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DaveK
·It’s not a great shot, but it’s in for a service and will have to do for now. Let’s call this typography Alice in Wonderland 😝
I love typography on vintage watches
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Peter_from_NL
·Nice topic, this is exactly why I love my “Jeffersonia” (and still don’t know why it is called that way). Art Deco 20’s ish design.
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Tony C.
··Ωf Jury memberoops! wrong thread.
Edited:
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hejsam
·Some nice 4:s
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Tony C.
··Ωf Jury memberOne my favorites are these stylized numerals employed by Certina, and only on this DS dial variation, to my knowledge.
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Oku
·and two other watches with uncommon fonts
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Peemacgee
··Purrrr-veyor of luxury cat box loungersNot an expensive watch by any means and no No4 but this was this was the first vintage watch I bought (while looking for something else) because I just fell in love with the burnished copper 'secessionist' numbers.
(which, from previous research, appear to have been copied by later Russian watches)
A French watch, probably mid 50s, as it has an early Lorsa (L'Horlogerie De Savoie) automatic movement. (and I'm fairly sure that is radium on the indices)
Although the Comet brand has been used by several marques, I've never been able to find out who made this watch. (@Syrte ?)
Pics courtesy of Watchguy
(which, from previous research, appear to have been copied by later Russian watches)
A French watch, probably mid 50s, as it has an early Lorsa (L'Horlogerie De Savoie) automatic movement. (and I'm fairly sure that is radium on the indices)
Although the Comet brand has been used by several marques, I've never been able to find out who made this watch. (@Syrte ?)
Pics courtesy of Watchguy
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Syrte
·Not an expensive watch by any means and no No4 but this was this was the first vintage watch I bought (while looking for something else) because I just fell in love with the burnished copper 'secessionist' numbers.
(which, from previous research, appear to have been copied by later Russian watches)
A French watch, probably mid 50s, as it has an early Lorsa (L'Horlogerie De Savoie) automatic movement. (and I'm fairly sure that is radium on the indices)
Although the Comet brand has been used by several marques, I've never been able to find out who made this watch. (@Syrte ?)
Pics courtesy of Watchguy
Hi, no idea but @S.H. maybe will know?
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neilfrancis
·Elektrische ...
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S.H.
·Not vintage, but interesting logo on my SLA021:
Cool typography imho, and not easily seen with the naked eye.
@Peemacgee : PM replied to 😉
Cool typography imho, and not easily seen with the naked eye.
@Peemacgee : PM replied to 😉
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Screwbacks
·who has four numeric hour index cut into halves?
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Jamesbocho
·Not vintage, but interesting logo on my SLA021:
Cool typography imho, and not easily seen with the naked eye.
@Peemacgee : PM replied to 😉
Those are known as "inktraps." The role of the little cut-ins on the letters was traditionally to give a place for ink to spread out without distorting the letter forms and making the text hard to read. It's most obvious on typefaces that were designed for situations when cheap paper was used (think newspapers or phone books). A typeface such as Bell Centennial, which was designed for phone books, has massive ink traps that, at larger sizes, distort the letters but disappear when printed at 4.5 point.
In this case, it's meant to give the illusion of uniformity of weight to the letter forms so when it's viewed with the naked eye at regular distance, no parts of the letter appear bolder than any other.
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rootbeer7
·Those are known as "inktraps." The role of the little cut-ins on the letters was traditionally to give a place for ink to spread out without distorting the letter forms and making the text hard to read. It's most obvious on typefaces that were designed for situations when cheap paper was used (think newspapers or phone books). A typeface such as Bell Centennial, which was designed for phone books, has massive ink traps that, at larger sizes, distort the letters but disappear when printed at 4.5 point.
In this case, it's meant to give the illusion of uniformity of weight to the letter forms so when it's viewed with the naked eye at regular distance, no parts of the letter appear bolder than any other.
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DaveK
·Kind of interesting, a NYT article about brands knowing that well-chosen fonts can do much to convey the style of a timepiece. https://nyti.ms/2qyjwGq
This thread has really gotten me interested in learning more about the curlicue typeface one the Omega pocket watch posted above. What was it called, where and why was it used, was it designed by Omega? So many questions
📖
This thread has really gotten me interested in learning more about the curlicue typeface one the Omega pocket watch posted above. What was it called, where and why was it used, was it designed by Omega? So many questions
📖
Edited:
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Jamesbocho
·Kind of interesting, a NYT article about brands knowing that well-chosen fonts can do much to convey the style of a timepiece. https://nyti.ms/2qyjwGq
This thread has really gotten me interested in learning more about the curlicue typeface one the Omega pocket watch posted above. What was it called, where and why was it used, was it designed by Omega? So many questions
📖
That lettering on the pocket watch is based on a Didot-style typeface. They originated in France in the late 18th century and are most notable for their high contrast (the difference between the thickest part of the letter and the thinnest). It's based on writing with a pointed pen which, as more pressure is applied on the nib by the user, the pen stroke gets bolder (as opposed to using a broad-nibbed pen which changes contrast based on how the pen is turned).
All the extra curls and swashes were probably done by whomever was commissioned to design the dial although there were plenty of typefaces, particularly in the Victorian era, that were very heavily ornamented so it is possible they picked it out of a book.
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MoclovFlop
·One my favorites are these stylized numerals employed by Certina, and only on this DS dial variation, to my knowledge.
I have the same 5601 113 that's converted to a standard DS case. (Just bought a correct diver case though!)
I commented in this thread that an Omega someone posted has a similar look. Definitely one of my favorites too.
