Glossary/Dial

Dial

A dial is a plate of metal or another material (often brass) that serves as a backdrop against which time can be measured, usually with hands.

In a standard watch or clock, the dial serves to indicate the hours, minutes, and seconds, using three centrally located hands. The dial is divided evenly in a circle to indicate the 12 hours. A standard dial will also often have five divisions between each hour, for a total of 60 divisions, against which to measure the minutes and the seconds.

Dials have been created in an almost limitless variety of shapes, sizes, decorations, and materials over the ages and new varieties continue to be produced each year.

Pseudonyms

• Face