“Panda” describes how the dial looks, not what the subdials measure. Two chronographs with the same black-and-white contrast can assign their counters completely differently, so the only reliable way to read them is to identify the exact reference and check its instructions.
Start with the reference number, not the nickname
A panda dial is a contrasting layout, usually a light dial with dark counters or the reverse. The name tells you nothing about function. A 3 o’clock register on one watch may count fractions of a second, while on another it may count elapsed minutes or be a running seconds hand. Before you interpret any counter, find the exact model reference, usually printed on the caseback, the bracelet clasp or the original papers, and then look up that reference’s official manual.
Official manuals differ in what they call each element, and some brands publish separate guides for each calibre. Where this article discusses a specific watch, the manual cited is the one for that model or calibre. If you cannot find an official manual, a manufacturer support team can usually confirm the layout from the reference number.
Separate ordinary timekeeping from stopwatch timing
Every subdial on a chronograph belongs to one of two systems, and the first job is to tell them apart:
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- VK63 MECHA-QUARTZ CHRONOGRAPH: The WD1863 uses a VK63 mecha-quartz movement with a central 1/5-second chronograph hand, 60-minute counter, running small seconds and a 24-hour display. The pushers control start, stop and reset, combining quartz accuracy with crisp mechanical-style chronograph action for practical elapsed-time measurement.
- BUBBLE SAPPHIRE CRYSTAL & ALUMINUM BEZEL: The raised bubble-style sapphire crystal adds depth above the dial, while a high-clear inner AR coating helps reduce reflections. A 316L stainless steel case and bracelet provide a solid everyday build, and the fixed aluminum bezel creates a defined frame around the vintage chronograph display.
- SUPER BGW-9 BLUE LUME: BGW-9 super luminous material is applied to the hands, hour markers and selected dial details. After exposure to light, these elements produce a blue glow that supports quick time reading in darker surroundings. Coverage follows the individual dial design and remains clearly arranged around the three-register chronograph display.
- 100M WATER RESISTANCE: The screw-down crown and screw-down case back support a 100M water-resistance rating for daily wear and suitable surface-water use. Always tighten the crown fully before contact with water, do not operate the chronograph pushers while the watch is wet or submerged, and avoid hot water, steam and diving. Water resistance should be checked periodically as seals age.
- COMPACT 39MM WRIST PROFILE: The WD1863 measures 39mm across the bezel, with a 41mm mid-case, 46mm lug-to-lug length, 12.9mm thickness including the raised crystal and 20mm lug width. These proportions balance the detail of a three-register chronograph with a wearable footprint. The 20mm bracelet remains proportionate to the case, while the raised crystal adds vintage depth to the compact design.
- Running timekeeping. A small seconds hand that sweeps continuously, showing the watch is running and giving the current second. Some dials put this on a subdial; others use the central seconds hand for timekeeping and reserve a separate hand for the chronograph.
- Chronograph timing. A hand or counter that only moves after you start the chronograph. Its readings are elapsed time since the start, and it returns to zero when reset.
A useful check: start the chronograph for a few seconds and watch which hands move. A subdial that was already moving before you pressed the pusher is running seconds. A subdial that starts and stops with the chronograph is a timing counter.
Read the three typical counters
Chronograph subdials usually fall into three roles. Not every watch has all three, and the positions vary.
Rank #2
- Classic Panda Design: This is NOT Automatic Watch. 3 functional little sub-dials for chronograph second / minute / hours.Clear date display. 3 buttons in the case to Start/Pause, adjust time/calender and Reset. The watch face is protected by scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, providing enduring clarity and protection against daily wear and tear. Classic design showcases men's masculinity and glamour.
- Pagani Design: Analog Quartz Movement 41mm large dial case, an ever-practical date display window at 4:30 o’clock and luminous hands. Environmentally friendly silicone strap, soft and comfortable, long wearing without damaging your wrist.
- High-quality Movement: Powered by a reliable quartz movement, The silver oxide battery used in quartz watches functions as a reliable and long-lasting power source for the watch movement. The battery can be used for 2-3 years, allowing you to enjoy uninterrupted timekeeping without frequent replacements.
- 30 Meter Waterproof: Built in multiple sealed waterproof rings, it can withstand splashes and immersion in water, adding convenience to your daily routine. Please keep your watch away from hot water, as this can cause steam to form inside the surface.
- Perfect after-sale: A perfect gift for any gift giving occasion: Valentine's Day, anniversary, business, birthday, Thanksgiving Day, Father's Day Christmas etc. Any question please do not hesitate to contact us. We will try our best to make customers satisfied
Elapsed minutes
The minutes counter records how many minutes have passed since the chronograph was started. Its maximum range is printed or stated in the manual. On Bulova’s Lunar Pilot 98K112, Bulova identifies the 9 o’clock counter as chronograph minutes up to 60, according to the official product page accessed in 2026. Once the counter reaches its maximum, it either stops or resets depending on the calibre, so the manual is the authority on that behaviour.
Elapsed hours
Some chronographs add an hours counter that records how many hours have passed. Its range is usually shorter in practice than the minutes counter and is set out in the manual. If the watch has no hours counter, a register at that position may be something else entirely, such as a running seconds or fractional seconds indicator.
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Rank #3
- Classic Panda Design: This is NOT Automatic Watch. 3 functional little sub-dials for chronograph second / minute / hours.Clear date display. 3 buttons in the case to Start/Pause, adjust time/calender and Reset. The watch face is protected by scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, providing enduring clarity and protection against daily wear and tear. Classic design showcases men's masculinity and glamour.
