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Ball Roadmaster Rescue Chronograph 42mm Limited Edition Mens Watch Black
Ref. DC3030C-S-BK
The Roadmaster line has always been Ball's case for extreme-environment tool watchmaking, and the Rescue Chronograph makes that argument most explicitly. The pulsometer scale on the ceramic bezel insert is not decorative: used alongside the chronograph, it lets a first responder read a patient's pulse without arithmetic. The pusher-locking mechanism — engaged by rotating each pusher rather than pressing it — addresses the specific problem of accidental activation when a watch is being worn under gloves or in a crowded environment. At 14.8mm the case is substantial, but the hybrid construction keeps it honest on the wrist: the titanium shell means it carries more lightly than stainless steel of the same scale, and the two-tone bracelet — brushed titanium links paired with polished steel — is worth noting as a structural choice as much as a visual one. The 37 tritium gas tubes distributed across the dial, hands and bezel require no charging and do not dim with age the way photoluminescent lume does; in a search-and-rescue context that distinction is the entire point of the technology. The RR1402 calibre, built on the Valjoux 7750 architecture but treated with a cold-temperature oil mixture that keeps it running accurately from –45°C to 80°C, is matched to the stated purpose rather than chosen for prestige alone.
- Reference
- DC3030C-S-BK
- Brand
- Ball
- Collection
- Roadmaster
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 14.8mm
- Case material
- Titanium
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- BALL RR1402
- Functions
- Chronograph, Day-date, Tachymeter, Heart rate
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
- Warranty
- 4 years
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 5 collections
This watch appears in Automatic Watches (1,736), Chronograph Watches (1,234), Two-Tone Watches (476), Limited Edition Watches (199) and Titanium Watches (173).
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
- 14.8mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Ball Roadmaster Rescue alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | DC3030C-S-BK | NN1100SC1CG/BE111/15BEN.20S | 01 771 7791 4054-07 6 20 01 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,400 | £3,120 | £3,400 |
| Case size | 41mm | 41mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Rubber strap | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 70 hours | — |
| This watch | Closely matched | 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 48 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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