The fascination of the “small second” in mechanical watches

In the world of watches, the “small second” is a characteristic feature that offers not only functionality but also a nostalgic appeal. This subtle but striking function is found relatively frequently in mechanical timepieces and often only reveals its charm at second glance.

The meaning of “small second”

The “small second” refers to a separate display for the seconds on its own smaller dial within the main dial of a watch. While the main dial displays the hours and minutes, the seconds are shown on a separate sub-dial. This function not only has aesthetic value, but also serves functional purposes.

History and development

Its origins date back to the pocket watch era of the 18th century. At this time, watchmakers began to display the seconds on separate dials in order to read the time more clearly and precisely. This aesthetic design later found its way into wristwatches and became a popular style feature.

The “small second” became a kind of masterpiece of the watchmaker’s art, as its implementation in mechanical watches required precise adjustments to transfer the movements of the seconds hand from the main movement to the separate dial.

Function and aesthetick

The “small second” is particularly common at the six – in the centre of the lower half of the dial. The advantage of this position is that the dial then appears symmetrical and balanced. The upper half of the dial is relatively rarely used for the seconds display, as the logo and brand name of the watch manufacturer are usually placed there. Today, the design-related reasons for the placement of the “small seconds” have faded into the background due to the more diverse technical possibilities and, in principle, almost any position could be realised in this respect.