Sector: A stylish variation of an analogue watch.

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Design submitted by Sam from Germany.

Sam says: The display of sector is inspired by the popular pie charts that are used to display statistical information in mass media. I think those charts don’t only have a scientific value but also an artistic one.

Time telling is based upon an analog watch display. I’m using differently shaded sectors to tell the minutes and the hours. To create an area, the sectors always start at the 12h position and end at the current hour or minute. The basis is white. The minutes have a slight shade created by thin lines. The hours have a darker shade created by thick lines. I suggest the usage of lines, not monochrome shades, to avoid misinterpretation. Minutes and hours overlap almost every time and the overlapping area is shown in black. This is important to remember because next to black there is only one shade left, the minutes or the hours, which make the black represent the remaining information. It might take a little at first but it shouldn’t be harder than a pure analog watch display after a day.

Sector is a watch for statisticians and information friends as well as fans of minimal art. The watch can be steel or acetate, serious or cute but in any case super stylish.

34 thoughts on “Sector: A stylish variation of an analogue watch.”

  3. Stylish, certainly, and altogether a solid concept (as usual), but I can’t help but wonder at the manufacturability of it… Would it have to be e-paper? Could it be done in LCD?

    On a more aesthetic note, It’d be interesting to see if it’d work with the hour/minute lines at an angle to each other.

    Hm, I just realized this comment looks more critical than I intended…=)

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    • Hi Anders. I cleverly didn’t mention the technology that I imagine to do manifest this display. If it can be done, yay. If not, ok. LCD could do it theoretically – the number of segments has to be checked! If e-paper, then the e-book like epaper. The price has to be checked!

      What is “an angle to each other”; 180° or 0°?

      Don’t worry Anders, if you see issues that I didn’t, it can only help to judge the feasability of the concept. Thanks for your comment!

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      • I see what you did there! smart thinking…=)

        Pete suggested doing it with printed discs. I tried to get my head around that option when I first saw it, but I’m not sure it would be possible. That should be the easiest option otherwise…

        I cleverly didn’t mention an exact angle, since I’m not sure which would look best…=) At a guess; 30, 45 or 60 degrees might be worth trying. 90 might work, but I suspect there is a risk of it looking boring.

        Agreed, but still, I like the concept! =)

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    • Hello Ranjan!

      I don’t think it’s the same concept. It shares the usage of circle segments but that’s about all. The watch you are showing me has a constantly dark pane with a permanent 30° gap in it on top of a multicolored layer. My concept varies in angles and uses shades. The possible identical look at a certain time of the day is a mix of mere coincidence and a logical result of handling with circle segments.

      Thanks for the input and for showing me the 70s 🙂

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      • Welcome Sam … your timing telling concept is different … Tian Harlan watch is an Hour Watch … will give approximate time … looks similar …

        Your watch is really a outstanding looks … fetch market very well … Best of Luck 🙂

        Regards,

        Ranjan.

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  6. Hi Sam, I like the simple and elegant. 5 * / Yes.
    Question: The most accurate time is 5 minutes or 5 minutes if not, I would suggest benchmarks indicate “subtle” to not distort the look and have greater accuracy in reading?

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    • Salut Patrick! Of course I would suggest the watch to be more precise than just 5 minute increments. But for the presentation I chose those. There could be little markings in the bezel at each hour/5 minute increment to help reading. Pie charts usualls don’t come with such marks so I left it pure for the presentation. Good hint. Thank you Patrick!

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  7. Looks very nice Sam! Does remind me little of other concepts like the “Pacman” watch but with a more feasible looking time telling. Could this be achieved with three thin overlapping analogue discs? If so it would be pretty easy to make. 5/Y obviously! 😀

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    • Hi Pete! Nah definitely not three overlapping analog discs. I’m playing around with that but you can’t reset analog discs so quickly without some serious tricks. Do it’s digital, maybe LCD, maybe e-paper. Thanks for the comment and the support!!

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      • E-paper would be cool for this design if the analogue method isn’t suitable. Lets hope TF masters e-paper in the not too distant. I can think of a couple of other watches too that e-paper could make happen 😉

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  8. Ok, I love a lot of your designs, Sam, but this is one that I want to buy TODAY. Maybe an advanced prototype? 5 stars and thumbs invading the pants UFO style.

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    • And coincidentally I just discovered a couple of days ago that’s what you call a “pie slice” in math: a sector.

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    • The monochrome is very classy, but could also have a color version. Depending on the tech you could have RED minutes and Yellow hours, and they would have an ORANGE overlap. Similarly with RED and BLUE or BLUE and YELLOW. I don’t know off-hand how to produce mixed colors with RGB–do RED and GREEN make WHITE? That would be interesting.

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    • Hi Chris!

      Very interesting idea about the multicolor version. Yeah it would depend on the technology. More colors would definitely ease up reading. I’m not sure how to do it. Colored e-paper maybe can…

      Thanks alot for the nice words, the inspiring comment and the support!!

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    • Hi Andrew!

      Oh yeah, one can have alot of fun with circle segments and pie charts and I think there quite some different styles possible like our two. Don’t worry about the quality – the essence counts. I hade a growing circle segment idea before and moving circle segments too. There is no end in sight 🙂 The touchy idea is super. If it can be done, I welcome it. Thanks for your comment Andrew!

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  10. hey, sam – this looks really cool, and i like the fact that it looks mathematical — of course, since i suck at analog reading (especially without indicators), i think this one’s not for me personally – but i support it fully. beautifully executed, 5*

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  11. I find it interesting. From your concepts, this is not my favorite.
    I agree with the comment by Andrew.
    My support. Good luck
    5/Y_ 🙂

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    • No indicators for youuu!! Hehe jk. Well I see the need and they can probably be implemented in a non-disturbing way. Thanks for the comment and the vote!

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