milli-curies of tritium. One wouldn't want bigger tubes on the dress watches because the larger the tube the more sporty the appearance.

As to our strongest tritium watches, those just say "T" on the dial. The designation T is better explained as meaning "self-luminous". While It does not designate a limit, the licensing limit for BALL is "less than 100mCi". Our most luminescent watches that use between 100 & 90mCi include the Fireman Night Train, Engineer Master II Aviator, Engineer Master II Aviator Dual Time, Engineer Master II Classic & Engineer Master II Moonglow.

Topper: Right now your permits go to 100 milli-curies. Is this the limit, or do you think that BALL will make watches with more than 100 milli-curies in the future?

If the question is "have we reached the limit to what we can accomplish in luminescence", I don't think we have. But we may be able to get things brighter without using more or for that matter any tritium at all. While I am not able to discuss our plans in any detail at this time, BALL Switzerland has scientists working on the next generation of luminescence innovation.

Topper: Depending on whom you talk to, some say the tritium tubes in BALL Watches have a half life of approximately 10/15 years. What would you say to someone who wants to buy a BALL Watch to pass down to their children and is concerned about post half-life luminescence?

The first BALL Watch to use tritium tubes was sold in the U.S. in 2005 so BALL U.S.A. will not face this issue until at least 2015. That having been said, it's something that has been carefully thought through since I've been the distributor. Switzerland has insisted that they will be able to switch out these tubes very easily and inexpensively with new tritium tubes. However, we have it on good authority that a new technology for luminescence that collectors will find more desirable might be in place by then. The radioactive half-life of tritium gas is 12.5 years. In 12.5 years the tubes will emit 50% of the original brightness. In 25 years the tubes will emit 25% of the original brightness, etc. Based on our observations of older quartz watches from the 1990s that use similar technology, we believe BALL watches will still have readable luminescence 15 years after creation.

Topper: This year BALL has come out with a few new Power Reserve Model Trainmasters. How would you compare them?

The Cleveland Express power reserve is a larger, more complicated watch. It features a C.O.S.C. certified movement, 43mm case, a Big Date movement and a bit of a sunburst pattern to the dial. It retails for $3,899. The watch has two unique features that really stand out when looking at the piece. The Power Reserve model has more of a traditional railroad watch theme to it. It is slightly smaller at 41mm, has large arabic numbers, and a power reserve meter that blends into a smooth white dial. This watch comes in at $2,399.

Topper: How is the New Hydrocarbon III different from its predecessors?

We are very excited about the new Hydrocarbon III, and think that collectors will like it too. The Classic III and GMT III are the same watches as the Classic I and GMT I, and the same dial, except that there are more tubes. The GMT has three colors of tubes (GMT hand is yellow) while the Classic III has two colors. Both watches come packaged with an add-on rubber strap like the Hydrocarbon Titanium "Mad Cow".

Topper: Where did the Trainmaster Racer get its name and how is the watch different from other day, date, month watches?

The Trainmaster Racer got its name from the Swiss designers who thought it was a very streamlined look. In addition to the case being very sleek, the day, date, and month registries are very unusual for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that day, date, and month all line up in a straight row. Most similarly priced day, month, date chronographs put the month and day of the week in the 12 o'clock subdial and have an old fashioned date wheel going around the edge of the dial. The other key differentiation is that the watch is entirely crown operated. Watches such as the Omega Speedmaster day-date, Longines Master Moon and Ernst Benz Chronolunar all require a pusher to change the day of the week.

Topper: What made you decide to make a special U.S.A market only edition watch based on the B&O Railroad?

I did it because I am a huge fan of the American railroad. This passion is shared with almost everyone here at BALL U.S.A., and at BALL Switzerland, too. The B&O (Baltimore and Ohio) Railroad is synonymous with the railroad history in the U.S. We approached the B&O Museum and told them that we wanted to honor them with a watch celebrating the first mile of the track of that historic line. It quickly became clear that it would be a mutually beneficial project and the watch was created. To this day, you can go to Baltimore and ride the first mile of that track.

Topper: Most people who aren't railroad buffs have probably only heard of B&O Railroad from Monopoly. Do any of the other three Monopoly railroads (Pennsylvania, Reading or Shortline) have the potential to turn into a limited edition BALL watch?

The Pennsylvania? Absolutely. That is a railroad of tremendous significance, and incidentally other watch companies in the past whom have ties to railroad watches such as Elgin and Walthman have made watches commemorating the Pennsylvania line. The other two I'd have to seriously think about. But as to what's coming up, the B&O has been so successful that we have two other railroad watches coming out. We will be making watches that honor both the Union Pacific railroad and the Manhattan Transit Authority.

Topper: From the crown to the rotating disk second hand, the 18kt. Secometer looks different than any other BALL watch you've made. How did it come to be?

This was an idea that I approached Switzerland with because I was such a fan of the old ones. The Art Deco style is almost identical to the 1920s style. It has been called a classic by collectors all over the world. Also, the pocket watch that it comes with is manual wind and created in keeping with the style of the original.