Reply With QuoteNo, not on the UKIP comment. I think you meant "BNP".Originally Posted by gunner
Simple question but how come so many watches have black faces?
Black/white obviously a legible combo but why not more black on white?
Don't get me wrong, I often prefer black faced watches (went for a black faced de luca for example), but would be nice to have more choices in silver/white when looking for a sport(y) watch.
Are you with me...?
No, not on the UKIP comment. I think you meant "BNP".
...but what do I know; I don't even like watches!
Indeed.No, not on the UKIP comment. I think you meant "BNP".
OK, OK, wasn't meant to be a political statement, edited to appease the UKIP crowd....
I believe it’s to do with luminous hands, and the fact that they stand out better against a black face.
If anybody has 2 of the same watch (make/model) one with a white face the other with a black face, please post pic’s to prove/disprove my point.
Straightforward question of legibility. I have an Air King with silver hands against a silver dial - the watch is as beautiful as another man's wife, but in all but perfect lighting conditions I can't just glance at it to know the time, I have to discern where the hands are.
...thats why I asked about black on white...
Yup, that's true. I have this AT here, perfect and wonderful watch, but only in good light.
Same with these old things here btw.
I'm not as think as you drunk I am.
^^ That Master Hometime... :shock: :shock:
I think that's my grail! ;)
Lovely, lovely watch!
Oops, sorry - I should've read your post more carfully. Then I guess it is a question of aesthetics, black on white is a tad too harsh, and in fact I don't think you really ever see true black hands from a good maker but rather blued steel. Like on this'un...thats why I asked about black on white...
OK, they're blue, but...
and this one is hard to beat for legibility.
Thanks for those guys, I know they're out there, just wonder why we don't see more...
I like that onethe watch is as beautiful as another man's wife,
I think black hands on a white dial is the ultimate in clarity personally...
Cheers,
Neil.
This is the only white dialled watch I've got but its a favourite :)
In low light conditions (ie not totally black) luminous compounds appear light colored. A light color glow against a light colored dial is not as visible as a light colored glow against a dark dial.
Also, most good luminous compounds are naturally light colored, white, yellow, yellow-green, etc, so for maximum contrast in full light, light colored print (luminous) on black shows up better.
The only way to offset these limitations is to go with a full luminous dial with dark print, however this is more expensive in it uses so much more luminous compound.
I was wondering this before, plenty of good reasons above though!
A couple of weeks my collection of 6 watches consisted of 5 black faced watches and one dark navy :lol:
I was looking for a white face watch of some description for a bit of a change, but couldn't find anything I wanted.
I've now bought a bright orange faced Orient diver though for a bit of variation
Pale lume on pale background is a reasonable argument I agree. Still fancy an Omega great white though...
i like black and some whites look good (with a touch of cream)
White is the new black :wink:
Usual cr*p photo skills.
She is beautiful and would not part with her for the world.
Very nice, thats the sort of thing I'd like to see more of...
i like black and some whites look good (with a touch of cream)
I simply prefer the look and they sell better than any other - so guess it is a safer bet.
It's just a matter of time...
I subscribe to the "black dial, white hands" theory of legibility. When I conduct orchestras I like a watch that I can glance at to check the time and see the answer instantly. I always wear either my Breitling SOHC or my Panerai as they can be seen very quickly when I put them flat on the stand.
This one never does the job - still love it but reading the time quickly, NO!
Mike
[quote="mr1973"]
:love4:
Both fantastic watches and gorgeous pictures. I sometimes think I have every watch I need, but that never lasts long. :?
I don't think the actual dial colour is as important to legibility as the actual contrast between the dial and the hands?
As long as the hands are a colour that stands out in stark (stark if max legibility is desired and not sublety) contrast against the dial then the actual colours themselves are not as critical.
Just my tuppence worth :)
White on white, I have this incoming soon, not sure about it's readablity, but I kinda like it. :)
Just had a look at mine. More than a few black dials. Surprised actually, as hadn't thought of it like that before.
Bremont MB2, Steinhart Aviation WLE, Prometheus Ocean Diver Day / Date all stand out immediately. Precista PRS17-C is also black-faced, as is the NB Yaeger Tendence Auto and TAG Kirium Auto. Vintage include a Baylor Diver with internal bezel, Squale 50 Atmos, Raketa diver and two sterile 'homages', a RN diver and sub.
M
Silver & black dialled Samurais. Not a proper comparison as the shots were taken at different times in different light :D
+1 to that, surely that has to be one of the clearest dial/hand combinations ever?!..and this one is hard to beat for legibility.
I know of a fugly old clunker with a silver dial, plus a touch of black and red. Seems reasonably legible to me:
I prefer black dials (it's the inner ninja), but I've gone off black dials with metallic hands - at night, it's harder to read the time quickly as there's not as much ambient light for the hands to reflect. Fine is there's a big dollop of lume paint on them but not so good on more dressy watches without lume.
Agreed. Like a Sinn 556 but even better.+1 to that, surely that has to be one of the clearest dial/hand combinations ever?!..and this one is hard to beat for legibility.
Absolutely. I have a Seiko Marinemaster, and it is clear as day no matter what the time. I was looking at a similar-ish Grand Seiko with similar-ish brushed metal hands but with no lume, and the difference in legibility was marked even in daylight.
Last weekend I visited my mate whom I gave a Sinn 656 to for Christmas. When I saw it I was amazed at the clarity, I'd forgotten just how clear the Sinn 5**/6**/7**/8** series are. Not just clear, but classy too.
I'll be on to the Sinn thing again soon. :D
White dials just don't it it for me, so I'm on the dark side too. Having said that I had a Dc 57 with the full lume dial and that was cool. :D
F.T.F.A.
Here's my contribution to the silver face dials
You could always have no dial, but that doesn't help the clarity much.
Not bad, not bad at all 8)I know of a fugly old clunker with a silver dial, plus a touch of black and red. Seems reasonably legible to me:
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