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<\/a><\/div>\nTextured dials have long been a hallmark of thoughtful watch
\ndesign, one that goes beyond the basics.
\nTexture can be subtle or flagrant, it can overpower the dial or take the
\nbackseat, but it always has an impact.
The appeal isn\u2019t just aesthetic. Textures originated as a practical Traditional crafts also played a role. Guilloch\u00e9 and other The modern resurgence of textured dials owes a great deal to brands that have leaned What makes this design direction especially compelling is that it Orient, as a brand that’s always happy to add a bit of flair to its designs, Take, for instance, the 1970\u00a0Orient GM<\/a>.\u00a0Containing one of Orient’s rare high-beat movements (borrowed from Seiko), but Royal Orient, of course, would also feature plenty of unusual Modern Royal Orient watches, while they lasted, also had some standout dials. These were largely inspired by classic machine-turning patterns In the 1980s and 1990s, Orient turned much of its attention to quartz In the second half of the 1990s the focus returned to automatic watches. Over the past 30 years or so, Orient and Orient Star dials have featured numerous patterns and textures. Only a few examples can be listed here\u2026 two of those are Even when Orient does semi-skeleton dials, where the open heart aperture Another example is the classic Today, I see two new trends in the application of textured dials by A completely different approach is taken at the very high end of the
\nsolution to glare, particularly in the mid-20th century, when both dress watches and field watches relied on matte or grained surfaces to enhance legibility.
\nOver time, these finishes evolved toward more decorative expressions: stamped
\nlinen patterns in the 1960s, crisp radial brushing in the 1970s, and more
\nelaborate machine-cut motifs once CNC tooling became widely available. Each era
\nbrought its own take on how a dial could play with light.<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
\nmachine-turned patterns \u2013 once reserved for high-end dress watches \u2013 demonstrated
\nhow texture could elevate a dial through pure geometry and light. Even when
\nused sparingly, these classic techniques helped establish texture as a
\nlegitimate design element rather than just a technical necessity.
\ninto nature-inspired surfaces. Grand Seiko\u2019s \u201cSnowflake\u201d is often credited with
\nkicking off the trend; its finely layered, almost paper-like texture showed
\njust how expressive a dial could be without resorting to bold colors or busy
\nlayouts. Coupled with the novel spring-drive movement, that watch gave the
\npremium brand a serious boost, and no wonder Grand Seikos kept boasting unique
\ndials ever after. <\/a><\/div>\n
\nbridges the gap between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary watchmaking.
\nStamped textures, laser finishing, and powdered lacquers all coexist today,
\neach offering a distinct visual nuance. And for collectors, especially
\nthose who enjoy discovering small details, textured dials offer the perfect
\nblend of subtlety and richness: quiet at a glance, rewarding under the loupe.
\ndipped its toes in the texture pool as well. Considering it is a visual
\nelement that requires no changes to the mechanical parts of the watch, it’s a
\ntrend that aligns perfectly with its watchmaking preferences.<\/a><\/div>\n
\nhoused in a modest case, most GMs were presented with unique dial textures \u2013
\npossibly hinting that something special is ticking inside. The two samples above
\nshow one GM with a linen dial (a style that I see as the true ancestor of the
\nsnowflake) and one with simpler, but not any less attractive, geometric finishing.
\ndials<\/a>, fitting for a high-end product. Pictured below are just two of many,
\nmy favorite polka-dot dial and a more obscure model with a dial that looks like
\na stamped gold leaf.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\nsuch as Guilloch\u00e9 and tapisserie. While similar patterns can be found on other
\nOrient watches, the “Royal” versions were generally finished to
\nhigher standards.
\nwatches. These, too, were often adorned with textured dials. Below, for instance, is a golden ladies’ watch featuring a pressed pattern resembling linen dials.<\/a><\/div>\n
\nWith the renewed interest, proper dial decorations made their comeback \u2013 both to
\nthe standard models, and to the reintroduced Orient Star label.
\nshown below, in the Orient Polaris GMT’s Guilloch\u00e9-like weave pattern, and the “Clous
\nde Paris” finishing of the FD
\nseries Orient Star<\/a>.<\/a><\/div>\n
\nis already taking much of the attention (and space) given to the dial, there’s
\nalways room for a bit of texture. The layered
\nskeleton<\/a> is one extreme example, where Orient had put together a few bold
\npatterns.
\nmoon-phase watch<\/a>, which has a particularly complex dial structure. Here,
\nthe center of the dial features a repeated pattern of Orient Star symbols.<\/a><\/div>\n
\nOrient. First, in regular Orient models, these are typically offered to
\nhighlight limited edition models \u2013 such as this 75th<\/sup>
\nanniversary<\/a> limited edition Mako 40mm, shown below.
\nOrient Star range. The new M34 F8 Date models were given unique dial finishes
\nand colors, which, along with the fine polishing and premium specs, convey an
\nunmistakable Grand Seiko vibe. Which is fair enough, given how many different
\nbrands (including the 3rd<\/sup>\u00a0major Japanese brand, Citizen) are attempting
\nthe same.