====== Sector dial ======

{{wst>image_cl|Patek Philippe|Calatrava_5153G-010|Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 5153G, with **sector dial**}}

A **sector dial** is a watch [[dial]] that includes simple markings dividing it into sub-sections.

===== Description =====
A traditional sector dial includes concentric circles inside and outside the hour or minute markings with solid lines linking these circles at each. An hour sector would divide the space between these circles into 12 sections or sectors, while a minute sector has 60 sections, often with stronger markings on the hour. The look of a minute sector dial gives rise to the "railroad" nickname, though they should not be confused with a [[railroad watch]].

Sector dials were popular in [[trench watch]]es in World War I, as they could be placed on a table and used to show which hour sector a direction corresponded to. Many [[officer's watch]]es also have sector dials, as do [[marine watch]]es, for the same reason.

Sector dials were used by [[Omega]], [[Longines]], and others, but it is the [[Patek Philippe]] sector dials that are most sought-after. The presence of this dial style can multiply the value of a Patek Philippe watch, sometimes even by an order of magnitude. Although [[officer's watch]]es often have a sector dial, the [[Patek Philippe Officer's Watch]] family typically does not.

===== Crosshair Dial =====
One common dial is the **crosshair** dial, as seen on [[Rolex Oyster Perpetual]], [[Jaeger-LeCoultre Geophysic]], and [[Omega Constellation]] and [[Omega Seamaster]] watches. In these watches, a "crosshair" marking centered on the dial extends from 12 to 6 and 9 to 3. Sometimes this crosshair extends all the way to the edge of the dial, but it often ends inside the hour markers.

Although many watch enthusiasts do not consider a crosshair dial to be a sector dial, the terms are commonly interchanged. Sometimes, both crosshair and sector dials are combined, as on some [[Patek Philippe Calatrava 96]] models.


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