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THE INDEX (HOUR MARKER)

The index (hour marker) is a Guide mark, a non-numbered element of a scale, used to indicate a position on a Dial or a scale. Many dials do not display the numerical value of the hours — the numbers from 1 to 12 — but simply twelve distinct guide marks, the Index (hour marker), possibly supplemented by smaller guide marks for the minutes. An Index (hour marker) can be printed, meaning transferred onto the surface of the dial, or take the form of an Applied marker: a small metal relief piece, cut or molded, fixed to the dial by feet. The Applied marker Index (hour marker)s, often faceted and polished or filled with luminescent material, add relief, play of light and legibility. Their shape — batons, dots, stylized Roman numerals, chevrons — greatly contributes to the aesthetic identity of a watch. The placement of the indexes requires great positioning precision, as any misalignment is immediately noticeable. Both a functional and stylistic element, the index (hour marker) is one of the striking features of a timepiece’s face.