- Pagani Design: Analog Quartz Movement 41mm large dial case, an ever-practical date display window at 4:30 o’clock and luminous hands. Environmentally friendly silicone strap, soft and comfortable, long wearing without damaging your wrist.
- High-quality Movement: Powered by a reliable quartz movement, The silver oxide battery used in quartz watches functions as a reliable and long-lasting power source for the watch movement. The battery can be used for 2-3 years, allowing you to enjoy uninterrupted timekeeping without frequent replacements.
- 30 Meter Waterproof: Built in multiple sealed waterproof rings, it can withstand splashes and immersion in water, adding convenience to your daily routine. Please keep your watch away from hot water, as this can cause steam to form inside the surface.
- Perfect after-sale: A perfect gift for any gift giving occasion: Valentine's Day, anniversary, business, birthday, Thanksgiving Day, Father's Day Christmas etc. Any question please do not hesitate to contact us. We will try our best to make customers satisfied
Fractional chronograph seconds
A fractional counter displays part of a second, usually in twentieths. On the Bulova Lunar Pilot 98K112, the 3 o’clock counter is a 1/20 chronograph-seconds counter, according to Bulova’s product page. Its readings are meaningful for short intervals only, and you should confirm the exact range and the way it resets in the manual for your model.
Worked example: the same positions, different roles
The table shows how the three documented layouts assign their registers. Where a source does not state a role, the cell says so rather than guessing.
Rank #4
- Classic Panda Design: This is NOT Automatic Watch. 3 functional little sub-dials for chronograph second / minute / hours.Clear date display. 3 buttons in the case to Start/Pause, adjust time/calender and Reset. The watch face is protected by scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, providing enduring clarity and protection against daily wear and tear. Classic design showcases men's masculinity and glamour.
- Pagani Design: Analog Quartz Movement 41mm large dial case, an ever-practical date display window at 4:30 o’clock and luminous hands. Environmentally friendly silicone strap, soft and comfortable, long wearing without damaging your wrist.
- High-quality Movement: Powered by a reliable quartz movement, The silver oxide battery used in quartz watches functions as a reliable and long-lasting power source for the watch movement. The battery can be used for 2-3 years, allowing you to enjoy uninterrupted timekeeping without frequent replacements.
- 30 Meter Waterproof: Built in multiple sealed waterproof rings, it can withstand splashes and immersion in water, adding convenience to your daily routine. Please keep your watch away from hot water, as this can cause steam to form inside the surface.
- Perfect after-sale: A perfect gift for any gift giving occasion: Valentine's Day, anniversary, business, birthday, Thanksgiving Day, Father's Day Christmas etc. Any question please do not hesitate to contact us. We will try our best to make customers satisfied
| Watch and source | 3 o’clock | 6 o’clock | 9 o’clock | Central or other hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulova Lunar Pilot 98K112, Bulova official product page (accessed 2026) | 1/20 chronograph seconds | Running seconds | Chronograph minutes, up to 60 | Not stated in the source reviewed |
| Yema Rallygraf Panda, manufacturer manual reproduction hosted on ManualsLib (publication date not established) | Not stated in the source reviewed | Not stated in the source reviewed | Not stated in the source reviewed | Not stated in the source reviewed |
The Bulova layout is only one example. The Yema entry matters for a different reason: a panda chronograph can be laid out differently from the Bulova, so you cannot carry over the Bulova reading to another watch. The Yema manual is a secondary reproduction, so confirm its layout against the original literature for your own copy before relying on it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Operate the pushers only as your manual specifies
Pusher positions are not standard across chronographs. In Patek Philippe’s instructions for calibre CH 29-535 PS (2025), the 2 o’clock pusher starts and stops the chronograph, and the 4 o’clock pusher resets it. Other models may place the same functions differently, or use a different sequence, so check your own manual before pressing anything unfamiliar. Pressing the reset pusher while the chronograph is running can stop the counters in some designs, which is one reason the manual should come first.
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- Set Includes: Watch, box, and warranty card included
- Drive Type: Quartz (solar powered)
- Accuracy: within ±20 seconds per month
- Country of Origin: Japan (Made in Japan)
Keep the tachymeter separate from the subdials
The tachymeter is a printed scale, usually on the bezel or dial rim, that converts a timed distance into an average speed. It does not use a subdial. The method is:
- Start the chronograph as you pass a known marker, such as a kilometre sign.
- Stop it at the next marker.
- Read the speed on the tachymeter scale opposite the elapsed-seconds hand.
In Omega’s user manual for reference 311.93.44.51.99.002 (publication date not established in the source), the example measures a car over one kilometre and reads 120 km/h. The same manual says the graduated scale corresponds to timing durations of about 7 to 60 seconds. Those figures apply to that scale. They are not a universal operating range for tachymeters, and the arithmetic is straightforward: a kilometre at 120 km/h takes 30 seconds.
Patek Philippe’s example uses the same principle but a car between kilometre signs, so the reading depends on the distance you chose and the scale on your own watch.
Checklist before you read a panda chronograph
- Confirm the exact reference number from the caseback or original papers.
- Download the official manual for that reference and calibre.
- Start the chronograph briefly and note which hands move.
- Record the maximum range of each counter as stated in the manual.
- Check the pusher functions before operating the watch.
- Read the tachymeter only with a known distance and a timed interval.
Patek Philippe’s instructions for calibre CH 29-535 PS (2025), Omega’s user manual for reference 311.93.44.51.99.002, Bulova’s product page for the Lunar Pilot 98K112, and the Yema Rallygraf Panda manual reproduction on ManualsLib are the sources behind the figures above.
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