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Compass Bezels
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Author:  Palantas [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:56 am ]
Post subject:  Compass Bezels
Hi. First topic here. Here's an Airwolf Raven (I like this one):

Image

What is the point of the compass bezel on this or any watch? A diving or countdown bezel has an obvious use. I use the bezel on my Superocean daily. I'll be using it shortly, in fact, to cook some chickens. If I get a watch that doesn't have this, I wanna know why I'm giving it up.

I'm in the Army, so I know the field expedient compass trick. You know, this thing:

Image

I can't see how a compass bezel would help with this. This just an approximate method. It's not like I'll be able to use my compass bezel to shoot a 317-degree azimuth after getting my bearings from the sun. Is there some aviation-related use for it I don't know about, or something else I'm missing?
Author:  Palantas [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Compass Bezels
In the event somebody doesn't know about the watch compass method, you can determine approximate compass directions with the sun and an accurate watch. For the Northern Hemisphere:

  • Put a little stick straight in the ground.
  • Set your watch flat on the ground next to the stick, aligning the shadow cast by the stick with the hour hand. (This assumes the watch is set on local time; if not, adjust accordingly.)
  • Bisect the angle between the hour hand and 12-o'clock. That's your north/south line.
  • Using this information, find your way back to friendly lines, while avoiding enemy troops, guerrillas, and predators.
  • Brag to your friends.
Author:  Kodiak [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Compass Bezels
Yeah, I never quite understood the compass bezel myself. It's supposed to be a professional instrument for pilots, etc. but I'm sure most pilots have a "compass rose" engrained in their brain by now. Maybe it's to assist the more general public (not everyone is pilot astute) in converting directional headings in degrees to N, S, E, W descriptions.

Anyway for me, the count-down or count-up bezels are more usable.
Author:  Roffensian [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Compass Bezels
Not a pilot so can't begin to explain it, but in addition to the solar compass it can apparently be used for calculating semi-circular flight levels

I can only give you wixipedia on that - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_lev ... heric_rule
Author:  Kodiak [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 10:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Compass Bezels
Roffensian wrote:
Not a pilot so can't begin to explain it, but in addition to the solar compass it can apparently be used for calculating semi-circular flight levels

I can only give you wixipedia on that - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_lev ... heric_rule

Yeah, those are the altitude flight rules depending on which heading you are flying. You need a real magnetic compass to "stear" you on track. You fly ODD altitude levels plus 500 ft. (such as 3,500, 55000,7,500 ft, etc.) when flying on headings 0-179 deg. EVEN altitude levels plus 500 ft. (4500, 6500, etc.) when flying on headings 180-359 deg.

This keeps airplanes flying in opposite (or near opposite) directions from colliding - different altitudes.
The two different hemispheres have different rules.
Author:  Palantas [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Compass Bezels
Kodiak wrote:
Yeah, those are the altitude flight rules depending on which heading you are flying. You need a real magnetic compass to "stear" you on track. You fly ODD altitude levels plus 500 ft. (such as 3,500, 55000,7,500 ft, etc.) when flying on headings 0-179 deg. EVEN altitude levels plus 500 ft. (4500, 6500, etc.) when flying on headings 180-359 deg.

This keeps airplanes flying in opposite (or near opposite) directions from colliding - different altitudes.
The two different hemispheres have different rules.


I'm pretty sure I get this. It became much clearer when I realized "ODD" wasn't an acronym. :) I don't see how a compass bezel would assist with this, however.
Author:  Kodiak [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Compass Bezels
Palantas wrote:
Kodiak wrote:
Yeah, those are the altitude flight rules depending on which heading you are flying. You need a real magnetic compass to "stear" you on track. You fly ODD altitude levels plus 500 ft. (such as 3,500, 55000,7,500 ft, etc.) when flying on headings 0-179 deg. EVEN altitude levels plus 500 ft. (4500, 6500, etc.) when flying on headings 180-359 deg.

This keeps airplanes flying in opposite (or near opposite) directions from colliding - different altitudes.
The two different hemispheres have different rules.


I'm pretty sure I get this. It became much clearer when I realized "ODD" wasn't an acronym. :) I don't see how a compass bezel would assist with this, however.

It doesn't!
I guess my point is - it's just cosmetic- looks good with numbers on it.
Author:  Willows [ Fri Apr 30, 2010 3:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Compass Bezels
Compass bezels are pretty useless really. I think it's supposed to make it look "cooler". Give me a proper timing bezel any day.
Author:  Kodiak [ Sun May 02, 2010 5:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Compass Bezels
Willows wrote:
Compass bezels are pretty useless really. I think it's supposed to make it look "cooler". Give me a proper timing bezel any day.

Yeah, since most of the mechanical "pilot" designs have a chronograph (quartz/digital ones can count up/down), how about a simple 24 hour GMT bezel, something a pilot could use.
Author:  Palantas [ Sun May 02, 2010 7:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Compass Bezels
Does anybody have a watch with a compass bezel? What's your manual say?
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