How important is legibility?
The first mechanical watch I purchased when I started collecting had a silver dial, with white gold hands. Under the bright lighting at the AD, the watch was easy to read, based on the way that the light reflected off the hands. In most normal lighting, that watch proved more difficult to read, often requiring adjusting the viewing angle to ensure sufficient contrast between the hands and the dial.
Since then, I have added several watches to my collection, with varying degrees of legibility. I have some watches, such as my Sinn 104, that are super easy to read with just a quick glance, since the white hands contrast so well against the black dial.
This becomes an even bigger issue when chronographs are involved, as contrasting subdials can also have a negative impact on legibility, even if they serve to increase the visual appeal of the watch.
I'm curious as to whether or not the ability to easily read the time at a glance is something that others consider when deciding to purchase a given watch.
I've worn a watch for as long as I can remember, but I didn't become interested in watches until 2018, when I bought my first decent mechanical watch. Shortly after purchasing it, I joined a local wat...
As my sight has become, um...more selective in its ability to perceive detail, I am frustrated with a couple of my watches with very fine hands. I find myself mistaking the second hand for the minute hand. They eventually get passed up for ones that I can see without squinting through readers. Readability isn't my first criteria, but it is becoming a more important one. That Sinn hits about all the criteria.
I care a lot about legibility for watches I use for timing activities (i.e. chronographs for working out/cooking and daily watch for teaching). But for watches I put heavy emphasis on its esthetics, I sacrifice the degree of legibility for nicer materials and prettier designs (i.e. dress watches that are with shiny hands and dial, without lumes).
I feel that it's about the trade-off between the elements you fantastically addressed.
Amazing watches you got there!
everyone needs a hi-vis watch, but they don't all need to be that way
I mean for just regular wear i dont think it really matters but for specific activities it does
Am 53 now. Legibility as well as larger, easy to access crowns, have become quite important.
I guess I've never purchased a watch that I didn't believe was legible. If I thought I couldn't read the dial, I'd never pick it up in the first place. So yeah...I guess legibility is key.
**the seiko flightmaster and breitling navitimer have left the chat**
Legibility is important IF you deem it so. Which harkens back to your needs in a specific scenario, like diving etc etc
**the seiko flightmaster and breitling navitimer have left the chat**
LOL. It's actually pretty easy to read the time at a glance on the Flightmaster, even though the dial is so freaking busy. The hour and minute hands contrast with the busy dial.
I think its fundamental.
Now I’m in my early 50’s it’s increasingly important. I’ve an old Baume and Mercier tank type watch that I never wear now as I need glasses to tell the time. It doesn’t need to be as visible as a diver. Just legible
Legibility is key. Wearing a Tudor Pelagos black dial: bam!
LOL. It's actually pretty easy to read the time at a glance on the Flightmaster, even though the dial is so freaking busy. The hour and minute hands contrast with the busy dial.
My wife looks at the flightmaster and says it’s easier to read than this:
I understood her reasoning, but am still confused. She’s like “you want maximum legibility; digital readout. done.” 🤣
My wife looks at the flightmaster and says it’s easier to read than this:
I understood her reasoning, but am still confused. She’s like “you want maximum legibility; digital readout. done.” 🤣
LOL. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that your wife is young enough to have grown up with digital displays.
Digital displays don't require any mental gymnastics to determine the time, but I find that many (if not most) digital LCD displays don't offer enough contrast to be easily legible, at least not in dim light conditions. Given a high contrast digital display, I'd have to agree with your wife.
For an old guy like me who grew up learning to tell time with analog displays, I personally find that the most legible displays are analog displays with an uncluttered dial, high contrast between the hands and the dial, and an obvious difference between the hour and minute hand. I'd consider my black dial Sinn 104 to be the most legible watch in my collection for those reasons.
Before I started collecting watches, I used to wear a Movado Museum watch, which I also found to be super legible and easy to read. The only marking on the dial was a dot at the 12 o'clock position, and the gold tone hands contrasted with the black dial. Lots of people have difficulty reading that watch due to the lack of markings - those people tend to be people who grew up with digital displays.
What reasoning does your wife give for finding the Flightmaster easier to read than the Flieger Type B? Is it because of the prominent 5 minute and hour markings on the flieger?
Not at all.