Visual balance in mechanical watch design
Visual balance is not equal to symmetrical design, it is not the same concept, the way our brain and eyes perceive balance is very similar to the laws of mechanics. Humans imagine what they see visually as a plane balanced at a certain point, like a scale. If we add an element to the edge of the image, it will be out of balance. Therefore, in order to achieve visual balance, visual elements cannot be added blindly.
The most classic example is all kinds of chronographs with three left eyes, which are obviously not 100% symmetrical, but why do they look beautiful?
Because of the visual balance design, the visual elements of each key area are symmetrical. For example, the three-eye chronograph dial on the left and the three handles on the right form a visual balance. Although they are not symmetrical, the two have reached a visual balance at a certain fulcrum!
Panerai's distinctive logo: bridge protection design
The huge bridge will tilt the visual center of gravity to the right, so almost all of Panerai's bridge watches will have an independent small seconds dial on the left. Let the independent small seconds dial balance the right bridge to achieve visual balance.
For the pilot timing released by Zenith, the Zenith Logo above forms a visual balance with the calendar window below.
The head of the watch is on one side, so where is the balance? ! Then you turn them upside down and see if they are balanced?
The Patek Philippe Nautilus designed by Gerald Genta cleverly uses the shell lock structure on the left side to form visual symmetry with the bridge guard head on the right side.
Asymmetrically distributed visual weight can also form visual balance. Lange forms a triangular visual balance through the large calendar frame, large dial, and small dial. Triangles are the most stable structures, not only mechanically, but also visually.
