What is a panda dial?
A chronograph dial that's white or silver with black sub-dials, like a panda's face. A reverse panda is the opposite: black with white sub-dials.
Panda and reverse panda
On a panda dial, the dark sub-dials stand out against the light background, which makes the chronograph counters easy to read at a glance. That contrast is why the style came from racing chronographs of the 1960s, and why it's never really gone away.
The most famous panda is the Rolex Daytona, from vintage 'Paul Newman' references to the white-dial ceramic Daytona. Reverse pandas include many vintage Heuer and Omega chronographs. Today you'll find pandas at every price, from Seiko and Bulova to TAG Heuer and Tudor.
Panda dials in our catalog
7 current watches in our catalog have a dial described this way, least expensive first:
- Dan Henry 1964 Gran Turismo Chronograph 38mm DH64-38M-E1$310
- Bulova Lunar Pilot Chronograph 43.5mm 98K112$895
- Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Mechanical Chronograph SRQ047$2,500
- Tudor Black Bay Chrono M79360N$6,875
- Seiko Prospex Speedtimer Solar Chronograph SSC911—
- Studio Underd0g Chronograph 'Go0fy Panda'—
- TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph 39 Glassbox CBS2210.FC6534—
Current watches in our catalog, which is weighted to popular enthusiast models.
Questions
- Is a panda dial only on chronographs?
- Almost always, since it's defined by the sub-dials. Some three-hand watches use a similar contrast, but 'panda' normally means a chronograph.
- Why is it called a panda dial?
- The two or three dark sub-dials on a white face look like a panda's eyes.