LOL! Check out the World's most Sophisticated Watch

[pt22]

on sale now at Heartland (a kind of mail order cheapo-depo place that occasionally does actually have decent products at bargain prices)

Looks like the "top team of German engineers and Swiss watchmakers" got confused after 3 o'clock
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
http://www.heartlandamerica.com/browse/item.asp?product=steinhausen-chronograph-watch&PIN=63925&GUID=F1A04231-077B-40DA-808C-79244142BC29&BC=S&DL=SEH4

edit: that online page doesn't show all the claims...here's a link to an image from their print catalog we got the other day

[jgraz]

1. Not only the "IIII" but the fact that half the numbers are upside-down

That's sophisticated alright. :rofl:

[tekisui]

2. Is that Roman Numerals in German?

[Richardo]

3. Many clocks did use " IIII " for four back in the day - whatever day that was.

http://69.90.174.250/photos/display_pic_with_logo/8017/8017,1130285157,1.jpg

[pt22]

7. Wow. I might be a dummy...I'm pretty old but I never saw 4 letter Is together in Roman Numerals

damn, I hate it when that happens. :shrug:

[Richardo]

8. I guess it was a clockmaker's thing

But I notice it quite often. :shrug:

[Speck Tater]

14. Google images for roman clock to see a brazillion of them. NT

[moggie]

16. The day = 14th century

There's a discussion here:

http://www.web40571.clarahost.co.uk/roman/clockface.htm

with a mention of the "oldest surviving clock-face in its original condition", from around 1392, which uses IIII. I've always thought it's more common that IV on clock faces; I can only assume the OP hasn't seen many clocks! :rofl:

[yurbud]

4. I had to look at that a second time to get it. I dont think their customers will notice

[dysfunctional press]

5. i guess i'm not seeing what you're referring too...

:shrug:

just looks like a regular watch...:shrug:

what's the funny?

[angstlessk]

9. four in roman numeral is IV to start with..and are the hands watching the time

or should it be for the viewer of the watch???? I would prefer the numerals face out rather than in since I am the one watching the time and I do not live in the hands of the watch! but rather on the outer reaches!

[anigbrowl]

21. This design is not uncommon in Europe. I prefer it myself.

But then I like old-fashioned watches and clocks.

[dysfunctional press]

23. every watch i've ever had, the numbers face in...don't think i've ever seen one with them facing out

and the couple that i've had with roman numerals did it "IIII" instead of "IV".

like i said- it just looks like a normal watch(albeit with a lot of functions)

[Greyskye]

6. Oopsie!

Pretty piss-poor design all around - the mini dial on the left covers up half of the IX, so it looks like IV instead. :eyes:

[moggie]

18. Oh noes!

Or... not. I assume anyone wearing this watch would know the relative positions of the 4 and the 9, so it doesn't matter. Hell, my watch doesn't have any number markings at all, and yet, miraculously, I can still tell the time.

[IntravenousDemilo]

10. The reason old clockmakers used IIII for four instead of IV...

...is that IV might be confused with VI by some when it's looked at upside-down.

[pt22]

13. I guess, but they use IX and XI

...
:shrug:

[IntravenousDemilo]

17. They're also not upside-down on the bottom of the clockface, but more or less upright. n/m

[tridim]

11. I'll bet anyone $79.99 that it's made in China.

[Speck Tater]

12. That is pretty standard watch & clock usage.

See:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Stage/3591/numerals.html
http://www.cookmatesouthwest.co.uk/acatalog/Clock___Roman_Numerals.html
http://www.rusticarts.co.nz/getCertainProducts.cfm?productId=24

Or Google images for clock roman to see a brazillion photos of clocks with faces laid out exactly as shown in your post.

In other words, the picture you posted is one of a couple of totally standard and completely conventional ways of laying out a clock face.

Move along. There's nothing to see here.

[pt22]

15. I am desiccated with mortification.

Going to my room now.



;-)

[IntravenousDemilo]

19. Do you realize how hard it is to find someone who can spell "desiccated"?

Thanks. Obviously you understand the etymology.

[pt22]

20. My pleasure. I always have to be careful to not write "sattelite"

:D

[pinniped]

22. They have some serious competition in the sophistication department.

http://gizmodo.com/378144/first-watch-with-all+mechanical-digital-display-verdict-absolutely-amazing

[tridim]

24. Neat, but pointless and ugly.