Do you want to take the control of your life back from your watch? Are you looking for the best one-hand watch that does not have the distraction of minutes and seconds hands?
I know how it feels when you keep stressing about every minute that passes by and you keep looking at your watch. A one-hand watch can solve your problem because it shows you the time that generally matters so that you can live in the moment and focus on important things at a time. In this article, I have compiled some of the best single-hand watches that you can buy. There are not many watch manufacturers today that produce watches with one hand only. But I have included watches from some of the best brands like Luch, Botta, Meistersinger, and Slow.
Quick Navigation
- How To Read One Hand Watches?
- Best Single Hand Watches Quick Comparison
- Best Watches With One Hand Only
- Should You Buy A One-Hand Watch?
- FAQs
How To Read One Hand Watches?
Before we dive into the list of watches with single hands let us first understand how to read the time on them. If you already know this then you can dive straight into the list and select the one that best suits your needs.
One hand watches generally come in either a 12-hour format or a 24-hour format. The hand of single-hand watches that come in 12-hour format completes 2 rotations a day and in 24-hour it completes 1 rotation a day. Reading a watch with one hand is pretty simple but varies a little from watch to watch.
The numbers or markers on the watch dial represent the hours, so if you see the hand at a particular number say 10 that means it is 10 o’clock. If it is a 24-hour format watch then it’s 10 in the morning. And if it is a 12-hour format watch then it can be either 10 in the morning or 10 in the night, to check it you will have to see outside if it’s the day or night!
The real struggle in reading the time starts when the hand is in between the two numbers and you want to know the exact time. This is where the time reading varies from watch to watch. The time reading varies according to the number of markers between the two-hour markers. So let us look at each case one by one.
Before we go further you must count the number of markers your watch has between any two-hour markers.
1) 3 Markers Between Two Hour Markers
If there are 3 markers in between the two hour markers then it means that each marker represents a 15 minutes jump. For example, if the hand is at first marker between the 3 and 4 hour markers then it means that the current time is 3 hours and 15 minutes. Similarly, if the hand is at the second or third marker then it means that the time is 3:30 and 3:45 respectively.
2) 11 Markers Between Two Hour Markers
If there are 11 markers in between the two hour markers then it means that each marker represents a 5 minutes jump. For example, if the hand is at first marker between 5 and 6 hour markers then it means that the time is 5 hours and 5 minutes. If it’s at the second marker then it means the time is 5 hours and 10 mins and so on.
3) 5 Markers Between Two Hour Markers
If there are 5 markers in between the two hour markers then each marker represents a 10 minutes jump. For example, if the hand is at the third marker between 9 and 10 hour marker then it means that the time is 9 hours and 30 minutes. If it’s at the fifth marker then it means the time is 9 hours and 50 mins and so on.
Best Single Hand Watches Quick Comparison
IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Best Botta One Hand Watch  | Botta UNO 24 |
| |
Cheapest One Hand Watch  | Luch 3.0 Mechanical |
| |
One Hand Automatic Watch  | MeisterSinger Neo |
| |
One Hand Quartz Watch  | Slow Jo 17 |
|
Best Watches With One Hand Only
Now that we know how to read a single-hand watch let us dive into the list of best one-hand watches.
1) BOTTA UNO 24
BOTTA UNO 24 is one of the best one-hand watches available in the market today. UNO was developed in the year 1986 by Klaus Botta and it is considered to be the first single-hand wristwatch of the modern era. The watch is powered by a Swiss quartz movement therefore you do not have to worry about winding it.
One glance at the watch and you will realize how classical and beautiful the watch looks. The outer rim is black in color and has white markers. And the inner dial is divided into two equal parts and has different colors to represent the day and night. The light grey color of the inner dial represents daytime and the darker part represents the nighttime. You cannot see the lugs of the case because they are nicely built under the dial, therefore, giving the watch a clean and elegant look. The case is very thin and hence can be worn under tighter shirts and blazers.
This watch is designed and handmade in Germany and as the name suggests it comes in a 24-hour format. Therefore you can see your entire day at your wrist. There are 5 markers between the two hour markers, hence each marker represents a 10 minutes jump.
The watch case is made up of tri-titanium which makes the watch rugged and strong. There is a double domed sapphire crystal on the top that has an anti-reflective coating on both sides, this makes the watch nearly scratchproof and you can see the time clearly in the direct sunlight as well.
2) Luch 3.0 Mechanical
Luch 3.0 Mechanical is the cheapest single-hand watch on this list. The watch shows the time in 12-hour format and is powered by a mechanical hand-wind movement therefore you will have to manually wind the watch to keep it running. There are 15-jewels at work therefore you do not have to worry about the watch’s precision and accuracy. You can also see these jewels at work as the watch has a small transparent window at the back of the case to have a peak.
This watch features an all-black dial and case and comes with a black leather strap so if you are someone that loves the color black then you are going to love this watch too. The markers and big Arabic numerals are in white color which makes the time reading easy. There are 11 markers in between the two hour markers and hence represent a 5 minutes jump. The watch comes with a 30M water-resistant rating as a result you do not have to worry about unwanted rains and water splashes.
If you are looking for a watch with one hand that does not take much out of your pocket and also happens to love the black color then this is the best pick for you.
3) Luch Automatic Big One Hand
Luch Automatic Big One Hand is one of the best and affordable one-handed watches from the brand Luch. As the name suggests it is powered by a Japanese automatic movement therefore the watch gets charged by your wrist movement. This watch shows the time in 12-hour format and there are 5 markers in between the two hour markers and hence represent a 10 minutes jump.
The watch follows a simple and classical design and features a see-through case back as a result you can see the 21 jewels at work. Like the Luch 3.0 Mechanical watch, this watch too follows an all-black theme and the case, dial, and leather strap are in black color. The white-colored hand and markers and big Arabic numerals make watching the time at a glance easy.
