Hard to Read Dials - Watch Pet Peeves
This picture shows 2 watches in my collection that get pretty much zero wrist time. The Citizen Nighthawk and a Heimdallr Homage to the original Monster with a frost dial. Spec wise these are fine watches for the money good movements, sapphire crystal, ... etc.
My issue is that I can't see the time unless the lighting conditions are just right. The Nighthawk requires a bright light so outdoors it's okay inside awful. The Heimdallr is just the opposite and I can't see the time when outside. Ironically if the lume is charged both are super easy to read in pure dark conditions lol.
The Nighthawk was a gift so I always hesitate getting rid of it but apparently they are still quite popular and I could sell it. The Heimdallr was a bad purchase choice and I often consider just replacing the dial and hands with an orange Seiko monster's dial and hands. That just feels wrong for some reason; likely because unlike my other mods it would look exactly like a original Seiko Monster and feel fake to me.
Anyway I'm just venting. I tried to wear the Monster this morning but got annoyed when I couldn't see the time when shoveling snow off the driveway. I immediately switched to my Seiko Turtle when I came back inside. :(
Collector of value watches, watch modder, and vintage watch tinkerer.
I also value clear legibility in a watch that I wear regularly. I like to be able to glance down and tell the time without having to adjust the position of the watch in order to see the hands. I'm willing to live with a difficult to read dial as long as the watch has enough other redeeming features to overcome that particular shortcoming. One of my hardest to read watches is my OP36 with the silver tone dial and white gold hands, which other than the visibility issue is a great watch. In certain lighting conditions it can be super easy to read, but usually requires some movement to catch the light properly.
I agree wholeheartedly, one of my biggest issues with watches is dial legibility, it defeats the object of a time piece. Here’s two of mine which with my glasses on and in good lighting are very nice, however as it gets a bit darker it’s impossible to tell the time at a glance, you have to mess about with arm/wrist position.