Baltany S4098 Asymmetric Regulator Dial Watch — Miyota 82S7

Baltany S4098 Asymmetric Regulator Dial Watch — Miyota 82S7

The Baltany S4098 is a 38mm automatic dress watch built around an asymmetric “figure-8” dial layout — a regulator-inspired design where a central butterfly minute hand dominates the dial, a 24-hour sub-dial sits at 9 o’clock, and a small seconds sub-dial sits at approximately 5 o’clock. The hour information is displayed on the 24-hour register rather than a standard 12-hour central hand, which means the time requires a brief interpretation rather than an instant reading — a deliberate aesthetic choice characteristic of the regulator genre.

Powered by the Miyota 82S7 automatic movement — chosen specifically for its native offset sub-dial architecture that enables the figure-8 layout without a module — and finished in a polished 316L stainless steel case with 3D butterfly hands and a sapphire crystal. Available in silver dial, black dial and black dial with gold case/hardware.

Key Specifications

Variants — Three Configurations

Silver dial / steel case / brown leather: A clean cream-silver main dial with the figure-8 sub-dial layout in matching silver tones. The applied Arabic hour markers on the 24-hour register and the “B” markers catch ambient light cleanly against the silver background. Paired with a brown leather strap — the warmest configuration of the three and the one that reads closest to a traditional dress watch.

Black dial / steel case / black leather: A deep black main dial with cream-toned applied numerals on the sub-dials and hour scale. The contrast between the dark field and the lighter sub-dial registers creates the clearest visual hierarchy of the three configurations — the figure-8 layout is most immediately readable on the black dial. Paired with a black leather strap.

Black dial / gold case / brown leather: The same black dial with gold-tone case hardware, crown, and applied indices. According to real-world collector reviews, this is the configuration most collectors consider the standout option — the gold-tone applied indices on the black dial have particularly sharp execution, and the gold case hardware is described as high-quality at this price level. Paired with a brown leather strap for contrast against the gold hardware.

The Regulator Dial — What It Is and How to Read It

The regulator is a specific watch dial layout with a long history in precision horology. Traditional regulators placed the minute hand at the centre — the highest-precision indicator — while relegating the hour and seconds to sub-dials, reducing interference between the hands and maximising minute-reading accuracy. The design was used in marine chronometers, observatory clocks and precision instruments from the 18th century onward.

On the S4098 the layout is: the central hand shows minutes only. To read the time, you read the minutes from the central butterfly hand, and the hours from the 24-hour sub-dial at 9 o’clock. There is no central hour hand — the hour is always read from the sub-dial. This requires a brief moment of interpretation that standard watches do not — an intentional design choice that gives the watch a different interaction character from every standard three-hand watch.

The 24-hour sub-dial (rather than the more common 12-hour) means the hour hand completes one rotation per day rather than two, which is both an accurate timekeeping representation and a functional tool for distinguishing AM from PM without ambiguity.

The small seconds sub-dial at approximately 5 o’clock creates the lower register of the figure-8, with a lollipop seconds hand sweeping independently around its own track.

The Figure-8 Layout and the Miyota 82S7

The “figure-8” asymmetric layout — two intersecting circular sub-dials — is enabled by the Miyota 82S7’s native architecture. Unlike most automatic movements where the seconds display is on the main axis or requires an additional module to offset, the 82S7 has native independent sub-dial outputs for both a 24-hour hand and a small seconds hand at offset positions. This means Baltany was able to achieve the figure-8 layout within the standard 11mm case thickness without adding a module on top of a base movement.

The 82S7 beats at 21,600 vph (3Hz) — a lower beat rate than the 28,800 vph of the Miyota 9015 or NH35. On the central minute hand this rate is imperceptible. On the small seconds sub-dial the 3Hz stepping is visible as a slight tick rather than a continuous sweep — a characteristic noted in collector reviews and described as consistent with the vintage character of the design rather than a technical compromise.

The decision to cover the 82S7’s native open-heart balance wheel window — a feature visible on most watches using this movement — was deliberate: the full dial needed to present the figure-8 layout cleanly without a window competing for visual attention.

