The things they write on watch dials

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Amor Vincit Omnia
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The things they write on watch dials

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Apologies if you recognise the theme...we've discussed it before.

This is NOT a logo thread. Nor is it a Rolex Bash. It almost came up when we were discussing the text misalignment on the Super Compressor, and again when we were discussing COSC.

I don't particularly like wordy dials. This is about the wordiest I can think of of the top of my head. (Borrowed image)

sea dweller.jpg
From the top:

Logo and manufacturer's name - fine

Oyster Perpetual Date. First two words, Rolex-speak for WR case and automatic. OK. Date? DATE??? I can see it has a date. For starters, it has a Cyclops the size of which would have had Odysseus wetting himself!

Sea-Dweller. Model name. Fine.

4000ft = 1220m. Maths lesson? OK, I know it's on most dive watches. But if you're going diving with a watch, you'd KNOW, wouldn't you?

Superlative Chronometer
Officially Certified...Lucky I knew that, eh? Cuts out all that "Is it a COSC?" stuff. (Actually, I know that Rolex has its own in-case testing and certification.)

I said it wasn't a Rolex Bash. It isn't...amazing watches, but I can't think of anyone who writes more. Can you?

My Tank says "CARTIER" at the top and "Automatic" at the bottom (ignoring "Swiss Made"). In my opinion that's one word too many. I knew it was an automatic before I bought it. Which brings me on to...

Back in time, watches never mentioned the movement type on the dial. They were hand wound. That was what you got.

When automatics came in, the word appeared on dials, as it was the latest must-have. Most automatics still have it (Rolex have Oyster Perpetual and Tudor have Rotor Self-Winding, I think)

Fast forward to the 70s. "Quartz" suddenly started appearing on the dials. Latest must-have.

Then at some point "Quartz" disappeared. "Automatic" didn't. "Hand Wound" never appeared in the first place, except for the odd "Handaufzug" from a German manufacturer.

I wonder at what point "Quartz" disappeared and why?

Have you ever wondered about that?
Steve
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by strapline »

Take a look at a Tudor Pelagos... A fine diver spoiled by the Old Testament in the bottom half of the dial.

Des
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by downer »

Marketing innit. :)

I guess, as technologies have advanced it has become easier to add text to a dial, so the differential costs are negligible. So, it's a relatively low-cost opportunity for branding or product differentiation.

With Rolex, I guess some of the wording (e.g. "Oyster Perpetual Date") is part of the DNA.

Anyway, I see your six line Rolex and raise you with my seven line Omega.

Image

part of which includes a free chemistry lesson. :D
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by scooter »

AVO

Time to hoist your petard.

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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

^^^I steer well clear of things that go bang. Especially the French variety. Very unsafe.
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by RichM »

I suppose if you don't know if a watch is auto or hand wound it's useful information. Maybe it's an inherited watch with no paperwork.

My Dad put a vintage auto (with automatic written on the dial) for service a few years ago and it came back a few weeks later with a hand wound movement in it. I think he left it that way too.
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

RichM wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:59 pm I suppose if you don't know if a watch is auto or hand wound it's useful information.
In that case why not put "Hand Wound" on the dial as well, if that's what it is?

What interests me more is why and when "Quartz" disappeared from dials.
Steve
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by Thegreyman »

downer wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:27 pm
part of which includes a free chemistry lesson. :D
At least that bit is barely visible!
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by RichM »

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 8:13 pm
RichM wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:59 pm I suppose if you don't know if a watch is auto or hand wound it's useful information.
In that case why not put "Hand Wound" on the dial as well, if that's what it is?

What interests me more is why and when "Quartz" disappeared from dials.
Good point, is hand wound never written? I can't think of one where it is written tbf.

Yes, where did quartz go?
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by downer »

Thegreyman wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 8:20 pm
downer wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:27 pm
part of which includes a free chemistry lesson. :D
At least that bit is barely visible!
True.

Actually, the good news is that almost none of this text is visible/noticeable in the real world.
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by kiter65 »

Hand wound...back in the day only option...why put it on the dial?

Automatic...new kid on the block??...let’s shout about it

Quartz....a dirty word...don’t put it on the dial

Please don’t take my comments seriously :lol:
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by rkovars »

strapline wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:26 pm Take a look at a Tudor Pelagos... A fine diver spoiled by the Old Testament in the bottom half of the dial.

Des
Pelgos came to mind when I read the OP too.
s-l640.jpg
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by strapline »

^^ ^^
See what I mean...so unnecessary. Pelagos, 500mtr would have sufficed.
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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by nbg »

As well as the Pelagos having seven lines, so does the Rolex DSSD. Can’t think of any that have eight lines.
5D59F966-7EFB-4F67-9EBB-58658E004C9E.jpeg
The other extreme is this.
CAF4BC49-EBB6-441E-99B2-8EB744C54B80.jpeg
I think the reason that quartz tends not to feature on a dial is because quartz powered watches are generally not regarded as desirable compared to mechanical.

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Re: The things they write on watch dials

Post by Thegreyman »

nbg wrote: Mon Nov 30, 2020 8:53 pm As well as the Pelagos having seven lines, so does the Rolex DSSD. Can’t think of any that have eight lines.
5D59F966-7EFB-4F67-9EBB-58658E004C9E.jpeg
If you count the rehaut, there's 9 lines, that's an essay :shock:
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