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Ball Fireman Storm Chaser Pro 42mm Stainless Steel
Ref. CM3090C-L1J-BK
Designed in partnership with the meteorologist Dr. Joshua Wurman, the Storm Chaser Pro was built around a specific professional need: rapid estimation of storm distance and vehicle speed in the field. The telemeter scale printed on the anodised aluminium bezel insert handles the first; the tachymeter the second. These are not decoration on a watch dressed for outdoors — they are the reason it exists. The BALL RR1402 sits on the Valjoux 7750 architecture, one of the most extensively proven chronograph platforms in Swiss production, running at 28,800vph across 25 jewels with 38 hours of reserve. At 15.65mm thick that is not a thin watch, and the 21mm lug width gives it a correspondingly planted feel on the wrist — this wears as a tool, not as a dress piece. The three sub-dials at 6, 9, and 12 read cleanly against the black dial, and the matte calfskin strap with its contrast orange stitching pulls the whole thing into coherence with the broader visual language of the Storm Chaser line.
- Reference
- CM3090C-L1J-BK
- Brand
- Ball
- Collection
- Fireman
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 15.65mm
- Lug width
- 21mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- BALL RR1402
- Functions
- Chronograph, Day-date, Tachymeter
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 52mm
- Power reserve
- 38 hours
Learn more about Ball
Webb C. Ball was a Cleveland jeweller when, in April 1891, two trains collided head-on at Kipton, Ohio. The accident was traced to an engineer's watch that had stopped for four minutes and then started again without him noticing. Nine people died.
Ball was appointed Chief Time Inspector for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway and set about writing standards for what a railroad watch had to be: a minimum size, a minimum number of jewels, adjustment to five positions and to temperature, an accuracy tolerance of thirty seconds a week, and a bold black-on-white dial with Arabic numerals readable at a glance in poor light. His system of regular inspection spread across some 125,000 miles of American track, and the phrase "on the Ball" is generally credited to it.
The modern company is Swiss and still trades on the same principle, which is that a watch you cannot read is a watch that has failed. Its distinguishing feature is self-powered tritium gas tubes rather than luminous paint: sealed micro tubes that glow continuously for around 25 years without needing to be charged by light first.
- 1891
- The Kipton crash; Ball is appointed Chief Time Inspector and begins writing the railroad standards
- 1893
- The General Railroad Timepiece Standards are adopted across American railways
- 2005
- Self-powered tritium gas tubes become the brand signature
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,847), Stainless Steel Watches (3,197), Automatic Watches (1,736), Chronograph Watches (1,234), Leather Strap Watches (1,049) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 15.65mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
- 38-hour reserve means winding it after a day off
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
Price history
This watch is currently at its lowest recorded price. It reached £1,950 on 2 September. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
Ball Fireman Storm Chaser Pro alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | CM3090C-L1J-BK | 4701045825 | 01 774 7661 4424-07 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,755 | £1,645 | £1,795 |
| Case size | 42mm | 42mm | 44mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber strap |
| Power reserve | 38 hours | — | 48 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 38 hours fully wound — so it will usually stop if you leave it off overnight.
What size strap does it take?
21mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 52mm, which suits wrists from roughly 17.5cm (7 inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its lowest recorded price since we began tracking it. It's ranged between £1,755 and £1,950, today it's £1,755.
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