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TUSKTWO 3T WIS 
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How is the quality on each , and how do they compare with each other. Since both are swiss made, why would 90% of Ball's on sale on eboy be from hong kong and phillipines? I really like the Ball hydro classic II and A.N. royal sloop, anyone got any photos? thx |
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KenC Admin 
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Have never handled an Armand-Nicolet, but I have handle more than one BALL Watch (one must be very careful how he says this). The BALL Watch is an excellent product (I am currently scouring the sales forums for a great buy). I can only surmise that most of the BALL Watches on ebay are out of the Orient, due to the death grip BALL's US Distributor has on pricing....As I understand it, there is a no discount off of MSRP policy....as a businessman, I can honestly say that I have never believed in maintaining a fixed profit margin per unit in lieu of overall bottom line profit...go figure! To me it's silly to lose countless sales to others out of stubbornness to some elitist policy! |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS 
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I don't have either yet but both are on my list. Both are very good Swiss watch brands. And most all the watches you see on the Bay are 2ed market so has nothing to do with were the watches are made. And many small vendors use the Bay due to the high visibility. Of the 2 I'd put Armand Nicolet in a higher quality group but both are quality made watch brands. |
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murphy j 3T WIS 
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I'm not a Ball Watches expert by any means, but I'd stay away from the ones listed on the bay if they're from the PI or Hong Kong. I've compared them to the ones on the official Ball website and I don't think they're real. Now as to quality of the real ones, there're people here that own them and Love them. I was looking at some at the AD in the Kuwait City International Airport and I thought they were superb. I want one and if given the oppurtunity to get one from an AD or someone I know or with references, I will. I know nothing on the Armand Nicolet line. And that is my 2cents worth. |
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TUSKTWO 3T WIS
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i've only been paying any attention to Ball a few weeks, but it seems a lot of people have been flipping them lately. a guy on wus was selling a month old $2400 for $1400 , and was having trouble doing that. ouch! thats brutal! |
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Skipdawg 3T WIS
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TUSKTWO wrote: i've only been paying any attention to Ball a few weeks, Yea allot of watches are sitting for some time. Times are tight for many. But there are allot of WIS out there that will buy a watch new and flip it at a loss sometimes a big loss and not due to there being anything wrong with the watch. Some guys are just like that. I have scored at least a dozen watches for around 25% list from guys flipping like that and the watches were as good as new in the box. :) ;) |
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Tony Duronio 3T WIS 
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Well I can attest to the quality of Ball watches, being an owner of 2.........I would put..fit and finish anyway up against anything out there. You can not beat the product at the price point. If you are looking for a reputable dealer at a discount contact Markus. He posts Ball watches for sale on a few forums. He gets them from Hong Kong, but I assure you, they are genuine with all the box and papers. |
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oagaspar Site Founder 
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I've owned both and would consider them both top quality Swiss watches....Ball being more sportier and the A.Nicolet more on the dress/sport side.watch2.gif I picked a Armond Nicloet Arc Royal last year...considered one of the top Swiss companies ...build quality is top notch out of their own manufacturing plant using platinum series decorated eta movements...bracelets are impecable as is the case and dial work imhohand6.gif...either company would make a nice addition to a collectionyahoo.gif Attachment: 003.JPG (Downloaded 62 times) |
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TUSKTWO 3T WIS
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tony, he does seem like a nice guy . he answered my email about if he carried a hydro classic II white face. he didn't , then said there would probably be a lot of ball models, foreign distributors no longer carry, because the latest ball price increase was higher on some models to foreign distr. |
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Paxman 3T WIS 
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No experience with Armand Nicolet but you can surely trust in O's opinion. As for Balls, I have one and have to say it is a great watch which surpasses its price point in quality and value. I have had the pleasure of owning a Fireman and handling both the World Timer and Hydrocarbon models which my cousin CJ owned. In each case I was struck by the build quality and ruggedness. They don't seem to do as well on the secondary market as others. And I wouldn't buy one from the Bay. I have used Markus' services and can assure you he will give you the best deal possible and deliver exactly what is promised. I LOVE BALLS!!! face4.gif |
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Ablejack 3T WIS 
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The pedigree of Ball™ is among the best in all watchdom. The Ball™ was born of the US railroad industry along the coast of Lake Erie. The whole idea of Standard Time was introduced and implemented through Webb C. Ball. Before that each community and town would just adopt any time they liked. When the Rails became so busy with the industrial steel belt booming, it became necessary for the railroads to adopt standard time zones so that accidents could be avoided. This, of course, did not happen in time. There was blood and money lost which pushed the Standard through. As much as I appreciate the Ball™ indestructible diving and sport models, it's the rail inspired models that do it for me. While I never pulled the trigger on their drool inducing L.E. Chronometers, but I am proud to flash the Engineer Master Arabic amongst the Rolex/ Tag crowds. The tritium tube lume is also high on the funk out meter. You can keep a Ball™ in total darkness for 25 years and read the time like a "juiced up" superlume. As for Armand-Nicolet; nice watch. Seriously. I don't know of the story. I imagine there is one and the brand probably has some great patents and moments in horological history. Maybe I'm just a biased Lake Erie shore native... you think? The whole shebang may not have the same appeal to a southern gentleman. At the end of the day, it's your wrist, your wallet and your decision. My Ball™ was from an AD- Right Time in Colorado. http://www.righttime.com/  Or you could get a digital Timex Ironman that keeps better time than either, is perhaps more indestructible, with multiple functions all at a fraction of the cost! (I got one!) |
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wcbartlett 3T WIS 
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I have owned both, Ball is a good watch that holds their value. |
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designdweeb 3T WIS 
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I have a Fireman 40mm Black and Orange, and an Engineer Hydrocarbon Classic II. Those double size tubes rock! Build quality is in the same league as the guy sitting next to me with the Rolex. Attachment: Ball EngClassicIIWeb.jpg (Downloaded 10 times) |
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