Central seconds

From Watches Wiki

Rolex Milgauss
with central second indication
(orange lightning hand)
© Rolex

Positioning of the second indication on the watch dial

It has to be discriminated between small seconds and central seconds. With the former the seconds indication is decentralized, with the latter it is placed right in the middle of the dial.

Indirect central seconds
In watch movements with indirect central seconds hand the drive of the seconds hand lies outside of the actual power flow in the gear train. Such a thing is common in movements, which have been constructed with small seconds and then - perhaps because of fashion considerations - were converted to central seconds. Modern calibers are already developed with regard to an equipment with a central seconds. Here you will usually have a direct, that is in power flux lying, drive of the seconds hand.