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What text do you like to see and not to see on a dial ?

3K views 26 replies 23 participants last post by  Grammarofdesign 
#1 ·
Reading about the Prospect "X" on another post made me wonder whats liked and not liked, as for the "X" I don't think I mind it :)

In general I like text on a dial such has Marine Master, Grand Seiko, depth rating, jewel count etc.

Not overly keen on the likes of "AUTOMATIC" or "QUARTZ" because I know what makes my watch run so I don't need it written on the dial, it's a little like how on some fakes the date window has "DATE" written next to it :)
 
#3 ·
To me it's less about what is said (within reason, of course) and more about balance. For example, the old Tudor Pelagos (with ETA movement) - perfect. The new Pelagos (with in-house movement) - waaaaaaay too much text on the bottom half of the dial. Actually turned me off to it.
 
#5 ·
Not overly keen on the likes of "AUTOMATIC" or "QUARTZ" because I know what makes my watch run so I don't need it written on the dial, it's a little like how on some fakes the date window has "DATE" written next to it :)
Funny, I'm totally on the opposite end as you - this would be one of my #1 favorites on a dial. I really prefer autos, at least for modern watches. I don't really keep 100% familiar with a modern line-up, so if I'm trying to distinguish between one of the now dozen+ tuna models are out there, it helps me quickly reject a watch.

Otherwise, I'd probably want water resistance (if a Diver) and jewel count (if vintage, because it gives away the movement if I can't see a caseback). And probably any model identifier (LM, Marinemaster, whatever). Anything else I suspect I'd find superfluous.
 
#7 · (Edited)
I dislike the Prospex X on the dials of some of the new models - silly, too large, and takes away from the dial. The old SUWA symbol was very cool looking, very subtle in a very small size (sometimes so small you actually had to look hard to find it at the 3 o'clock position near the date window), and it was placed where it did not distract from the important text (depth rating, quartz or automatic, jewel count, etc). The SUWA was very small and often placed below the important text not above it. I think the Prospex X symbol is tacky and distracting but perhaps the SUWA symbol was considered tacky in its day???
 
#8 ·
Ok, I'll play since we're at it. the grand seiko; I wish it just had 'Grand Seiko' at the top or just 'GS' then just automatic, high beat/36000, or anything to describe the model above the six hour marker. Instead, it's Seiko at top then at six GS and under it Grand Seiko. Just seems redundant on otherwise mesmerizing watches.
 
#10 ·
The X symbol IMO is horrible and tarnishes the dials of the Prospex line.
Seiko, Put It On The Caseback!!!! What I like to see at 6 o'clock is maximum 3 lines preferably 2, decreasing length of writing, and same size font.

Take the SBDX012 for example, if there anything that needs to be changed (other than Sapphire glass) it is deleting the word "professional" and decreasing the font on the WR depth

My 0.02
 

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#15 ·
I agree with kyle the X is a little big. And the suwa symbols were just perfect.

I don't hate 5 shields but can't say i wouldn't miss them.

And how is it that there are hundreds if not thousands of AM hands, dials, stems, crowns, etc...but not a single AM badge?

Give me a little dragon, or orient crest, or a dolphin...something anything


Other than that i don't text or symbols have been outright terrible.


Sent from my LGLS660 using Tapatalk
 
#16 ·
Bring back the SUWA symbol (to me it looks like a tiny, abstract hurricane) I love it. The DAINI symbol is also fantastic but IMO the Suwa is just way cool. Drop the X - too busy, too large, too complicated, too fussy, too hard to understand the meaning. Seiko is known for simple, straightforward designs and the symbol should reflect the brand. Bring back the SUWA symbol.
 
#17 ·
PROSPEX is a conjoined word for Professional Specifications... OK got it. The P from professional and S from specifications is taken out and used to form a symbol...OK got it. The P and S are then altered and angled and jammed into a single symbol that looks like an X...OK got it. This sounds like a Train Wreck.
 
#24 ·
The text I find most endearing are the terms you don't find on modern Seikos any longer, and the old Suwa/Daini logos.
I like the quirky old branding like Lord Matic and my 8306-8020's Business-A moniker. That watch also has "Diashock 30 Jewels" which you won't see these days.

My wordiest Seiko is my 56KS, which has

SEIKO
CHRONOMETER
OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED

KS
AUTOMATIC
HI-BEAT
[Suwa logo]
I love it all though.


I've just picked up a 1978 7546-8070 and love the logo representing the quartz crystal.

There's something about the placement of AUTOMATIC directly below the Seiko logo at the 12 o'clock position I like also. But that could just be me inventing reasons to buy another vintage Seiko!

To sum it up I don't have a problem with anything Seiko have put on their dials. Except the Prospex X.
 
#25 ·
I think the X suffers the stigma of trying to be cool (X Games, X factor)

Like Dunelm I'm ok with most Seiko dial text, preferably 3 or 4 lines. Always felt the "AGS" mark looked a little odd -- though some models that spelled out "Automatic Generating System" were quite sharp.
 
#26 ·
From a design standpoint, I think that having lots of text on the dial really gives the dial a "tool" look. I see it as being useful when you have multiple watches lined up and you're trying to figure out which one to take for a specific dive.

We are diving pretty deep today? Let's take the 600m watch. Maybe you would grab the automatic if you are unsure if the battery in your quartz has been changed recently.

As far as the X, I think this goes along with that. I think that from a "tool" standpoint it is good to have them on their. Grab the watch with the X on it because it's just gonna work in every situation kinda thing.

So to sum it up, I believe that symbols that represent ratings or text that indicates movement type and depth are crucial. Personally I could do without marine master or anything like that. I really like the skx007 dial as well as the 6309-7040 dial.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#27 · (Edited)
Great thread topic. Aside from text, I like seeing my reflection in the crystal.

With respect to the dial, it's all about the execution.
A few words in red are hard to pull off, but sometimes they make the dial.
4 lines of text above 6 o'clock seems excessive, yet the MM pulls it off as does the Rolex Submariner, so the rule is not hard and fast.
The Seiko 5 Shield is more often than not cheesy, yet I have a great black 6619 dial where it is non-applied in gold and small and really makes the dial special. And as said above, always GREAT on a Speed-Timer dial !!!
 

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