AndrewD
[HoMe Moderator]
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Verbosity ...
I am interested to see examples of excessive writing on dials. Who has managed to squeeze the most written information onto their dials. Who has done this successfully? What is the most inane piece of dial information? [My prize goes to Zenith for "Date"]
And as an aside, which watch has been anointed with the longest, best or worst name? I will give you an example from the audio world: twenty years ago an upstart cable manufacturer called TARA Labs (The Absolute Reference Audio Labs) came out with a product called The Space and Time Phase II. It was a very successful first product and made their reputation, partly because the name resonated with the audio geeks I think.
As usual, photos appreciated ...
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Verbosity ...
I am interested to see examples of excessive writing on dials. Who has managed to squeeze the most written information onto their dials. Who has done this successfully? What is the most inane piece of dial information? [My prize goes to Zenith for "Date"]...
Montblanc Mystery Tourbillon
The dial of the montblanc mystery tourbillon from last year is adorned with the words "Pure Macanique Horlogere." I also dislike when a dial is adorned with "automatic." Great idea for a thread! B
Lay-down misère...
As you know, for on-dial verbosity none come close to the Greubel Forsey Invention #3 (great photo by Andrew - '219' - used without express permission but with undying appreciation) - The back ain't too shabby either! Cheers, pplater....
You are right about the G&F pplater!
I have another contender... but not too much writing, just too much!!
Yes, GF takes the verbosity cake...
...hands down with the Invention Piece No.3, but it started with Invention Piece No.1, where the epic adorned the back....
Yes but in this case
there is an "artistic effort";text used as decoration so,forgiveable IMHO.Mo
Rolex comes to mind
With too much wording. 2 examples: An example of perfectly integrated wording? Here you are: No too much...Just the necessary. The integrists? Follow me, please... Benrus Type 1 Sterile: Panerai Cali: Does the lack of wording remove anything of the beauty...
Nico, the laconic prize goes to...
...Svend (front and back), not Benrus or Panerai, for his Eros series, which is more um... stimulating than the Cali, in my opinion. My favorite is the 69, which also wins for best name hehe. My apologies to those who find this offensive. Sorry....
In this case, I clearly prefer without text...indeed. :)
What charming scenes of Life you put here, my friend... But even in this case, there is a small engraving which " ruins " a bit the ...Scene, heeerrm, I meant ..the dial: " Geneve "... But I agree, we couldn't say anymore that the dial was ...still virgin...
Really? Where?
Oh, with all the going-ons, I didn't notice the words ha! To be honest, I hardly noticed the hands too... On a side note Nico, and with my deference to the OP of this thread for the digression (sorry Andrew), I've never happened across any watches in the ...
Mr Andersen advises...
... that whilst there are some standard pieces, many of the 'Eros' may be made to order, and may be made with a scene or automoton of particular significance to the owner (errrrr...so a friend once said). Perhaps that is why they so rarely leave their own...
Not sure about most lettering
but I think the prize for the watch with most numbers goes to this RD Bi-Retorograde 52 Weeks Perpetual Calendar Chrono... Google Image This message has been edited by Davo on 2010-02-21 03:25:15...
I have a submission in each category.
Firstly, while it may not be bestowed with the most verbose dial in watchmaking history, nevertheless this new Polo 45 Chrono from Piaget is sufficiently lame for me to gain a perverse pleasure in singling it out for exposure in this thread - As for long-...
Agree on the AP having a super long name...
...but I actually like the new FortyFive from Piaget. Cheers, Daos
LOL another from AP. . .
. . . it's a watch I happen to love but the name is rawther long: Jules Audemars Grande et Petite Sonnerie Repetition Minutes Carillon, Reserve de Sonnerie et Dynamographe. As it is such a lovely watch though perhaps one ought to be prepared to make allow...
My favorite talkative watch
In my view, the most successful integration of a very long wording on a watch is VC Les Masques with Butor's poem on the dial. And in order to illustrate this post: " Bewitcher, I observe the shapes of girls who pass; my eyebrows are like a bird ready to ...
I absolutely hate ....
obvious writing on watches.date,chronograph,automatic,power reserve,hours,minutes and so on.... One of the worst is FP Journe with" Remonitoir d egalite avec seconde morte"or the resonance dial,all this goes with "FP Journe" "Invenit et Fecit" his address...
LOLOLOL...Excellent, Mo! It reminds me
GTI 16 V Turbo on some sports cars of the 80ies... Best, Nicolas
Yes but...
Many times, the text has a design purpose: to balance the dial for example. You know, when you write "Remontoir d'égalité", it is a specificity of the caliber, it is like writing "Turbo" on the boot. You can take a watch with a busy dial and with Photosho...
I agree but..
a good dial layout doesn t need much writing,only a bit if necessary(Richard lange,De Bethune 25 spring to mind....).There is always a line to be drawn and sometimes it is crossed.Just my visual opinion.Yours,Mo.
My selection
A poetic choice (poem by Michel Butor): As busy as a page of a book: Of course, Rolex is also well-known for its verbose dials but the words are gathered: And I propose you a blank page to finish my post: there is no word even the brand's name on this dia...
Some of Lange...
I've always found that giant word "Doppelfederhaus" entirely superfluous. I also dislike the "Geneve" on the bezel of the Patek 5131, not just because it is unneeded, but because the font makes it look so much like something that was comped on there in MS...
agree on "doppelfeederhaus"but..
its not too in your face so ...forgiveable for me.Mo
Yes, but in this case, it is for a good cause, Craig.
It is part of the Dream, on these watches, don't you think? Best, Nicolas
... first that came to my mind was this ...
Aeternitas Mega 4 in category most successfully without doubt Trilogy set in modesty category my favorite is & thank you for another superbly interesting question + Dear Andrew I think that you should write a book "1000 interesting questions about horolog...