Printed Indices
Today I did a poll on types of indices. Only 1% liked printed. I almost bought a Hamilton and a Traska but didn’t because of the printed dials. Why do watchmakers make them if people don’t like them? I understand if it’s a $100 watch but at $500 and up they could give us a nice dial.
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Bob
I live in the State of Georgia in the USA. I'm been interested in watches my whole life but just started collecting in 2021.
Georgia, in the Southern USA
Member since
Last active: 21 hrs ago
7.00” / 17.78 cm
İts not about costs probably but they prefer to reserve some premiums for more expensive watches
There's not much reason to prefer printed dials aside from perhaps longevity, so a poll will never be kind to them. However, the style of indices is not super important to everyone. All of my analog watches have printed dials because they're just not really decorated watches. It's also kind of part of field and pilot watch dial style to be mostly or entirely printed. A lot of us are fine not paying more for applied indices, whether to fit a certain style of watch better or just to save money.
It's almost like asking if you'd prefer 1,500lbs payload in a truck or 2,000lbs payload. No one will prefer less payload with no other context, but plenty of people would buy the slightly smaller, cheaper, lighter, faster, and smoother riding truck with better fuel economy. In the total package that is a wrist watch, some people just aren't that bothered about decoration.
Printing is often the better choice to suit the design goals of the watch, considering things like style and history. It's just another way of marking a dial, not inherently better or worse.
İts not about costs probably but they prefer to reserve some premiums for more expensive watches
Kind of like how Seiko won’t use sapphire crystals on their sub-$500 watches
There's not much reason to prefer printed dials aside from perhaps longevity, so a poll will never be kind to them. However, the style of indices is not super important to everyone. All of my analog watches have printed dials because they're just not really decorated watches. It's also kind of part of field and pilot watch dial style to be mostly or entirely printed. A lot of us are fine not paying more for applied indices, whether to fit a certain style of watch better or just to save money.
It's almost like asking if you'd prefer 1,500lbs payload in a truck or 2,000lbs payload. No one will prefer less payload with no other context, but plenty of people would buy the slightly smaller, cheaper, lighter, faster, and smoother riding truck with better fuel economy. In the total package that is a wrist watch, some people just aren't that bothered about decoration.
I guess but I like bling on a field watch. Love my Alpinist.
Your poll only asked what people prefer, not what they like. I love printed indices if they are done right. But most of the time I prefer applied. But I like that blingy look.
My collection is about 50/50. For me it’s about the overall design of the watch, and as others have noted sometimes printed is a better design choice than applied. I suspect that there are more “applied only” folks than “printed only” folks, but perhaps a silent majority who are fine with either?
Your poll is probably not indicative of the actual buying process and market overall in practice
Depends on the watch.
Let’s see what’s on my collection:
Seiko PADI - applied
Casio - NA
G-Shock - “applied”
GS - applied
PRX - applied
Omega - Applied
Vostok - painted
Seagull - applied
Straton - applied
Prefer applied, like applied.
I wouldn’t rely on a WC poll…
Let’s see what’s on my collection:
Seiko PADI - applied
Casio - NA
G-Shock - “applied”
GS - applied
PRX - applied
Omega - Applied
Vostok - painted
Seagull - applied
Straton - applied
Prefer applied, like applied.
You have a nice mix
A poll on an enthusiast site is not exactly scientific or indicative of the entire market.
In fact, the enthusiast portion of the market as a percentage is in single digits.
And the reason they get made is they sell.
If given the choice on a watch I'd go for the applied indices, but if a watch I like has printed indices so be it.
So yes on the poll I voted for applied, do I really care, no.
A poll on an enthusiast site is not exactly scientific or indicative of the entire market.
In fact, the enthusiast portion of the market as a percentage is in single digits.
And the reason they get made is they sell.
Good points
IWC pilot, Nomos Tangente, GO Sixties, Omega Railmaster, Junghans Max Bill, Tudor Ranger, Breguet Type XX, Vacheron American... plenty of desireable watches with painted indices.
Depending on the watch and what it's being used for. I have had to reapply many indices on Seiko sports watches and other sports watches. They come off during use and they have to be fixed asap. Can you imagine having to replace a whole movement because an indice jammed it up? I have found indices inside movements and have been lucky that they haven't caused any damage that I could see. I'm sure it has happened somewhere.
I have no issue with printed dials.
I think we have unconscious biases that our eyes adore or not. Certain printed dials are great (Damasko DS30 and Sinn 556. Correct me if I’m wrong). Like any watch, if it’s done right, it sells.
I think it depends entirely on the watch dial and how the indices further the look. I own watches with applied and watches with printed and really think both work well for certain dials.
I love printed, I prefer it over applied.
Technically applied but I like that it doesn't have metal outlining.
Printed?
I'll lower it to sandwich and printed
Like @Kalsota, it depends on the watch. For my #hamiltonkhakifieldmechanicalbronze, its field watch design is a reissue, so putting applied indices on this version wouldn't be consistent.
Plus, for field watches in general, printed seems to be the default
My Columbia field watch though, has applied indices. But, they are so flat that it is not distracting, and is consistent with the field aesthetic.
Printed looks good in the right light or situation. I like both.