Dark or bright dial?
I've always been wondering if there is a consensus on this topic.
If you have the choice between a bright dial (white, textured, beige, silver..) or a dark one (tropical, dark blue, black...), do you have a clear preference?
Which one do you tend to pick first, appreciating that, in the end, you may have a mix of both in your collection?
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The Watch Philosopher
Liverpool. Watches. Also writing a book on decision-making –– which is useful when picking watches :)
Liverpool, UK
Member since
Last active: 2 weeks ago
Aren't you going to ask why?
I'm a traditionalist, so I am on the light side.
Aren't you going to ask why?
I'm a traditionalist, so I am on the light side.
I'm absolutely interested in getting everyone's take on "why" :)
Is there a reason 'light' dials are more in line with traditions?
I go through phases. At the moment I'm more into white dials. Will pivot back to black eventually though.
I tend towards black and blue dials, but it depends on the watch and my collection.
Surely there is. It may be as simple as that dark printing on a light background is easier than the other way around. Tradition is tradition, and outside of vehicles, dark dialed clocks aren't much of a thing through most of horological history.
Also, assuming a bare metal case, the contrast with a dark dial is often too much. Black, besides being a funereal color of mourning, is a void, a hole. Great if you're at war or looking at lume pips underwater, but aesthetically suboptimal.
I keep telling myself to buy more colours with clothing and watches. However I always end up liking black/navy/browns etc.
I guess you can’t always force these things.
I keep telling myself to buy more colours with clothing and watches. However I always end up liking black/navy/browns etc.
I guess you can’t always force these things.
I know that feeling 😂
Surely there is. It may be as simple as that dark printing on a light background is easier than the other way around. Tradition is tradition, and outside of vehicles, dark dialed clocks aren't much of a thing through most of horological history.
Also, assuming a bare metal case, the contrast with a dark dial is often too much. Black, besides being a funereal color of mourning, is a void, a hole. Great if you're at war or looking at lume pips underwater, but aesthetically suboptimal.
I also tend to lean on the bright side, but it looks like we're in the minority 😂
Thanks to all who voted so far. Interesting to see the love for dark dials forming a majority!
If the dials are executed correctly then preference doesn’t matter