DIAL
Interview with Dr. Helmut Crott
The appearance of the dial in the history of time measurement predates mechanical horology. For example, the gnomon casts its shadow on a dial, similar to the style of a sundial. The first dials dividing the day into regular periods appeared as early as the 4th century B.C.
The first mechanical clocks were built in the 13th century. Until the late 14th century, they lacked dials and hands, indicating the hours solely through a bell’s chime. The first dials rotated on their axis, indicating the time as they passed a fixed index. Quickly, the dial became fixed, and time was indicated by one, then two hands moving around the circular graduation of the dial. Over the centuries, clocks, and later watches, became more complex, providing additional indications. Hands could multiply coaxially or appear at different locations on the dial. Additionally, the display by disc and window combined with hands from the early days of mechanical horology.
While the dial is not an essential component, as seen in skeleton watches, for instance, its absence is compensated by peripheral indices on the movement or simply by the position of the hands alone. However, the dial remains the preferred mode of display in horology, even though digital displays on electronic watches have posed some competition since the 1970s and the advent of quartz technology.
- Miniature painting dials
- Enamel dials
- Metal dials
- Galvanic dials (PVD)
- Meteorite dials
- Mother of pearl dials
- Stone dials/from aventurine glass
- Sapphire dials (synthetic corundums)
- Stamped/pressed dials
- Engraved dials (hand or machine)
- Engine turned dials
- Lacquered dials
- Painted dials
- Snap-on dials
- Dials from composite materials
- Other artistic dials