Butterfly Hands and Lollipop Seconds

The 3D polished butterfly hands are the most technically demanding element of the S4098’s finishing. The butterfly profile — a broad central lobe that narrows to a fine tip on each end — requires polishing on multiple curved surfaces simultaneously, which is significantly more labour-intensive than polishing straight baton or sword hands. At this price level, the quality of the butterfly hand finishing has been consistently noted in collector reviews as exceeding expectations.

The lollipop seconds hand — a fine rod terminating in a small circular tip — is the conventional pairing for a regulator small seconds display. The circular tip at the end provides a clear visual target on the small sub-dial track without requiring a long hand that would extend beyond the register boundary.

The Arabic hour numerals on the 24-hour sub-dial scale are applied rather than printed — they sit above the dial surface and cast micro-shadows under raking light, contributing to the depth of the dial even in the sub-dial registers.

The design intentionally omits the 25 and 45 numerals from the outer minute scale — a decision that prevents the asymmetric dial from becoming crowded and is consistent with the “art deco restraint” character of the overall design.

Who Is the Baltany S4098 For?

The S4098 is built for:

• Collectors who specifically want a regulator-style watch — the central minute hand / offset hour display is the primary purchase reason
• Buyers drawn to the asymmetric figure-8 dial as a genuinely original design in the affordable automatic category
• Anyone who wants the Miyota 82S7 in a purpose-designed case rather than a generic three-hand application
• Those who find standard three-hand dial layouts visually repetitive and want something architecturally distinctive

This is not a watch for buyers who prioritise instant time-reading. The regulator layout requires a moment of interpretation. Reviewers are consistent on this: it is a feature for buyers who appreciate dial design as an end in itself, not a limitation to be compensated for.

For a different approach to asymmetric dial design in the Baltany range, the Baltany S4036 cushion case has a different kind of dial architecture — two-register with sub-seconds and cathedral hands — in a cushion case rather than a round.

How It Compares

vs. Baltany S4092 Sector Dial — The S4092 uses the Seagull ST17 series in a 38.5mm round case with a sector cross-line dial — another geometric, non-standard dial design. The S4098 is the more complex and asymmetric of the two; the S4092 is slimmer and available in manual-winding.

vs. Baltany S4090 Pie-Pan — The S4090 uses a Miyota 9039 high-beat movement in a 38.5mm round case with a faceted pie-pan dial — an ornate dial design through surface treatment rather than layout asymmetry. If you want distinctive dial character through geometry, the S4098; through surface texture, the S4090.

vs. Baltany S4101 — The S4101 uses the same 38.5mm round case format with sub-seconds and a salmon or black dial. The S4098 is the more architecturally distinctive option; the S4101 is the more legible and conventional dress watch.

vs. Hanboro Chime 9015 — The Hanboro Chime uses a Miyota 9015 in a different dial direction. The S4098 is the architectural/collector-focused option; the Hanboro is more conventional in layout.

More from Jewelry Addicts

Exploring regulator watches, asymmetric dials and Miyota 82S7 automatics:

• Baltany Watches — Full Collection — all Baltany models at Jewelry Addicts
• Baltany S4092 Sector Dial Watch — another geometric, non-standard dial design from Baltany
• Hanboro Watches — dress and formal automatic alternatives
• Best Automatic Watches Under $200 — full roundup including dress, architectural and collector automatics

Specifications

Model: Baltany Original Design Retro Auto Watch S4098
Movement: Miyota 82S7 Auto Movement
Case: 316L Stainless Steel, Polished, Gold/Steel
Case Diameter: 38mm (including crown 40.5mm)
Lug to Lug : 44.2mm
Thickness: 11mm (including glass)
Dial: Silver / Black, Arabic Numerals Hour Markers(silver/gold), “B” Markers
Bezel: Fixed,
Glass: Sapphire Crystal, AR Coating
Hands: 3D Polished Butterfly Hands
Crown: Silver/Gold,316L Stainless Steel, with “B” Logo
Caseback: Screw-in, 316L Stainless Steel
Strap: Leather, Brown / Black
Strap Width: 20mm
Buckle: Stainless Steel Buckle
Waterproof: 50M(5Bar)
Weight: About 62g

Package

1 x Portable Anti-drop Watch Box
1 x Leather Watch Bag
1 x BALTANY Watch
1 x Leather Strap
1 x Strap Removal Tool
1 x Soft Cleaning Cloth
1 x User Manual
1 x Warranty Card
1 x 2 Years Warranty