There are some handsets that are canonic, and have their own nicknames. Mercedes, Plongeur, etc.
And Seiko have a few “iconic” designs that they use for their Turtle andTuna; What are they called, “Harpoons”? Fugly little things.

But given that many famous hand designs are found inside diver watches, one would think they have primarily, if not solely, one function that MIGHT over-ride all other concerns.
Which is NOT to say that ‘looking good’ is not also their primary concern.

Anyway…

HANDS: Any logic-based rationale behind their design? Or all about visual appeal?

Some regulators popped up in my feed.

There was a time years ago, when I thought I wanted one.
And then, after reading about their origin — and their subsequent irrelevance in terms of the very function for which they were invented– I said “Meh.”

I’d still wear one if I got one as a gift, but I don’t think I’d spend my own $ to buy one.
It seems like an affectation at best, and an irrelevant anachronism.

Your take?

Ya, I looked but couldn’t find any thread about it. So here it is.

Choose your preference(s), not what you will “accept.”

Ya, I know “it depends on the dial” : the overall design of it; where the date window is located, “but it’s a Glashutte Big Date so STFU!” etc.

But what I am looking for is general aesthetic preference all things being more or less equal.
I think almost nobody is on the fence about whether…

DAY + DATE. DATE only, or NO DATE

The premise is as follows:

1. The watch is “OMG IT’S BEAUTIFUL !” (to you) – so don’t bring in that “it all depends on what you like” baggage

2. Made by the SAME “respectable” brand that you admire – so don’t bring in that “homage” / clone / knockoff baggage here.

3. TWO watches are identical in every way — in appearance and in performance, including the way the seconds hand sweeps.

4. Price difference: 10 x more for the automatic version. (Example: USD $300 (quartz) vs $3,000…

Thought Experiment: 2 watches IDENTICAL in appearance. Same maker. HUGE price disparity

I can’t believe we don’t have a thread in this category!
Well, let ‘er rip.

I’ll kick it off with…. the many moods of this little booger:

Most military watches have them.
Ya, I get why they are there, but I do wonder if they are REALLY necessary toTHAT extent.
Do they REALLY make it easier to read the time at a glance?
Don’t other factors affect legibility more anyway?

I used to love those ZENO-BASEL watches when I started out: those with ALL 12 numbers in bold all around the dial.
Like this:

But now? Meh.
Of course, some designs are SO established, that there is no point in fighting…

All 12 (or more) Arabic numbers — as info and/or as decoration