Dot indices are round hour markers on a watch dial. They are easy to read, much like baton markers, and easy to coat with luminous material so they can be read in the dark. They suit sporty or minimalist watches.
Where do dot indices sit among hour markers?
Hour markers are also known as indices or hour indices. Dots are one type. Other styles include Arabic or Roman numerals, bars and applied indices. The choice matters. A marker’s shape, whether batons, dots, numerals or chevrons, does a lot to set the look of a watch. Round markers rarely appear alone. They usually share a dial with other shapes, such as batons and an arrow or triangle.
How did Rolex use dot indices?
The Rolex Submariner shows how dots work alongside other shapes. Its dial used dots for the hours that did not get a triangle or a baton. This layout carried on into later Rolex dive watches. The Submariner’s indices were also made to glow in the dark. Rolex used radium paint for this at first, then switched to tritium-based paint.
Which watches use dot indices?
Dot indices appear on watches from Piaget, Rolex and Patek Philippe. Their round shape suits both sporty and minimalist watches. Round markers are easy to read, in much the same way as baton markers. They are also easy to coat with luminous material. That coating lets the wearer read the time in the dark.
Checked
