The things they write on watch dials
- Amor Vincit Omnia
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The things they write on watch dials
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)
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?
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)
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
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
- strapline
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Re: The things they write on watch dials
Take a look at a Tudor Pelagos... A fine diver spoiled by the Old Testament in the bottom half of the dial.
Des
Des
Does melancholy count as two of your five daily servings?
Re: The things they write on watch dials
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.
part of which includes a free chemistry lesson.
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.
part of which includes a free chemistry lesson.
Richard
- scooter
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Re: The things they write on watch dials
AVO
Time to hoist your petard.
scooter
Time to hoist your petard.
scooter
#1 scooter blue 2012 FLE (50 made)
- Amor Vincit Omnia
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Re: The things they write on watch dials
^^^I steer well clear of things that go bang. Especially the French variety. Very unsafe.
Steve
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Re: The things they write on watch dials
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.
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.
- Amor Vincit Omnia
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Re: The things they write on watch dials
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
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
Linguist; retired teacher; pilgrim; apprentice travel writer
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. (Max Ehrmann)
- Thegreyman
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Re: The things they write on watch dials
At least that bit is barely visible!
Patrick
C60 Pro 300, C60 Sunrise, C63 Sealander Lucerne blue LE, C65 Dartmouth, W11 Amelia (wife), C63 Sealander (son)
Some others + a few on the way
C60 Pro 300, C60 Sunrise, C63 Sealander Lucerne blue LE, C65 Dartmouth, W11 Amelia (wife), C63 Sealander (son)
Some others + a few on the way
Re: The things they write on watch dials
Good point, is hand wound never written? I can't think of one where it is written tbf.Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 8:13 pmIn 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.
Yes, where did quartz go?
Re: The things they write on watch dials
True.
Actually, the good news is that almost none of this text is visible/noticeable in the real world.
Richard
Re: The things they write on watch dials
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
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
- rkovars
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Re: The things they write on watch dials
Pelgos came to mind when I read the OP too.
Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.
Jack London
Jack London
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Re: The things they write on watch dials
^^ ^^
See what I mean...so unnecessary. Pelagos, 500mtr would have sufficed.
See what I mean...so unnecessary. Pelagos, 500mtr would have sufficed.
Does melancholy count as two of your five daily servings?
Re: The things they write on watch dials
As well as the Pelagos having seven lines, so does the Rolex DSSD. Can’t think of any that have eight lines.
Neil
The other extreme is this.
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.Neil
Other watch forums of interest:
TZ-UK
TZ-UK
- Thegreyman
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Re: The things they write on watch dials
If you count the rehaut, there's 9 lines, that's an essay
Patrick
C60 Pro 300, C60 Sunrise, C63 Sealander Lucerne blue LE, C65 Dartmouth, W11 Amelia (wife), C63 Sealander (son)
Some others + a few on the way
C60 Pro 300, C60 Sunrise, C63 Sealander Lucerne blue LE, C65 Dartmouth, W11 Amelia (wife), C63 Sealander (son)
Some others + a few on the way
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