Seamaster hands. It sounds like a B horror movie, but skeleton, sword and broad actually refers to the hands which Omega chose to adorn their Seamaster series of divers watches with.
From left to right: Skeleton, sword and broad arrow handsOmega started using the skeleton hands on their Seamaster Professional (SMP) watches with blue dials in 1993. Notably, the black dialed 2008 Omega 007 Seamaster Limited Edition uses skeleton hands.
The luminous section of the skeleton hands are only found in the tips. The hour hands and minute hands can be easily distinguished because the luminous section of the hour hand is a small circle while on the minute hand, the luminous portion is in the shape of a triangle. In low light when the luminosity of the hands starts to wear off, the skeleton hands will be the hardest to read among the Omega SMP hands to read.
The sword hands, also known as gladiator hands, are used on the SMP watches with black or white dials. Omega introduced this in 1998, although these are actually the most classic of the Seamaster hands. This is the most functional of the hands as they have a large luminous surface area. Coupled with the large hour markers it makes for good visibility in the dark. Notably, when the British Military order Rolex Submariners (MilSubs) for its soldiers, they asked Rolex to use sword hands.
On the newer Planet Ocean, Omega opted to place to use the arrow shaped hands, similar but not identical too those they use on the Omega Aqua Terra and Speedmaster Broad Arrow. The tips and shaft of the arrow have luminous material applied so they do provide better luminosity than the skeleton hands.
Which is best? Its really a subjective thing... the classical type will opt for the sword hands, Bond lovers will prefer the skeleton hands, and the younger blokes will probably prefer the broad arrows.
The luminous section of the skeleton hands are only found in the tips. The hour hands and minute hands can be easily distinguished because the luminous section of the hour hand is a small circle while on the minute hand, the luminous portion is in the shape of a triangle. In low light when the luminosity of the hands starts to wear off, the skeleton hands will be the hardest to read among the Omega SMP hands to read.
The sword hands, also known as gladiator hands, are used on the SMP watches with black or white dials. Omega introduced this in 1998, although these are actually the most classic of the Seamaster hands. This is the most functional of the hands as they have a large luminous surface area. Coupled with the large hour markers it makes for good visibility in the dark. Notably, when the British Military order Rolex Submariners (MilSubs) for its soldiers, they asked Rolex to use sword hands.
On the newer Planet Ocean, Omega opted to place to use the arrow shaped hands, similar but not identical too those they use on the Omega Aqua Terra and Speedmaster Broad Arrow. The tips and shaft of the arrow have luminous material applied so they do provide better luminosity than the skeleton hands.
Which is best? Its really a subjective thing... the classical type will opt for the sword hands, Bond lovers will prefer the skeleton hands, and the younger blokes will probably prefer the broad arrows.
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