Smiths speedometer inspired watch - POLL

[oldandgrumpy]

Before the question is asked, I'll explain the thinking behind the PVD case with steel bezel. If you look at an old motorcycle speedo, it's usually a black case with a chrome bezel and that's the look I was after.

Eddie

I got that immediately. Yes, with a PVD case and polished bezel only, it gives a complete speedo unit feel.

EDIT :

Love the curved Smiths logo

[sean]

Interesting.

If I were buying one, it'd have to have be one of the 60mph versions. But as I don't think I will be, I'd say the 120mph versions are more interesting and unusual (in a good way!).

[Harry Tuttle]

There are many things to like about this design: the minute track and triangular markers, hands, yellow second hand and case shape are all good from my perspective. I particularly like the new Smiths logo - it gives the brand personality, links to it's historic past and is instantly recognisable. I'm hoping that this will become the de facto logo for all future Smiths. I take a previous poster's point about the 5 atm being superfluous, but from a design and aesthetic perspective I like the way the grouping of automatic and 5 atm mirrors the shape of the Smiths logo above. I'm also a big fan of the calendar complication - I'm finding it increasingly difficult to wear a watch without one as I sink further into senility.

So although all of these things are excellent, I'm afraid as much as I'd like to support the project, I couldn't with the proposed number set. To me form should always follow function and when it does it is most likely to inspire classic design. To me the enduring watch designs such as those stemming from a military source (Rolex Sub, Omega SM300, IWC Flieger etc.) are all essentially functional watches first, their iconic design follows from this. For me one messes with this at one's peril. I have no problems with single arabic numerals, or abstract ticks or indices. Even Roman numerals have their place although I'm personally not a huge fan and definitely not on a watch like this. But the confusion of speedometer and chronological information seems to me to be fundamentally wrong. I find them confusing: both cognitively and perceptually making the watch potentially very annoying to use. When I glance at a watch face I want the time to be clear to me immediately, I don't want to have to process extraneous information or expend extra effort interpreting the information. I also fear that tying the design to a speedometer (even if it is a Smiths) may, if not skilfully achieved and marketed, appear to be a little too gimmicky.

I really don't want to appear over critical, and I genuinely wish Eddie and Chris the best with the proposed design, but for me the numerals would stop me from buying even though I genuinely like the rest of the watch.

[seikopath]

When I glance at a watch face I want the time to be clear to me immediately, I don't want to have to process extraneous information or expend extra effort interpreting the information.

Yo Tut, there is mucho mucho empirical evidence that intuitive reading of the analogue face is dependant on position of the hands alone - as long as orientation is clear , ie you know where is the 12... the rest is just taste baby... I can't stand cali dials myself. The fact I find the mix of numerals annoying does not make the face any less easy to read.

[ralphy]

Number 2 works the best for me.


R

[Harry Tuttle]

Yo Tut, there is mucho mucho empirical evidence that intuitive reading of the analogue face is dependant on position of the hands alone - as long as orientation is clear , ie you know where is the 12... the rest is just taste baby... I can't stand cali dials myself. The fact I find the mix of numerals annoying does not make the face any less easy to read.

Word up Seiko,

Like I totally agree that the primary perceptual cue is normally the position of the hands - which is why I think that many users (Petrus of course aside) find analogue dials quicker and easier to use than digital dials. However, the indices and numerals also convey meaning and if they are ambiguous, or are counter to the users normal habituated model of an analogue dial, then I fear mild cognitive dissonance may result. This dissonance would probably be experienced at best as a slight increase in the time required to read the watch, or if the user is already under cognitive load then frustration or error might also result. In effect I think these designs may introduce noise to signal to satisfy superfluous aesthetic or design objectives. If I were to put this watch into rotation with others with more traditional numbered indexes then there may also be a cognitive cost when I rotate between the two types of design. So like whilst I totally dig the rest of the design daddy-o, for me the numbers are a bummer, the 0-120 scale being least groovy of all.

I totally disagree with Harry Tuttle there are military watches with a 60 dial ,they are easy to read and pleasing to view.
the new smiths logo is the best yet it just looks right.


there is no more iconic smiths speedo than the Vincent one probably as it was the first [I think] to have 150mph on the dial

http://velobanjogent.blogspot.co.uk/...-speedoan.html

Yes there are a number of watches that carry a 0-60 dial - I'm thinking particularly of the B-Uhrs but I'm sure there are others. I think that these watches fulfil a function where the primary concern is the minute scale rather than the hour scale (the hour hand being sort of vestigial on these designs). The B-Uhrs I'm thinking of have both: the minute around the circumference of the dial and the smaller hour index towards the centre. In this case I think that the minute scale is more prominent for a reason - that is for navigational purposes rather than aesthetic. In this case the design is centred around the display of minutes rather than hours. Whilst this is perhaps useful for a Luftwaffe Navigator I'm not sure that it's a design that works for me. But like I say if the speedo design works well for others then that's just peachy and I'm the one that will miss out.

