Chronograph dial design.

[rfrazier]

One of the things that has bothered me about chronograph dials is how the hands obscure the sub-dials. One way to deal with this is to have thin hands (contrary to current practice). I was wondering about other ways of dealing with this. One obvious thought would be to have a "mystery" dial, but the subdials would get in the way of this. Any other strategies?

Best wishes,
Bob

[chrisparker]

How about a swap of functions - the main central second, minute and hour hands to be used for timing and sub dials used for timekeeping rather than the opposite usual configuration.

Chris

[mr1973]

Tutima Commando?

[doug darter]

Only one solution Bob - you'll have to go digital :D

[abraxas]

You made my day. I've been dying to post this. Based on the first chronograph ever.

Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec
http://montblanc.watchprosite.com/show- ... ti-462646/
http://montblanc.watchprosite.com/?show ... 81&fi=1006

john

[abraxas]

Glashütte Original PanoGraph
http://www.tp178.com/mh/gopanograph/goPanoGraph_1.html

john

[andrew]

TAH Heur Calibre S. Purists will dislike it as it's quartz, but it answers the question. The movement is apparently one of TAG's own, stating as they do - unequivocally - that this is a TAG designed and in-house manufactured movement. It has 230 moving parts which is a lot more than your typical quartz chrono. The hands display chrono elapsed time in chrono mode and will display actual time if you press the crown in while the chrono is running (operated by conventional pushers). Or something like that. Here's one (there are others which count pointlessly to the nearest 1/100 sec):

[mr1973]

Thank you John, now YOU have made my day :shock:



Probably the most interesting concept I've seen for years now.

[rfrazier]

That bridge on the Montblanc is fairly obscuring, but it is an interesting idea.

Best wishes,
Bob

[Ross.]

Thank you John, now YOU have made my day :shock:



Probably the most interesting concept I've seen for years now.

really like that

[jd]

There's always skeleton hands, a la SMP chrono. Not really a fan myself.

I think a centre-hand minute counter is probably the best solution though. The Pan-o-graph is an interesting design, but appears to be a 30 minute chrono - a negative point in my view.

It's more important that the time is easy to read, for me, as that's what you need to check in real time. I'm usually most interested in reading the subdials once the chrono has stopped. On the odd occasion when the main hands are obscuring the subdial(s), you only need to wait a minute or two.

[thenikjones]

That bridge on the Montblanc is fairly obscuring, but it is an interesting idea.

Best wishes,
Bob

I haven't read the links, but is it the dial that moves, rather than the indicator? If so, the bridge doesn't obscure anything.

I think the Lemania 5100 design answers your question, certainly for timing up to 60mins.

[shalako]

As previously mentioned I think the Seamaster 'Bond' Chrono' has one of the most practical solutions with the skeleton hands. One of the best designed and best value sports Chrono's aout there IMHO.... But I am biased.. I own one. :o

[abraxas]

Thank you John, now YOU have made my day :shock:

Probably the most interesting concept I've seen for years now.

really like that

I had a pic of the original chronograph not the single dial shown on the web but … a box with two dials on top (just as on the watch) but I cannot find it.

The Star Nicholas is Montblanc’s first effort at unique in-house using the Minerva facilities. (No point in talking about price.)

A nice pre Star Nicholas video
http://www.relojes-especiales.com/porta ... graph.html

john

[gladders]

One of the things that has bothered me about chronograph dials is how the hands obscure the sub-dials. One way to deal with this is to have thin hands (contrary to current practice). I was wondering about other ways of dealing with this. One obvious thought would be to have a "mystery" dial, but the subdials would get in the way of this. Any other strategies?

Best wishes,
Bob

Hi,

I've thought about this too. This sounds really complicated, but how about chrono hands floating on the underside of the crystal driven by a belt to pinions (is that the correct term?) at the edge of the dial? Of for quartz, have the display on transparent LCD mounted on the underside of the crystal.

I think the first idea could look quite funky, but I'd imagine the whole thing would crash and burn at the slightest knock.

simon

[emgee]

You made my day. I've been dying to post this. Based on the first chronograph ever.

Montblanc Star Nicolas Rieussec
http://montblanc.watchprosite.com/show- ... ti-462646/
http://montblanc.watchprosite.com/?show ... 81&fi=1006

john

Very nice, but you lose the minutes from 4 to 8 on the time dial. :(

[emgee]

I know! How about a Reverso type with the chrono functions on the flip side. :)

[thenikjones]

john

Very nice, but you lose the minutes from 4 to 8 on the time dial. :(

Engrave a chapter ring on the underside of the crystal?

[Born T]

Put the minute and hour indicators on the edges of two separate sapphire disks revolving above the chronograph hour and minute dials, with the chronograph second hand on top of the uppermost disk. Aesthetics aside, this should be perfectly doable.