Overview of different time displays

Wristwatches are typically associated with a relatively round dial, twelve hour markers around the edge, and hour, minute, and second hands in the center. However, there are designs that deviate from this standard. In this article, we present examples of such designs that particularly caught our eye.

One-hand watches – many designs

Since the 1990s, watches with a single hand have experienced a resurgence. Brands such as Neuhaus, Botta, and Meistersinger were pioneers in this field. The coarse scale, which only indicates the hours, certainly has its charm. This is also due to the decelerating effect created by the hand, which moves slowly but steadily. Instead of the normally very precise time display, you have an approximate "just before 9." For people who usually work in extremely hectic environments, this is absolute proof of luxury. The concept of watches with a single hand is not new; it dates back to the early 18th century, for example in the form of pocket, grandfather, or church tower clocks. Back then, technology was not advanced enough to allow for more precise time displays. Since industrialization, this has changed, but the return to pre-industrial watchmaking traditions is a beautiful homage.

Highest accuracy with regulators

Clocks with a regulator display also feature a rather unusual design that deviates significantly from the standard hand arrangement. Here, too, there is a central hand whose presence determines the dial and indicates only the minutes. The hours and seconds can be read on the off-center subdials. Historically, regulators were manufactured to calibrate other clocks using particularly accurate timepieces. They were primarily used in laboratories where absolutely precise timekeeping was required and were subsequently increasingly used as wristwatches.

Regulator watches are now available in numerous designs and from a wide range of brands. One of the entry-level models, for example, is the Hamilton Jazzmaster Regulator Automatic. This elegant stainless steel dress watch with a classic design distributes its subdials asymmetrically across its 42 millimeters: the hours at 10 o'clock and the seconds at 5. Another prime example is the Patek Philippe 5235/50R from the Complications collection. In addition to the regulator display, the rose gold watch also features an annual calendar. However, unlike the Jazzmaster, its subdials are arranged symmetrically. Here, the hours are at 6 o'clock and the seconds at 12 o'clock. The watch's classic design is complemented by slender hands and a railway-style minute track.

Mechanical watches, digital displays – a good combination?

Digital displays initially recall the quartz watches of the 1970s and 1980s. Surprisingly, they also work very well in conjunction with mechanical watches. Casio and Seiko have already set a good example in this regard, but we'd also like to highlight the Zeitwerk from A. Lange & Söhne and the Omega De Ville Prestige Jumping Hour.

What does the future hold?

We're currently seeing a lot of promising, innovative approaches that make us want more. The watches from the Swiss manufacturer Uhrwerk, for example, have made a name for themselves with their futuristic design, the highlight of which is the satellite display with its semicircular minute scale. HYT has also made a positive impression here: The so-called Meca Fluidic Technology, which is featured in all of the brand's watches, displays the passing hours using a colored liquid—something completely new. We look forward to seeing what the next few years bring.