When I was younger, I thought subdials were cool. As someone who likes reading about fine mechanical watches, I also recognize that complications are the highest expression of a watchmakers design capabilities and craftsmanship. But, in daily life, I'm not so fond of subdials anymore.
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| These Subdials Add To The Watch Designs (Invicta & AVI-8 watches shown) |
First, subdials are often hard to read. I'm in my mid-fifties now and it's not so easy to read subdials anymore. They make me reach for reading glasses and make me feel my age. If I can't read the subdials, I wonder if they even need to work. I have attractive, inexpensive, watches from Caribbean Joe and Ed Hardy that have completely non-functional sub-dials.
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| Caribbean Joe Watches (left) and an Ed Hardy Watch (right) |
Second, subdials aren't really that practical. I'm sure all the Rolex Speedway fans would beg to differ, but who can read subdials at 150 miles per hour? According to the Ministry of Totally Made-up Statistics, 32.9% of all sportscar accidents are caused by drivers glancing at subdials. When I was younger and used to race sailboats, we would use digital watches or even digital egg timers to count down the 3 minutes until we were supposed to cross the starting line at speed. We would never have time to fiddle with sub-dials while trimming sails, steering, and watching out for other boats.
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| These Invicta Subdials Gave up the Ghost after the Watch Sat for a Long Time with a Dead Battery |
Third, it seems like subdials on quartz watches don't like to work if you've let your watch sit for a long period of time with a dead battery. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's related to something else. But, I've changes batteries and verified that pusher buttons are closing the appropriate circuits and nothing.
Anyway, my truth is that sub-dials, and my eyes, aren't what they used to be. I won't say never to subdials, but they aren't the exciting feature I once valued.