But I'm in full agreement about the logo - it's dead good.

[seikopath]

Word up Seiko,

Like I totally agree that the primary perceptual cue is normally the position of the hands - which is why I think that many users (Petrus of course aside) find analogue dials quicker and easier to use than digital dials. However, the indices and numerals also convey meaning and if they are ambiguous, or are counter to the users normal habituated model of an analogue dial, then I fear mild cognitive dissonance may result. This dissonance would probably be experienced at best as a slight increase in the time required to read the watch, or if the user is already under cognitive load then frustration or error might also result. In effect I think these designs may introduce noise to signal to satisfy superfluous aesthetic or design objectives. If I were to put this watch into rotation with others with more traditional numbered indexes then there may also be a cognitive cost when I rotate between the two types of design. So like whilst I totally dig the rest of the design daddy-o, for me the numbers are a bummer, the 0-120 scale being least groovy of all.

I agree mate, if it gets on your tits, it gets on your tits, and that will always be the first thing you see. Like having a perfectly stylish Sandoz day/date clone in slate grey with a transfer of your ex-wife on the dial.

Yes there are a number of watches that carry a 0-60 dial - I'm thinking particularly of the B-Uhrs but I'm sure there are others. I think that these watches fulfil a function where the primary concern is the minute scale rather than the hour scale (the hour hand being sort of vestigial on these designs). The B-Uhrs I'm thinking of have both: the minute around the circumference of the dial and the smaller hour index towards the centre. In this case I think that the minute scale is more prominent for a reason - that is for navigational purposes rather than aesthetic. In this case the design is centred around the display of minutes rather than hours. Whilst this is perhaps useful for a Luftwaffe Navigator I'm not sure that it's a design that works for me. But like I say if the speedo design works well for others then that's just peachy and I'm the one that will miss out.

But I'm in full agreement about the logo - it's dead good.

Dem Seiko Navigators have dem on der dial and it dont cause me no cognitive dissonance anyway berruv.

[Harry Tuttle]

Like having a perfectly stylish Sandoz day/date clone in slate grey with a transfer of your ex-wife on the dial.

Didn't kno Sandoz dun that. I ain't got no ex-ball and chain bruv, if I axsed real nice would they bung somefing else minging on the dial?

Dem Seiko Navigators have dem on der dial and it dont cause me no cognitive dissonance anyway berruv.

Yeah but dem Seikos, dey is like GMT watches or sumfing. These guys are gonna turn dis kettle into a speedo innit. Even I kno like dere is 24 hours in a day. But I ain't never heard of no 120 minutes in an hour daddy-o.

[MartinCRC]

I'm afraid as much as I'd like to support the project, I couldn't with the proposed number set. To me form should always follow function and when it does it is most likely to inspire classic design.

I was thinking the same. It's all very well getting inspiration from the aesthetics of the classic Smiths speedos, but I just don't understand the functional point of having 10 through 120 on the dial. It just seems like a gimmick to me. I can just about appreciate why you might have seconds indicated in the context of a military watch, but I don't much like how that layout looks. The rest of it is fine.

Martin

Can you add 'None of the above' to the poll?

[muffle]

I was thinking the same. It's all very well getting inspiration from the aesthetics of the classic Smiths speedos, but I just don't understand the functional point of having 10 through 120 on the dial. It just seems like a gimmick to me. I can just about appreciate why you might have seconds indicated in the context of a military watch, but I don't much like how that layout looks. The rest of it is fine.

Martin

Can you add 'None of the above' to the poll?

I'm afraid I'm have to agree with the above. If it was just the normal 1-12 I would order this straight away. I understand what you are trying to do but it is a bit of a gimmik to me. Overall the watch is lovely. The case (brushed steel), the crown shape and size, I love the yellow seconds hand and the logo and the railtrack - just lose the 0-60 digits. A watch is a watch, not a speedo, sorry, but just my opinion!

[PickleB]

...If it was just the normal 1-12 I would order this straight away...- just lose the 0-60 digits...

I'll meet you half way; how about 01, 02, 03 ... 12?

I would still prefer 20, 40, 60 ... 100, 120 as per my post above, but then I'm a motorcyclist and remember having British bikes with Smiths chronometric instruments.

[ddm27]

Love the 120 dial - great idea!