====== Hand ======
Watches typically use moving **hands** to indicate the time and for other functions. There are many styles and types of hands. Hands used for non-timekeeping functions are often referred to as [[pointer]]s.

===== Skeleton and Luminous =====
Many watches feature **skeleton** (**squelette**) hands, which are hollow. If only a feature of the hands is hollow, it is typically referred to as **open**. Manufacturers can apply [[luminous]] material to the back of a skeleton or open hand, filling in the gap and creating many classic sport watch looks, including the Mercedes hand.

===== Hand Shapes =====

==== Alpha ====
{{wst>image_l|A_Lange_&_Söhne_Jubiläums-Langematik|A. Lange & Söhne Jubiläums-Langematik features **alpha hands**|200px}}
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An **alpha** hand has a long pointed end with a short fluted base.
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==== Arrow ====
{{wst>image_cl|Breitling|Superocean Heritage Chronographe|This Breitling Superocean Heritage Chronographe features a baton minute hand and an **arrow** hour hand}}
An **arrow** hand features a prominent arrow head. These are typically used on [[dive watch]]es and other types requiring high levels of legibility, especially with [[lume]]. Some watches, notably the [[Omega Speedmaster]], feature **broad arrow** hands, which are wider.
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==== Baton ====
As the name implies, **baton** hands feature a broad and uniform shape, coming to a point or rounded tip. There are also tapered baton hands which narrow as they come closer to the center.
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==== Breguet ====
{{wst>image_l|Breguet_Logo|Logo of the watch manufacturer Breguet with **Breguet** hands}}
Also known as **pomme** ("apple"), the **Breguet** hand style is a classic curved shape with a hole in the top. Named after the brilliant watchmaker and watch inventor [[Abraham-Louis Breguet]]. The [[Breguet]] brand has this pointer type in their company logo because it is so well known. Breguet hands can also include an additional flare below the "apple", making them **antique Roman** hands.
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==== Cathedral ====
See: [[#Gothic]]
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==== Dauphine ====
{{wst>image_cl|Glashütte Original|Senator Panoramadatum|Glashütte Original fitted **dauphine hands** to their Senator|200px}}
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One of the most popular hand styles, **dauphine** hands are tapered diamond-shape with a distinct line down the middle.
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==== Gothic ====
{{wst>image_cl|TAG Heuer|Monza Calibre 36 Limited Edition|TAG Heuer Monza Calibre 36 Limited Edition with **cathedral hands**}}

A style inspired by european gothic architecture. Typical for a lot of vintage watches.

A variety of **gothic** hand styles are used, including solid **diamond** (also called **kite**) and **open diamond** (also called **cathedral**), fancy **trefoil** and **quadrifoil** clovers, solid and open **lance**, and **spear** tips. Most gothic hands feature a crossbar just below the main above-named decoration.
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==== Leaf ====
{{wst>image_l|Bell_&_Ross_Instrument_BRS_White_Gold_Ivory|Bell & Ross chose to use **leaf hands** on this Instrument BRS|200px}}
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**Leaf** (**feuille**) hands have a gentle tapered profile, wide in the middle and narrow at the end and base.
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==== Lollipop ====
Hands with large circles at the end, some without a terminal point, are called **lollipop**.
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==== Lozenge ====
**Lozenge** hands feature a diamond shape, often with a concave taper along each edge.
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==== Mercedes ====
{{wst>image_cl|Rolex|Submariner|The famous Rolex Submariner includes a luminous **Mercedes** hour hand and baton minute hand|200px}}
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Although not associated with the famous carmaker, many dive watches feature a three-pointed star inside a circle, reminiscent of the **Mercedes** logo. These were initially designed as a way to hold a large amount of [[luminous]]] material in place inside a circle for added visibility.
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==== Pencil ====
A **pencil** hand is uniformly long and thin, with a roughly rectangular profile and triangular point.
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==== Plongeur ====
A **plongeur** is a wide, exuberant pentagon shape resembling a sword but with a flat, defined base.
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==== Spade ====
{{wst>image_cl|Speake-Marin|Resilience|This Speake-Marin Resilience features wide **spade hands**|200px}}
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**Spade** hands resemble the playing card suit, and are sometimes tapered to become **pear** hands.
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==== Sport ====
{{wst>image_cl|Sinn|U1|This Sinn U1 has **sport** or **paddle hands**|200px}}
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**Sport** or **paddle** hands are wide rectangles, often with a large amount of luminous material inside them. Some feature a pointer at the end.
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==== Stick ====
{{wst>image_cl|Nomos|Tangomat_GMT|This Nomos Tangomat GMT has blued steel **stick hands**|200px}}
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Much like the pencil, a **stick** hand is long and thin with a rectangular profile but without the triangular tip. A central contrasting line is often featured.
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==== Sword ====
{{wst>image_cl|Omega|Seamaster 300 M GMT|This Omega Seamaster 300 has classic **sword hands**|200px}}
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Like a plongeur, a **sword** hand has the shape of an elongated pentagon, but the base is integrated with the hand or hub.
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===== See Also =====
  * [[Pointer]]

===== External Links =====
  * [[http://www.watchtalkforums.info/forums/thread27751.html|Horology 101 - hand style names]]


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