Good evening everyone!
Today, we will be introducing a new series called In this series, we will explain the basics of luxury watches in an easy-to-understand way, such as "You're too embarrassed to ask now!", for those who are not very familiar with luxury watches and those who want to learn more about them.
This is the third time
[ Introduction to Luxury Watches ]: 『 Hands 』
The hands are one of the most important parts of a watch, and of course, their primary purpose is to tell the time. Depending on their design, they can greatly affect the impression of the watch. There are many different types of hands, from the standard specifications used by many brands to designs unique to each brand. If you want to know more about hands, which are surprisingly little known, be sure to check out this article!
What is a "needle"? Explaining its role
『 Needle 』=「 Hand 」
The "hands" of a watch, also known as "hands", are the most important part for reading the time. Except for some special mechanisms, a watch without "hands" cannot read the time. In addition, since they are located on the dial, which can be said to be the face of the watch, they greatly affect the design.
List of types of "Needles"
From here, we will introduce the types of needles and their representative models.
" Bar needle "
"Bar hands" are the most standard type of hand with a flat tip. They are simple and easy to match with any dial design, so they are used by many brands and models.
[ Representative model ]
[ Rolex ] " Datejust "
" Pencil needle "
As the name suggests, a pencil hand is a hand with a sharp tip like a pencil. It is often used in military watches because it is easy to apply luminous paint to the center.
[ Representative model ]
[ Panerai ] " Luminor "
" Leaf needle "
As the name suggests, "leaf hands" are named after their leaf-like shape. Like willow or bamboo leaves, they are slender and elegant, and are widely used in dress watches.
[ Representative model ]
[ Patek Philippe ] " Calatrava "
" Dolphin needle "
"Dolphin hands" are hands that are shaped like the tip of a fountain pen. They are also called Dauphin hands, and refer not to dolphins but to the French Crown Princess. They are often seen on watches with a classical design.
[ Representative model ]
[ Grand Seiko ] " Mechanical Hi-Beat 36000 "
" Baton needle "
A "baton needle" is a needle characterized by its pointed tip. It is similar to a "pencil needle," but the difference is that while a "pencil needle" has a constant thickness toward the tip, a "baton needle" gradually becomes thicker from the center toward the tip.
[ Representative model ]
[ Cartier ] Tank Must
" Alpha needle "
The "Alpha needle" is a diamond-shaped needle. The word means "number one" in Greek and is similar to the "dolphin needle", but the "Alpha needle" is characterized by its tapered base.
[ Representative model ]
[ Omega ] " Speedmaster "
" Arrow needle "
An "arrow hand" is a hand that is shaped like an arrow. Also called an arrow hand, it is often found on diver's watches because it is thick and highly visible.
[ Representative model ]
[ Omega ] " Seamaster "
" Mercedes needle "
The "Mercedes hands" used on Rolex sports models are named after the Mercedes-Benz logo and are also known as "Benz hands."
[ Representative model ]
[ Rolex ] " Submariner "
" Lightning Needle "
The "lightning hand" is only found on the Rolex Milgauss. The highly antimagnetic Milgauss has a lightning-inspired second hand, and is widely known among fans as an iconic symbol of the model.
[ Representative model ]
[ Rolex ] " Milgauss "
" Squid hook "
The "squid needle" is a needle used on Tudor diver's watches. It was named after its shape, which resembles a squid. After the 1990s , the "squid needle" specification disappeared, but with the growing interest in vintage watches, models using it have been revived in recent years.
[ Representative model ]
[ Tudor ] " Black Bay "
" Breguet hands "
"Breguet hands" are hands designed by Abraham-Louis Breguet, the founder of Breguet and a genius who is said to have accelerated the history of clocks by 200 years. They are characterized by a ring at the tip, and there are types where the ring is hollowed out and types where it is not. Currently, they are widely used by manufacturers other than Breguet.
[ Representative model ]
[ Breguet ] " Classic "
summary
I have explained the role and types of needles. What did you think?
Finding out what type of hands you like and what kind of hands the watch you want uses will surely deepen your love for that watch.
I hope that after reading this article, you will become interested in luxury watches!
see you!