What messes up dial symmetry?

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

A cyclops at 6 can add balance to a dial, but you might have to DiY.

Ugh, I love that Heritage chrono.

[bjw]

This : IV

[madonofrio]

Originally Posted by locutus49

Humans are genetically biased towards symmetry in selecting mates, as it was a sign of health in the neolithic era and earlier. So I understand the hard-wired preference most have for symmetry, but I like the cyclops and think asymmetry can have its own attractions.

That is simply untrue. Have you ever seen photos where one half of a celebrity's face is matched with the other (to make them symmetrical)?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/omarvillega...aces-were-sym?

They look like alien freaks.

[Dirt]

The layout of the text is the worst offender in Rolex terms.

[Seaotter]

Originally Posted by douglasf13

Well, a watch without the time and no crown would be even more symmetrical, but I tend to pick function over form in this case.

Speaking of the SD4k, they actually screwed up the symmetry a bit. The Rolex date wheel is inset to accommodate the cyclops, so, on the older SeaDwellers, they downsized the dial a bit to bring the date window closer to the minute track. In the current version, they used the same dial size as the SubDate, so there's too much space between the date and the minute track, which looks odd. Between that and the end links jutting out past the lugs, the old SeaDweller was much better sorted.

Here's a comparison of old vs. new to illustrate what I'm saying:

Same 3135 movement ? Other dial size .....



Omega AT 38,5 vs 41,5 (Both 8500 movement).




Breitling Airborn 41 VS 44 (Both B01 movement).

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by Seaotter

Same 3135 movement ? Other dial size .....

Yeah, those are other good examples. The original AT 2500 date window was better sorted, because Omega just added an index next to the window that changed length with different dial sizes.

[JacksonStone]

Originally Posted by douglasf13

Yeah, those are other good examples. The original AT 2500 date window was better sorted, because Omega just added an index next to the window that changed length with different dial sizes.

Agreed. Likewise, the 42mm PO2500 had one of the best-situated date windows I've seen on a diver.

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by Seaotter

Same 3135 movement ? Other dial size .....

Attachment 840534

Omega AT 38,5 vs 41,5 (Both 8500 movement).
Attachment 840535

Attachment 840534

Breitling Airborn 41 VS 44 (Both B01 movement).
Attachment 840536

I have the opposite reaction. The smaller models look too crammed with not enough space on the dial. The larger ones look much better balanced and the dial can breathe.

As for the OP's question, symmetry is thrown off by the date and/or cyclops. Up to you if it's an issue.

[Old Expat Beast]

Two watches, one movement (ETA 2824). One is 32mm one is 41mm. I guess the bigger one looks more symmetrical, but I prefer the look of the smaller one.

[Andad]

As Adam has shown it is possible to have dial symmetry with a date with/without cyclops.

There are other examples with more complications.

[Andad]

My pet hate us when a manufacturer designs a perfect dial and then drill holes through numbers etc to fit chronograph sub dials.

Fortunately Rolex didn't do this to my SS Daytona.......

[Hollister]

If we are talking about dial symmetry, excluding the case and crown, then self-evidently any asymmetric feature such as a date window at 3 (with or without a magnifier on the crystal - that's the crystal, not the dial) by definition renders the dial asymmetric. If you follow my drift.

My current squeeze, and I think the dial symmetry is a large part of why I like this watch so much:

https://www.rolex.com/watches/oyster...4300-0003.html

[HogwldFLTR]

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

now that is what i am talking about.

[bdex75]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Very nice Lee. Love this one the most of the 3 BB kids. But the blue with the Mercedes hands and lollipop are a close second in my BB collection. Round hands round markers is about perfect.


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