I like a lot of vintage watches so yes I am very fond of the sub second dial. This Girard Perregaux is a modern watch, however, it is modeled after the original GP watch circa 1945. The sub-second can be anything other than a dress watch (see my Vitorinox military watch below).

 

After looking at "normal" second hands for years, I feel a sub-second dial can add a point of interest ...

 

Forum double posts all by itself .

 

Depends on the watch and execution. I wouldn't go for a diver with sub seconds, most likely, but it looks great on dressier watches or field watches.

 

What he said

 

If I had only one great watch, it would be an automatic, with no sub-dial.

 

I nearly always prefer a centre seconds hand but there are some exceptions where I think a seconds sub-dial really suits the watch. The Nomos Tangente models would be an example for me and it's been on and off my wish list for ages.

 

I like it, something like this looks great

 

Two of my current faves! And the both have sub second dials. And one (STOWA) I consider a dress watch.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

I'd rather have sub seconds than a date wheel.

 

If you consider the lay-out of the gear train, the sub-seconds should be considered the rule and not the exception. It does, however, present itself as a more formal/dress feature, even though it is the center seconds that is, technically, a 'complication'.

My favorite sub seconds is the Glashutte Original Senator Chronometer.

My favorite retrograde sub seconds is the Blancpain Villeret UltraSlim Retrograde.

 

If you consider the lay-out of the gear train, the sub-seconds should be considered the rule and not the exception. It does, however, present itself as a more formal/dress feature, even though it is the center seconds that is, technically, a 'complication'.

Indeed, sub-seconds are rather a "simplification". When I started collecting, I had much appreciation for it - I particularly liked the 9h subdial design (like Panerai). Nowadays, not that much. Center seconds make more sense to me.

 

really like sub seconds much more than conventional second hand.

it's not just dress/formal watches that can pull them off, take the Speedy or any number of PAMs for example.

I don't really use it to measure seconds, more as a quick-look gauge to see whether my mechanical/automatic still has life in it.

 

1: Depends - don't love it on my quartz Tissot Tradition GMT, mixed feeling on my Mido Multifort chrono because it only has markings every 15 secs, love it on my Longines Conquest Sport chrono and Steinhart Nav-b where there are 5 or 10 sed matkings. On a pocket watch absolutely!

2: Yes

3:

 

I like all types of watches. I generally prefer a central seconds hand.
But I like having a few watches with seconds on a subdial.

This is a favorite one:



A common style:



Lots of vintage watches have seconds on a subdial:

 

Center seconds, sub seconds, it's all cool with me. Doesn't need to be dressy either.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Sub-seconds? Sure, when it's on a chronograph.[emoji6]

Sent from my F8132 using Tapatalk

 

Not for me! I want to see that big sweeping seconds hand! I think that's the reason I got interested in mechanical watches to begin with. Chronographs are the only exception, I don't like when they have a running central seconds hand and a sub seconds dial for the Chrono. Commonly seen in quartz chronos.

 

I have no problem with using my RGM as a dress watch with a sub-second dial.

 

Yes

 

I have one my Raymond Weil Geneve, and i love it.

 

Sweep seconds makes the movement thicker, the basic ultra thin Elite movement is only 3.28mm thick including rotor. Even with the dual time complication on this example it is only 3.75mm thick, a much under appreciated movement. Thickness comparison is with a Seiko "Cocktail Time"
Off topic: one of the best date windows too.

 

Certainly!

 

It depends on the watch--if I am going old school, then yes, of course a sub dial is nice. In other cases, I don't need a seconds hand at all. Here's my sub dial.

 

I don't think I'll ever get tired of you showing off that Flying Scotsman.

To get back on track with the thread, I find I'm pretty indifferent, with maybe a slight preference for a central seconds hand.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

I like it, especially on dress watches, but never though about it making a watch more appealing than a central seconds. Both are fine by my book. I think for dress watches, which tend to be a bit.... plain.... having just that one subdial does add something which is a bit more visually interesting than a central seconds.

 

Short answer - yes. Just not on all watches.

 

I generally prefer a center second hand but I do like a sub-seconds dial for a change of pace.