I love typography on vintage watches

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NT931

·Aug 10, 2020

I looked at my vintage watches with a new eye after watching the episode of Netflix's 'Abstract' where they featured Jonathan Hoefler, who designed a new typeface based on vintage watches (yes, the typeface on Hodinkee's infamous travel clock).

So I decided to take some pics from 4 vintage watches from 4 different brands, with 4 fonts for the number "4". All flat-topped "4"s but very different when you look at the details.

Would love to see other cool typefaces you guys have too!

Edited: Aug 10, 2020

 

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eugeneandresson

·Aug 10, 2020

One could argue this too is a unique flat top 4 ...

But how’s that 8?!

 

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NT931

·Aug 10, 2020

eugeneandresson

One could argue this too is a unique flat top 4 ...

But how’s that 8?!

Cool! My Royce has a similar flat top 8, except the bottom is also flat. The '4' is similar to yours though, but look at that '10'... a very funky font indeed!

 

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jeppehh

·Aug 10, 2020

I bought this one primarily for the typography.

 

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Professor

·Aug 10, 2020

Three very different fonts here
First the blocky fat and flat topped numerals of this Paul Peugeot.

Next a pregnant looking flat topped 4 on this Midland.
Along with lightly clipped tops and/or bottoms of zero,twos ,eight and the rather hopeful spire six.

Lastly the Zorro. Nicely flowing lines of the eight and other rounded numerals with serif. Otherwise conventional. Easy on the eyes.

 

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Oku

·Aug 10, 2020

Note the hooked 7 and the rounded 4. Can be found on many Excelsior Park.



And the 30T2

 

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STANDY

·Aug 10, 2020·schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector

Curved 4

cool 8

 

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DaveK

·Aug 10, 2020

4 with a shadow 😎

4 with a funky tail

 

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queriver

·Aug 10, 2020

Early 1940s cal 83 IWC:

 

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noelekal

·Aug 10, 2020·Home For Wayward Watches

Very cool thread idea for it's the vintage logos and styling that really "floats my boat" about a vintage watch and I especially love a full set of Arabic numeral markers.









For the "4".


These Arabic numeral markers are especially yummy!


As are these Arabic numeral markings ...


... along with the dial's presto-chango hues.

 

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NT931

·Aug 10, 2020

DaveK

4 with a shadow 😎

I forgot I had one of those with a shadow too!

Another flat top 8, and a funky 5

A 6 that almost resembles a G, and a squared off 10

And some surprisingly balanced numbers from an old Certina

 

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STANDY

·Aug 10, 2020·schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector

NT931

and a funky

Funky, I got funky.....

 

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Jamesbocho

·Aug 11, 2020

As a type designer the owner of a type foundry, this thread is definitely interesting to me. In fact, part of the reason I chose my '57 LE Railmaster over the new one is the use of Futura on the dial of the new watch seemed like a cop-out. Personally, I really like the subdial numerals on the SpeedyTuesday. The copperplate serifs provide a lot of interest without looking old-fashioned.

 

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rootbeer7

·Aug 12, 2020

The famous Panerai open 6.

 

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Screwbacks

·Aug 15, 2020

will this fit here?

Edited: Aug 16, 2020

 

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Pazzo

·Aug 15, 2020

..or this?

 

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Tony C.

·Aug 15, 2020·Ωf Jury member

 

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rootbeer7

·Aug 15, 2020

I’m waiting for this one to come back from restoration (case & movement), so this is the best image I’ve got, but the numbers in the outer bezel are in a lovely font.

 

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queriver

·Aug 15, 2020

This Ormo has the less commonly seen crossed 7:

 

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aap

·Aug 15, 2020

Being a fan of all things design related myself, I've been fascinated by the typography / letterings on watches. I actually tried researching / finding what some of the fonts used on my watches are called, esp. the UG Polerouter Sub. I posted some watches in font-related fora and it is in one forum that a designer told me that the ones used on most vintage watches, like my Polerouter Sub is more of a lettering than a font, explaining why it's difficult to find their exact names.

Anyway, here are some favorites form my collection:

















And of course: