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Roman numerals are just wrong on a wrist watch

  1. Engee Mar 18, 2021

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    For me there's something about roman numerals on a wrist watch that just looks wrong. I've yet to see one where the numerals enhance the piece in any way. They're too busy to add elegance, they are clearly historically inappropriate. They probably should have stopped using them once we moved on from sundials although I don't mind them so much on a clock, because, I think, the larger dial allows sufficient space for the numerals to sit comfortably, besides, many of the clocks I have seen with roman numerals are older than wristwatches (Victorian carriage clocks, for example), but whenever I see them on a watch my reaction is to think that the designer is trying too hard to make the thing look classy, and failing.

    I know this last point sounds very snobbish, and I apologise to those of you who like a watch with roman numerals. In matters of taste there is no right or wrong, and your liking of them is as valid as my snobbish dislike of them. I know that I'm a minimalist generally. I prefer index marks to numerals, and tend towards less complicated watches and away from those with multiple functions and sub-dials, so, perhaps this is just an extension of that aesthetic sensibility? I'd still back away from a no date, two hand watch with roman numerals, simple as that might be.

    I'd happily be persuaded otherwise, so please feel free to post pictures of watches with roman numerals that you think look good.

    Am I alone on this?
     
    Edited Mar 18, 2021
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  2. Canuck Mar 18, 2021

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    ‘Fraid so!

    4A63B671-B6DB-41AB-8053-0A66719B477A.jpeg 3B2EB482-0A63-4D8A-8225-D8AFE266ED04.jpeg
     
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  3. Engee Mar 18, 2021

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    Hmm, pocket watches are perhaps a different category, although that one with both Roman and Arabic is crazy. I will edit my post to say "wrist watches".
     
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  4. BlackTalon This Space for Rent Mar 18, 2021

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    My son is actually nuts for watches with roman numerals. Picked him up a cheap Chinese-made one a coupe months ago that he really loves. My dad's daily wearer has roman numerals, and my son want to be like grandpa.

    In my many hours of flipping through Watchrecon looking for potential purchases for my son I have seen a lot of them that look pretty nice. They are almost universally dressy, and since I do not really wear dressy watches I have not picked up any for myself.
     
  5. Canuck Mar 18, 2021

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    So, okay! Wrist watches.

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  6. Engee Mar 18, 2021

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    Nope, doesn't do it for me. I like DJs, but far, far prefer it with indexes.
     
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  7. dsio Ash @ ΩF Staff Member Mar 18, 2021

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    I do prefer romans on watches over Arabic indices, I especially loathe cursive Arabic letters with flourishes like the Franck Muller dials, I think romans do work on things like Datejusts and some Calatravas but my favorite indices will always be Omega’s beautifully polished arrowheads on the Constellations.
     
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  8. gbesq Mar 18, 2021

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    I don’t agree. My partner wears this De Ville Prestige model. It’s a very classy timepiece and draws a lot of compliments.
    upload_2021-3-18_9-16-48.jpeg
     
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  9. size11s Can’t bat, can’t bowl Mar 18, 2021

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    I generally prefer arabic numerals too but I think roman can be nicely balanced on even a moderately sized dial, these are 29mm and I don't have any objections to raise at all.
    [​IMG]
     
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  10. jumpingsecond Mar 18, 2021

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    Hmmm...;) IMG_20200803_072137_669.jpg
     
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  11. Risto Mar 18, 2021

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  12. cvalue13 Mar 18, 2021

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    While we’re here, to add an asterisk of oddity: on watches, it’s often an altered set of Romans, presenting the number four as “IIII” instead of “IV”

    Ive seen it said this is so as to achieve balance in design, but that’s not made intuitive sense to me.
     
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  13. Canuck Mar 18, 2021

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    You’re fighting a losing battle! Suggest you continue to dislike Roman numerals, in private!:D
     
  14. Canuck Mar 18, 2021

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    One explanation for the IIII on dials, rather than the IV, is that in the 14th century, King Charles V of England, insisted the Roman number IIII be used because he consider subtracting I from V (in his title) was an omen of bad luck.
     
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  15. Waltesefalcon Mar 18, 2021

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    Yes, Roman numerals are the worst.
     
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  16. cvalue13 Mar 18, 2021

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    I notice that a lot of people posting counter-examples are watches with only partial Romans, say at every-other hour, or even down to just the 12 and 6 positions

    I assume you especially dislike those with a full suite of Romans, and the fewer the better :D

    Older clocks, more likely to be 24hr or “double twelve” would’ve really pricked you:

    The Shepard Gate clock (first to present GMT time to the public):

    upload_2021-3-18_8-33-39.jpeg


    And, even though “Big Ben’s” external face is a 12hr dial (in Romans), the inner-workings include a 24hr indicator presented in “double-12” format (in Romans):

    upload_2021-3-18_8-42-10.jpeg
     
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  17. Tony C. Ωf Jury member Mar 18, 2021

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    [​IMG]
     
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  18. Vercingetorix Spam Risk Mar 18, 2021

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    Never understood the point of these.
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  19. Engee Mar 18, 2021

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    That Eterna is nicer than most, actually, but, still very busy.
    And yes, @cvalue13, partial use of numerals, say on the quarter hour or evens, is more acceptable, but still, they grate on me. As someone said, Connie arrowheads may well be peak hour marker!
     
    Edited Mar 19, 2021
  20. iamvr Mar 18, 2021

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    My first automatic watch and daily beater before I got into vintage watches. And one of the main reasons I bought it were the Roman numerals ;).

    Thanks @cvalue13 mentioning the oddity. I have not noticed it until your post. My 6.5 years of Latin at school weren't really fruitful.

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