American field watch Bertucci A-5S Ballista Illuminated

Bertucci A-5S Ballista Illuminated watch

Friends, hello. You are on the Feeltime channel, and Stanislav is with you as always.

Today we will look at 2 models from the Americans Bertucci from the A-5S Ballista Illuminated collection at once.

And if in all previous reviews of Bertucci watches we had relatively inexpensive models with a price tag of about $ 100, then these watches are literally 4 times more expensive, and given that the brand is positioned on creating field watches in an affordable segment, I myself was interested to know why the Ballista model is a little out of Bertucci's pricing policy.

Equipment

This model comes in a classic Bertucci box. It may confuse someone that the boxes are the same for Bertucci watches in different price categories, but this does not bother me personally.  

I put the clock in a separate box, and keep the original ones in the closet. And the less space these boxes take up, the better.  

Watch sizes

The watch case is quite large. 45 mm diameter (ear to ear 52 mm). Thickness - 13.5 mm, weight - 112 grams, which is quite comfortable for such dimensions.

Case Features

As befits a field watch, the case is monolithic and made of stainless steel. In this model, Bertucci patented the shape and coating of the case.  

And if visually it looks quite familiar as for a field watch, it feels more like a rubber texture to the touch, which surprised me very much.  

The head is located in the lower right corner of the case and has small protective influxes. The head itself is screwed, which is logical, with a water resistance of 200 meters. This is a watch with diving characteristics, in which you can safely dive.  

The back cover, like the case, has a black PVD coating, which is quite rare for a watch.  

Watch Specifications

Here we see information about the patented and made in the USA case, we see the type of battery CR2016. This is a lithium battery with a lifespan of 10 years. Batteries usually last up to 2 years.

Next, we see the information about water protection that I voiced, we see that the watch has a Swiss quartz movement, and trigalight H3 tritium tubes are placed on the hands and marks. I will tell about them when I show the dial.  

Since Bertucci's watch is a field watch and was originally created for soldiers, the guys focus on the fact that the case and dial were made as matte as possible so that they do not give reflections in the sun and could not attract attention.  

That is, this watch is definitely not about “ponding”. This is a serious tool for harsh environments.

Strap quality

The strap, like the case, is patented by the Bertucci brand. These are textiles made from recycled, sustainable materials.  

It has two layers, a very powerful lock for adjusting the length and a convenient clasp to match the material and color of the case.  

Everything is solidly stitched with a thread and in general it feels so that if I want to cut it with scissors, I most likely will not succeed, namely, the strength of this belt was emphasized.  

As for the difference between our models, it consists only in the texture of the straps, although if you don’t look closely, they are very similar. Camouflage that emphasizes the military theme of the watch.

watch on hand

On my hand, 18 cm in girth due to curved ears, even such a large body looks good, but here it's more about the size of the fist. It is small for me, so I think the watch is still a bit big and requires a more massive hand.

Putting on and taking off the strap, I can confidently say that it is very high quality and comfortable.

Clock face

It's time to look at the dial.  

Despite the fact that all elements of the dial are very large, there is still some congestion.  

And it could have been avoided if it were not for the triangular markings of watches with tritium tubes, which are essentially a feature of the model and significantly affect its cost.  

Tritium tubes tend to shine in the dark for up to 25 years. A huge plus compared to the Swiss Super Luminova, which is also used here, is that tritium does not require replenishment. He always shines.  

In my modest collection of watches, there are Swiss Luminox with the same technology, and I will tell you that this is an extremely convenient and useful option.  

Therefore, readability in the dark is on top here, but during the day it’s not bad, but there is an overload. Moreover, it could be partially removed without writing some characteristics on the dial.  

Well, for example, I consider it absolutely superfluous to indicate a water protection of 200 meters.  

Closes the dial sapphire, additionally tempered glass, resistant to both scratches and shocks.  

Results

Today, the price in our Feeltime store is 17640 UAH, which is equivalent to 400 kopecks dollars.  

Considering the patented and high-quality case with a strap, as well as a set of serious features, I cannot say that it is expensive for this watch.

At least direct competitors do not come to my mind.  

And with us, as the official representative of the Bertucci brand in Ukraine, you buy only the original with a 2-year warranty.

That's all for me, do not forget to subscribe and express your opinion about the watch, and Stanislav was with you as always. See you again. Bye.