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Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT Sled Driver Automatic Watch
Colour: Black
· Ref: DG2018C-S18C-BK
£2,970
VAT incl. · Free express delivery
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Colour: Black
Authenticity
Authorized Ball dealer
Warranty
Official Ball warranty
Shipping
Free · DHL Express
Returns
30 days from delivery
Overview
Limited to 199 watches and honoring SR-71 pilot Brian Shul, the Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon AeroGMT Sled Driver tracks three time zones on a luminous black dial.
A tribute to the SR-71 Blackbird
Retired U.S. Air Force Major Brian Shul was one of only 92 pilots to fly the SR-71 Blackbird. The long-range reconnaissance aircraft flew at high altitude and at speeds above Mach 3, and its crews called it the Sled. The watch pays tribute to both Shul and the Blackbird. Each of the 199 pieces made worldwide has a titanium case back.
Three time zones at once
The main hands show local time, and a separate GMT hand indicates the time in a second zone. The same hand, read against the 24-hour scale on the bidirectional sapphire bezel, gives you a third time zone. On a trip with a layover, you can keep home, local, and destination time on one watch.
Lit by 44 tritium tubes
Forty-four sealed tritium tubes light the hands, black dial, and bezel continuously, so all three time zones stay readable after dark. The glass tubes generate their glow from within, so they never need exposure to light.
Protected against magnetism
Protection against magnetism goes back to Webb C. Ball’s rules for railroad watches, drawn up after an 1891 train collision at Kipton, Ohio. Ball rates the watch for shocks up to 7,500 Gs (7,500 times the force of gravity). It also resists magnetic fields up to 4,800 A/m (the international standard for antimagnetic watches). The case is water-resistant to 100 meters.
The details
The stainless steel case measures 42 mm across and 13.85 mm thick, with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Inside, the COSC-certified Ball RR1201-C automatic movement provides a 42-hour power reserve. COSC is the official Swiss institute that tests chronometers for accuracy over 15 days.
A stainless steel bracelet closes with a folding clasp.
At a glance
- Limited to 199 watches
- GMT with three time-zone readings
- 44 tritium gas tubes
- Ball RR1201-C · COSC chronometer · 42-hour power reserve
- Antimagnetic to 4,800 A/m · shock-resistant to 7,500 Gs
- Bidirectional rotating bezel
Specs
Movement
Type
Automatic
Calibre
Ball RR1201-C
Power reserve
42 Hours
Frequency
28,800 vph
Jewels
21 jewels
Case
Material
Stainless steel
Diameter
42 mm
Thickness
13.85 mm
Crystal
Anti-reflective sapphire
Antimagnetic
4,800 A/m
Impact resistance
7,500 Gs
Product
Limited edition
199 units
Dial
Color
Black
Calendar
Date
Lume
Hands, hour markers and bezel
Gas tubes
44 H3 Gas tubes
Water resistance
Rating
10 atm
Bracelet
Material
Stainless steel
Clasp
Type
Foldover clasp
General
Country of manufacture
Switzerland
Questions & Answers
How do I read the three time zones?
The main hands show local time, and the GMT hand reads a second zone on the fixed 24-hour scale. Turn the bidirectional bezel to read that same GMT hand against another 24-hour scale for a third zone.
Who does the Sled Driver edition honor?
It honors retired U.S. Air Force Major Brian Shul, one of 92 pilots to fly the SR-71 Blackbird. Sled was a nickname for the aircraft, and this edition is limited to 199 watches.
How do the travel scales stay illuminated after dark?
The 44 tubes illuminate the hands, hour markers, and sapphire bezel scale, keeping the time-zone readings visible after dark. Inside each sealed glass tube, tritium activates a luminous coating. The tubes glow continuously, without a battery or any need to be charged by sunlight or a lamp. The glow gradually fades as the tritium decays, with a half-life of about 12.3 years.
What does magnetic resistance mean for the movement?
Magnetic fields can disturb a mechanical movement’s rate. Magnetic resistance is rated at 4,800 A/m. Stronger fields can exceed that protection.
What does COSC certification mean for this movement?
The movement passed independent chronometer testing over 15 days, in five positions and at three temperatures. The permitted average daily rate during testing is -4 to +6 seconds. The test is done before the movement is fitted into the case, so the watch’s daily rate on the wrist can vary.
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FAQ
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The warranty covers manufacturing defects. It doesn't cover normal wear and tear or accidental damage — and on watches, it doesn't cover straps, bracelets, or batteries.
Questions about a specific piece? Our specialists are happy to help. [Contact our team →]
Questions about a specific piece? Our specialists are happy to help.
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- Orders from £150 to £399.99 ship DHL Express for a flat £9.90
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Most in-stock orders arrive within 1-2 working days of dispatch.
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You have 30 days from delivery to return your order.
How returns work. Just let us know and we'll email you a prepaid DHL Express return label — you never have to arrange a shipment or pay anything up front. The return cost is deducted from your refund. If the piece arrived damaged or wasn't what you ordered, the return is on us.
Your refund options.
- Credit (issued as a gift card) — processed almost immediately once your return reaches us
- Refund to your original payment method — typically 5–10 working days, depending on your bank
To qualify for a full refund, the piece must:
- Be unused and in perfect condition, with no signs of wear
- Include its original packaging and outer box
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