The watch features a sapphire crystal that has an anti-reflective coating as a result you neither have to worry about the accidental scratches nor about the visibility under the harsh sunlight. You can easily wear and take off the watch as it comes with a butterfly clasp. If you do not know how to wear or take off a watch with a butterfly clasp then check our article on how to open a watch clasp. This watch has a water-resistant rating of 50M therefore you can also do recreational swimming with it.
If you want an affordable one-hand watch then this can be the best option for you.
4) Slow Jo 17
Slow Jo 17 is one of the best affordable vintage-styled watches with one hand. It is powered by a Swiss quartz movement and comes with a battery life of 45 months, so you do not have to worry about its battery for almost four years. This timepiece comes with a 24-hour format and there are 3 markers in between two hour markers therefore every marker represents a 15 minutes jump in time.
The watch features a silver octagonal case and a white round dial, the markers and hand are in black color and the watch has a brown calf-skin leather strap. The overall look of the watch is very minimalistic and clean, if you like retro-themed watches then you are going to love this watch. This timepiece features an anti-reflective coating on its mineral glass therefore you can see the time clearly when the sun is directly above your head.
A water-resistant rating of 100M makes sure that nothing happens to watch even if you do water sport activities with it. However, the watch is not suitable for diving. And at just 2.29 ounces the watch is also one of the lightest on this list.
5) MeisterSinger Salthora Meta X
MeisterSinger Salthora Meta X is the best luxury watch that comes with only one hand. It is powered by an automatic movement and comes with a power reserve of 38-hours hence you neither have to worry about charging the watch nor about it getting discharged. The watch is also high on precision and accuracy as there are 26 jewels at work.
This watch comes with a black bezel, black dial, and blackstrap, there are red highlights on the dial and strap, which give it a sporty look. The hand is also in red color and the numbers and markers are in white color. Unlike other watches on this list, this watch has numbers and markers to represent minutes instead of hours. And the hour value is shown on the cutout window on the dial at the 12 o’clock position.
The watch comes with a screw-down, rotating dive bezel, luminous digits, and a water-resistant rating of 200M therefore the watch is suitable for recreational diving. So if you are into water sports and want a watch that has a single hand then this is the best pick for you. This watch also features a domed sapphire crystal as a result you do not have to worry about accidental desk bumps and scratches.
6) MeisterSinger Phanero
MeisterSinger Phanero is an affordable one-hand watch from the German watch brand called MeisterSinger. The watch comes with a trending green dial, green leather strap, silver case, white hand, and white Arabic markers. The watch is powered by a Swiss mechanical movement that is winded manually and has a 42-hour power reserve. Therefore you will have to wind the watch manually once every two days. There are 19 jewels at work that make sure the watch runs smoothly and does not lose time. This timepiece shows you time in a 12-hour format and has 11 markers in between two hour markers hence each marker represents 5 minutes jump.
You do not have to worry about the watch’s inner movement getting damaged as the watch features an Incablock anti-shock system. If you do not know what Incablock is then you can check our article on different parts of watches. The domed sapphire crystal prevents the watch from accidental scratches. And a water-resistant rating of 30M makes sure that the watch stays protected against unwanted rains and splashes.
If you are looking to buy a classic-looking green dial watch with only one hand then this is the best option for you.
7) MeisterSinger Neo
MeisterSinger Neo is one of the cheapest MeisterSinger single-hand watches. It shows the time in 12-hour format and has 11 markers in between the two hour markers and therefore each marker represents a 5 minutes jump. The watch is retro-styled with some modern touches. It has an almost non-existent bezel that makes it look like it is all made up of glass. The off-white dial with black numbers, markers, and straps give the watch an old-school but timeless design.
This timepiece features a date window at 6 o’clock position that reminds you of the date of the month as a result you do not have to remember the dates. The watch is powered by a Swiss automatic movement therefore the watch gets charged as you move your wrist around. There is a power reserve of 38 hours which makes sure the watch stays active even if you do not charge it for a day and a half. The 25 jewels inside the watch ensure that the watch runs smoothly and does not lose much time.
However, because of its cheaper price tag, you will have to compromise on a couple of things. The watch glass is made up of hardened acrylic glass which makes the watch prone to scratches and breakage. A water-resistant rating of 30M only protects the watch from unwanted water splashes.
Should You Buy A One-Hand Watch?
If you find the seconds and minutes hand to be disturbing and want a watch that has a simplistic timeless design then yes you should buy a watch with only one hand. A single hand watch may be a little hard to read in the starting but makes a lot of sense once you get hang of it.
Have you ever given time like 8:07 or 9:52 to someone to do something? No, right? You always give time like 9 o’clock or 7:15 or 5:30, so why do we need a minutes or seconds hands? Ponder on this for a moment and comment below if it makes sense to you!
FAQs
What Is A One-Handed Clock?
A one-handed clock is a clock that has only one hand to represent hours and there are no minutes and seconds hands in the watch.
What Is A One-Handed Watch Called?
One-handed watches can be called: watches with one hand, single-handed watches, one-handed watches, etc.
How Can You Tell The Time With A One-Handed Watch?
One-handed watches just show the time in hours. So if the hand is pointing to 3 then it means it is 3 o’clock.
Do Watches Only Have One Hand?
Yes, there are some watches that only have one hand. These watches have an hour’s hand and show time in hours only.
Is MeisterSinger A Good Watch Brand?
Yes, MeisterSinger is a good watch brand. MeisterSinger is a German watch brand that is known for affordable, durable, and high-quality luxury watches. It is one of the few manufacturers in the world that makes the watches with one hand these days.
