BALL Engineer II Galloping Horse Marks the Year of the Fire Horse
BALL have form when it comes to Lunar New Year watches, and the Engineer II Galloping Horse feels like one of their most confident yet. Created to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse, which begins on 17 February 2026, this is a watch that leans hard into symbolism without forgetting that BALL are, at heart, builders of seriously tough tool watches.
The dial is the star of the show. Made from natural Tiger’s Eye, it taps into Chinese Five Elements philosophy where Fire nourishes Earth. The result is a surface that shimmers and shifts as the light moves, showing off rich golden brown tones and that unmistakable cats eye effect. Because it is real stone, every dial is different, which gives the Galloping Horse a quietly individual feel. No two will ever look quite the same.
At the centre of the dial sits a sculpted metallic horse frozen mid gallop, full of energy and motion. It is bold without being cartoonish and ties neatly into the theme. Look closer and you will spot another clever touch, with the counterweight of the seconds hand shaped into the Chinese calligraphic character for horse. It is the kind of detail you notice after a few wears and then cannot unsee.
As expected, BALL do not hold back on legibility. The hour markers and hands are fitted with 15 bi colour micro gas tubes in green and yellow, delivering constant self powered illumination with no need for charging. The minute track is coated with Super LumiNova to back things up, making this watch just as readable at 3am as it is at midday.
The 40mm case is crafted from corrosion resistant 904L stainless steel and measures a tidy 11.5mm thick, striking a nice balance between presence and wearability. Protection comes courtesy of an anti reflective sapphire crystal and a screwed in crown, while water resistance is rated to 100 metres. Add in shock resistance to 5000Gs and anti magnetic protection to 4800A per metre, and this is very much a watch designed to be worn rather than wrapped in cotton wool.
Powering it all is the automatic BALL RR1103 calibre, paired with the brand’s patented Amortiser anti shock system. Functions are kept refreshingly simple with hours, minutes and sweep seconds, letting the materials and design do the talking.
The watch is finished on a matching 904L stainless steel bracelet with a folding buckle, completing a cohesive and reassuringly solid package on the wrist.
Priced at £1,880, the Engineer II Galloping Horse blends deep cultural symbolism with BALL’s no nonsense engineering and signature glow. A Lunar New Year release with real substance, and one that feels every bit as spirited as the animal it celebrates.
