Compass Bezels - The Mostly Useless, Yet Fun Design Feature
The compass bezel; do you love them, indifferent or think they're plain dumb?
Personally, I think they're a fun, though admittingly almost useless feature. I'll toy around with it while out on a hike, but when are you really going to need a bezel compass? I suppose there is that one in a hundred million chance you're lost, your phone is dead (most have compass apps now) and need to know north in order to find a road or town. Good thing you were wearing your compass watch!! LOL (psst, technically you can do the same trick with any watch..so, yeeeaaah.)
But seriously, I really love these watches for their unique "explorer" design. This oddity is a conversation starter, something fun to show others how they work, and their utilitarian nod to a compass works for me aesthetically. I love me a good field watch, and well, how much more "field" can you get than a watch with a freaking compass bezel? It makes you want to walk in a field just to find north.
Anyway, let me know what you think. Do you own any? Have you ever used the compass feature?
If you don't know how a compass bezel works, here is a quick video how-to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JCX96FMLSk
I'm mostly a budget tool watch enthusiast who also collects pocket knives and other everyday carry (EDC) gear. You'll often see an assortment of daily gear in my posts, not just watches. Feel free to...
I'm pretty much indifferent. I use them as much as I use an elapsed time, countdown,GMT,world time, or slide rule bezel and a tachymeter,telemeter. or pulsometer scale.
I have examples of all these things when all I need is this.
I'm pretty much indifferent. I use them as much as I use an elapsed time, countdown,GMT,world time, or slide rule bezel and a tachymeter,telemeter. or pulsometer scale.
I have examples of all these things when all I need is this.
@foghorn I hear ya. My most used features are either a timing bezel or a chrono timer. I use them if I'm out on a walk, timing food or laundry. When wearing the two pictured watches, I do the same with a compass bezel. I mark the start time the with North indicator and use it to time things like brewing my tea. haha It works.
During daylight hours its a compass in the bush or on the water. I live in Saskatchewan with a 360 degree horizon view so its helpfull when your phone dies and GPS is out. BTW ever notice no one uses paper maps anymore?
For many of us, I don't think we use most complications found on watches these days. Almost everything is obsolete. I personally treat most of them as curios.
I like them if they play well with the design language or generally just fit the look (as with most other complications).
The only complication I would truly find useful is a power reserve indicator.
It isn't really needed, I recall something like point hour hand at sun, half way between that and 12 is south.
I prefer a dive type bezel.
It isn't really needed, I recall something like point hour hand at sun, half way between that and 12 is south.
I prefer a dive type bezel.
@Relvee Yeah, mostly never needed. For utility, I prefer a timing bezel, but I do think it's fun to have a few compass bezels in the collection.
Don’t own any because it would be completely useless to me. But I admit that if I did own one, I’d probably fidget around with it constantly. Seems like a fun little interactive complication without a purpose. I could imagine that my caveman brain would just be mesmerized.
Don’t own any because it would be completely useless to me. But I admit that if I did own one, I’d probably fidget around with it constantly. Seems like a fun little interactive complication without a purpose. I could imagine that my caveman brain would just be mesmerized.
@TheSharperTheBetter That's exactly how I see it. Totally unnecessary complication, but it's fun to try out when I'm at a park or on a hike, just see if I can find north and compare it to my phone compass. It's even started a few conversations with non-watch people when I explain how it works.
I like the compass bezel ... look different from the usual diver.