amanico
[JLC Moderator]
401550
Does anyone know the true meaning of a crosshair?
Hi All,
There are some famous watches which hve a crosshair dial: Some of them are Chronometers, such as the Omega Constellation, or the Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic, others aren't, such as the Girard Perregaux, Gyromatic, a Longines, a Tissot, a Jaeger Lecoultre Cal 450, Universal Genève Polerouter and so on.
Here is what I call a crosshair dial:
I first thought it was dedicated to precision, but I am not sure anymore since Chronometers are not the only ones to have crosshair dials....
Any idea, anybody?
Best,
Nicolas
Does anyone know the true meaning of a crosshair?
Hi All, There are some famous watches which hve a crosshair dial: Some of them are Chronometers, such as the Omega Constellation, or the Jaeger Lecoultre Geophysic, others aren't, such as the Girard Perregaux, Gyromatic, a Longines, a Tissot, a Jaeger Lec...
The pattern on the lens of a rifle scope . . .
. . . is called a crosshair , from the intersection of two wires about as thin as human hair. Just as the crosshair allows a marksman to precisely place a shot, my guess is the dial pattern is a symbolic representation of the precision inherent in the wat...
What I thought, but it seems that....
1/ Some Chronometers had crosshair and not crosshair dials: Geophysic / Constellation, for example, while both being chronometers. So, what is the purpose of the Crosshair? 2/ The era during the appearance of crosshair dials is quite reduced: End Fifties ...
Not all Constellations . . .
['60 Constellation Calendar] . . . had crosshairs, Nicolas, even during the period they're most closely associated with. My '67 SM ref 166.0002 has crosshairs on the dial, but it's not a chronometer. I don't think there's an established reason guiding the...
i never though about this, but i think we know ...
... this crosshair also from the "peripheral little second indication" at six o ' clock on watch dial. in my feeling it is for a fast(er) (intuitive) decision what the hand/hands indicate. Also we find it in more modern watches later, for example IWC Pors...
Yes! I forgot the IWC Ocean! You are right.
I think for marine or astronomy, this has been an explanation. I never saw something factual about watches. Damn! Thanks for your help, Stephan, Nicolas
i think someone found out ...
that it optimized a faster orintation on displays ... not my BMW Stephan ...
in this BMW ...
...i don't know where from the cockpit instruments are. i only wanted to show a example, that - in my opinion - it is used generelly on dispays (also a watch dial) for a faster orientation. i don't belive in a N, E, S, W compass theorie. regards Stephan
Dear Nicolas: I had always felt that cross hairs had nothing to do...
... with precision nor with the fact a watch is a chronometer, because as you well said, some cross hair dials belong to non chronometer grade watches. I firmly think it is just a cosmetic resource of design. The use of a cross on the dial not only is a n...
Thank you, Abel. That may well be an explanation.
At least this is the most " cartesian " one. Except if we are missing something. Un abrazo, Amigo! Nicolas
I lean most to what Abels points out.
It makes time reading easier and has a graphic quality of adding something to an empty dial which looks meaningful or look technical. Since it is also rare it will make a watch more “special”. I don’t think there is a solid technical reason. It seems too ...
A reminder that the watch can be used as a compass.
It is an explanation in addition of the usual one about the improvement of the legibility. Fx
That could make sense... But still, while we know that some Rolex had a cross hair dial
Such as the Tru Beat, for example, why, if this is the meaning of this " distinction ", the GMT Master never received one, while it was announced as a compass Watch? The Tru Beat and the GMT Master were, for a while, contemporary.... Best, Nicolas
Rolex Zephyr as well got cross hairs on dial. I keep thinking in ...
... just decoration and quarters marking. Abrazos! Abel.
There were several brands using crosshair dials:
I recensed: Omega, Rolex, JLC ( on at least three of their watches! ), Tissot, UG, GP, Longines and Seiko. There must be others! The strange thing is that the crosshair dial was used, most of all, during what, 10 years? Best, Nicolas
I thought about that, but the north south usually not align with crosshairs
I think some of the rotating bezels with "N" and other directions or even degrees make sense with the compass. So I'm not sure how the crosshair dial would help, unless the cross hair could be rotated. Along those lines, we could just use a memovox and se...
Yes I agree, it is the reason why I say: "a reminder".
For me, this symbol of N-E-S-W is even more obvious on the GP, look at the shape of the indexes: Don't you have the feeling to see a kind of representation of the cardinal points? Fx ...
Not sure the indexes have been chosen for that purpose.
But it can make you think about that, for sure! Best, Nicolas
That's a freaking good question....
I'm amazed! I already examined several watches with this cross hair without thinking: Why? I'm with the compass theory. I go to test this theory as soon my, much expected, Geophysic is delivered!!!!! Cheers, Nilo
Wait, wait, wait.... You ordered the TT Geophysic??? Wow!
Congrats, my friend. You should be the JLC Moderator, as a true JLC fan you are! Best, Nicolas
I was truly impressed by ....
The International Geophysic Year, when I was a boy and that watch brings me back to those moments. Sputnik, Explorer, Vanguard ignited my young mind at that time. About JLC moderator, impossible. Can we replace the Eiffel Tower? No way. To keep the balanc...
London Bridge
. . . is in Arizona . . . . . . but it's just not the same. Nilo has a good point. :-) ...
Crosshair 'meaning'
Could be to just segment time in 3-hours chunks, beyond and besides the customary 1-h unit? Its the only sense it makes to me. Some usefulness could be argued, especially for some types of activities. It is generally accepted that we can hardly manage mor...
I always associate the crosshair dials with a particular era -- late 50's/early 60's -- and with the concept of travel.
It was a time when air travel was "taking off" (so to speak), and so, I have always associated this feature with a compass rose. The "Pole Router" reinforces this association for me, as does the Breitling Transocean, which was introduced in the late 50's,...