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What are "The Hands"? Watch Parts

Let me guess, you've come across the term "Watch Hands" and don't know what it is. Well, no worries. This one is extremely simple.

Watch hands are the ticking/moving/circling indicators of a watch that show you the hour, minute, seconds, and in some watches, more info. It would've been way better to call them "arrows" or even simpler, "indicators", but watch terminology is full of confusing words like this. Albeit, this one is unforgettable. 

If you want to make sure you're not confusing what I'm saying, you can check the image above, the hands of the watch are bright red, while everything else is silver.

How Many Watch Hands Are There?

• Hour Hand: This hand indicates the current hour. It's usually shorter and thicker than the others.
• Minute Hand: This hand shows the current minute. It's typically longer and thinner than the hour hand.
• Second Hand: This hand indicates the current second. It's usually the thinnest and might move in a smooth sweeping motion without the ticking depending on the watch.
• Chronograph Hands: Chronograph watches have stopwatches on the dial, and their smaller hands to indicate the elapsed time, usually one for the minute indicator and another one for the second indicator.
• GMT Hands: They're seen in GMT watches that are capable of showing another timezone, thus they have a 24-hour marker and the hands to show what time it is.
• Subdial Hands: Generally, all the hands other than the main hands (the ones that show the current time), are "subdial hands". Watches may have many functions, some may show the day, and the date, and some may show the power, the battery, etc. The term "subdial hands" stands for all the indicators of subdials that are not a part of the dial on a classic watch.

Some watches may have extraordinarily designed hands, that can elevate the looks of the watch. I personally look at the hands when I'm looking to buy a watch, it's usually not a dealbreaker but oh man when they're good, THEY'RE GOOD. But if you're looking for a classic watch with a low profile, classic hands are the best fit, you don't want them to stand out in a good old leather dress watch.

 

 

Check out other watch parts:

• The Strap

• The Crown

• The Bezel

• The Dial

• The Crystal

 

Featured Watches

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Written by B.H.