Hands

The indicators on a watch dial that point to the time or other information, such as seconds, date, or other complications. Watch hands are attached to the central axle of the movement and are powered by the gear train, moving in synchronization to display the correct time.

Types of hands include:

• Hour Hand: The shortest and thickest hand, indicating the hour on the dial.
• Minute Hand: Longer and slimmer than the hour hand, used to display the minutes.
• Second Hand: The thinnest and often the longest, measuring seconds. It may move in a ticking motion (quartz movement) or sweep smoothly (mechanical movement).

Styles of watch hands vary greatly, often reflecting the design of the watch. Some common styles include:

• Dauphine: Triangular-shaped hands with sharp edges, offering a sleek and elegant look.
• Sword: Shaped like a sword blade, often seen in sportier designs.
• Alpha: Tapered hands with a modern aesthetic.
• Baton: Straight, rectangular hands, favored for minimalist designs.
• Cathedral: Intricately detailed hands resembling church windows, often used in vintage or pilot watches.
• Skeletonized: Hollowed-out hands that reveal part of the dial or movement below.