Horological Meandering

Hi All,

 

We have talked before about watch hands and their various designs, but we tend to focus on the hour and minute hands and ignore the seconds. Admittedly most second hands are slender pointy affairs without much interest, but this seems a pity as it is often the second hand that animates the dial.

 

I thought of this recently because of deBalzac’s Ollech & Wajs MP2801 and the Guy Ellia Carbon Fibre Jumbo Chrono (admittedly a chrono second hand) reported by Kong.

 

What are the most interesting or innovative second hands you have come across? Unusual displays of seconds would also be welcome.

 

Regards

 

Andrew

...make it a Grande Seconde hand...

 

 

 

Cheers,

pplater.

No message body

..the current custodian, Steve - a real gentleman made it all possible.  ;-)

 

Cheers,

pplater.

Craig

...that you didn't lead with everyone's favourite -

 

 

Cheers,

pplater.

No message body

...as the second hand just about defines this watch -

 

 

Cheers,

pplater.

...of the hours and minutes to a mildly off-centre location gives the second hand added prominence -

 

 

Cheers,

pplater.

 

...(and yes: they badly need to be synchronised!!) -

 

 

Cheers,

pplater

 

....to own this second hand!  Even 'second-hand' would be acceptable ;-)

Can only claim the wrist in this shot -

 

 

Cheers,

pplater.

 

 

More of a second second hand, really -

 

;-)

Thanks for the thread. Looking forward to seeing one of the early FPJ tourbillon cages, or maybe a nice retrograde seconds (Prescher???).

 

Cheers,

pplater.

… the next PPro watch?

But that would require a slightly different waving Mao on the dial.

J

A

IMHO, the most interesting second hand available is the Dead Second hand:

Craig

.. I never understood the appeal of the "dead seconds" complication; time is something that's continuous, not discrete..

Perhaps technically speaking it's an interesting complication, but to me it just does not make a lot of sense; continously sweeping (like the Spring Drive) would be the direction to move to, as it more accuratly displays the passing of time. Just my opinion ofcourse!

Regards

Mark

Thanks Craig,

One of my unswerving favourites as well.

I love how you have caught the second hand ‘dead’, but the tourbillon cage in flight.

Andrew

...hand on any watch.  Some that I am particularly fond of are the "diver's flag" second hand on this Sinn U1...

Cheers,

Daos

Not innovative, but traditional of course, but I find it mesmerizing to watch in it's stately progress acrross that big dial.

Best, Andreas

You are very lucky to have such a great piece!  Thanks for sharing it with us!

Cheers,

Daos

Hello Daos,

I join you in this regard - somehow the second hand is the most busy part on the dial side, if you don´t have a chronograph running or even a tourbillon.

Amazed who you mange to upload a video, as I´m sometimes bumbling about with the photos !

Thanks,

anaesdoc

...so please don't give me more credit than I'm due!    The only reason I was able to upload videos was because Anthony posted a tutorial on it recently.  Without his step-by-step pictorial guidance I have serious doubts I'd have been able to post my short clips! 

Thanks for the kind words!

Cheers,
Daos

No longer mine, but I liked the bright yellow sweep seconds hand on this DA36;

 

 

Ofcourse the lightning bolt of the Milgauss belongs in this thread;

 

This one is going crazy

 

I don't know if it's considered a "complication", but a sweep seconds hand is my favorite feature on a mechanical watch.

Regards

Mark

Certainly the Rolex Milgauss, for its originality:



The Langematik Anniversary for its Supreme Elegance:



The Blancpain Milspec for its useful luminous arrow:



The Tourbillonesque Amvox III Second Hand:



The Co Branded Second Hand ( unique in its kind ):



And, to end, the most beautiful, the Lightning Second Hand:



Best,

Nicolas

UN Acqua Perpetual

pic of the RM11 seconds hand

Here's the orange luminous seconds hand on the J*D Sports Watch

The seconds hand looks like a walking cane

The "paddle" second hand is one of two features that clearly distinguish the vintage IWC ref. 866 Ingenieurs (the other being the big crown). I have always really liked this paddle design, and found that it suits the design of the dial extremely well.

Regards,

Tony C.