Why are there no/few watches with a seconds subdial at 12

[Tanukjaju]

I’ve looked around quite a bit…

Lots of watches with a sub seconds at 9 and 6…

Why are there no(?) watches/movements with a seconds subdial at 12?

I love watches movements that are different… quirky.

[Aikidosan]

Good question, Tan. I myself wonder if there are any Pam homages like that. Would obviously have to be a crown @ 9 o'clock setup.......but definitely would fit the "quirky" catagory.

[Yoda]

I’ve looked around quite a bit…

Lots of watches with a sub seconds at 9 and 6…

Why are there no(?) watches/movements with a seconds subdial at 12?

I love watches movements that are different… quirky.

A Unitas /ETA 6498 and a case with the crown at 0900 plus a special ordered dial? Hm?

[Tanukjaju]

@Aikidosan @Yoda I’m currently working on a destro build for that reason. That said, I would prefer the crown at 3 vs 9. I googled and can’t seem to find a movement configured that way. Then I realized I could not find an existing watch that was built that way either.

[sazabi2001]

12 o'clock position is for the brand marks. Well, a lot of clocks / car clocks have the second dial on the 12.

I assumed it was from the pocket watch ear. Winding at 12 is the most ergonomic way, and sub-second at 6 requires minimal gears and space. Then people just get used to it and that's about it.

[unreformed66]

I've seen and owned Elgin pocket watches with the seconds at 12. They called it a "bus driver's watch", the thought being that you could slide it out of your pocket while sitting down and read it without having to turn it over. So the pendant (crown) would be at 6:00 instead of 12:00.

The reason that seconds at 12 is rare it that the winding and setting mechanism is usually at 12 and that's problematic obviously. Or in a hunting case where the winding and setting parts are at 3 you'd have to make it wind at 9 for seconds at 12 which would be backwards for most people. Lefties might like it...lol.

[Tanukjaju]

I've seen and owned Elgin pocket watches with the seconds at 12. They called it a "bus driver's watch", the thought being that you could slide it out of your pocket while sitting down and read it without having to turn it over. So the pendant (crown) would be at 6:00 instead of 12:00.

The reason that seconds at 12 is rare it that the winding and setting mechanism is usually at 12 and that's problematic obviously. Or in a hunting case where the winding and setting parts are at 3 you'd have to make it wind at 9 for seconds at 12 which would be backwards for most people. Lefties might like it...lol.

Enough info for me to google! I really like the layout

[unreformed66]

I've probably got one of those dials around here somewhere. They fit any Elgin 16 size open face movement.

[Tanukjaju]

I've probably got one of those dials around here somewhere. They fit any Elgin 16 size open face movement.

I’ve just put in a request for a small dial for a 36mm watch…. Thank you though! Watch will be destro / for left handed people who wear a watch on the right hand