7 days free on every face · one-time code · no subscription
DIALFORGE
Plain Field Chrono

A plain analog field watch. Three subdials, a small date window and nothing more.

Three chronograph-style subdials in 4D: battery on top, heart rate lower left, steps lower right, each with a progress arc and the number in the middle. A small date window sits at the bottom, a solid 12 at the top, and the hands pass over the subdials on purpose. Every shape has 4D depth: a darker base, the shape lifted 1 to 2 px and a thin light edge on top. On AMOLED the hands also cast a soft shadow. No logo or model name on the dial.

Features

  • Numeral 12 at the top, or a bar in its place
  • Three 4D subdials (top, lower left, lower right), each with a progress arc and a number. Any of the 45 data fields; default: battery, heart rate, steps
  • Small date window at the bottom (can be turned off; date language by watch language, or English or Polish)
  • Thin seconds hand with a short counterweight while the screen is awake (can be turned off)
  • Dial: Black, Olive, Navy, Desert. Numerals and hands: Cream, White, Lume green. 10 accent colours
  • 4D depth: darker base, lifted shape and a light edge on the hands, centre cap, the 12, subdial bezels, date window and 5-minute markers (flat layers on watches with 64 colors)
  • AMOLED always-on: the 12, thin subdial rings and the hands as outlines, dimmed and shifted every minute
  • Lean: no animations, a background service only for the Popular color sets list (every 6 hours it contacts dialforge.dev and sends just an anonymous color number), one redraw per minute while the watch sleeps

Data fields: heart rate, steps, battery, distance, calories, floors, active minutes, Body Battery, stress, altitude, notifications, solar intensity, battery days, temperature, sunrise, sunset, next sun event, respiration, SpO2, recovery time, pressure, resting heart rate, VO2 max, sleep score*, 5K prediction*, weekly run distance*, moon phase, week number, day of year, or empty.

* needs a watch with Connect IQ 4.2 or newer

On small 240 px screens a subdial field may stay empty (--) when its text does not fit, for example distance without the unit or the training status. Numbers of 5 digits or more are shown as 12K.

Garmin does not give watch faces access to HRV status or Training Readiness, so no Connect IQ watch face can show them.

Code not working? Write to kontakt@dialforge.dev and we fix it or refund you.

Settings: on the watch (hold MENU, then Watch face, then Customize) or in the Connect IQ app.

Popular color sets: for that list only an anonymous color number is sent.

Plain Field comes in more styles, see them all at https://dialforge.dev/

A little request from the maker

Dialforge is my student project. I build these watch faces after classes, so they are still at an early stage, and I could not test every watch model myself. If something looks wrong on your watch, please do not leave a negative rating: write to me first at https://dialforge.dev/faces/plainfieldchrono/ and I will fix it, usually within 24 hours. A kind review means more to me than you can imagine. And if you like my work, you can buy me a coffee (the link is at the bottom of dialforge.dev): I am saving up to pay for my studies. Thank you for your patience and for giving a young developer a chance.

Manual

Plain Field Chrono: user manual

What it does

Plain Field Chrono is an analog field watch with three chronograph-style subdials in 4D (battery on top, heart rate lower left, steps lower right by default), a solid 12, a fine minute track, hands with 4D depth (darker base, lifted shape, light edge) and a small date window at the bottom. The hands pass over the subdials on purpose.

Requirements and supported watches

Needs Connect IQ 3.3.0+ and the Connect IQ or Garmin Connect phone app. Supported watches:

  • Round AMOLED: epix 2 and epix Pro 2, fēnix 8, E, Forerunner 165, 265, 570, 965, 970, Instinct 3 AMOLED (45 mm, 50 mm), Venu 2, 3, 4, vivoactive 5, 6.
  • Round MIP: enduro 3, fēnix 7 series, 8 Solar, Forerunner 245, 255, vivoactive 4.
  • Square and rectangular AMOLED: Venu Sq 2, Venu X1.

Installation

In the Connect IQ app on your phone (or Garmin Connect, then the Connect IQ Store) find "Plain Field Chrono" by Dialforge, tap Install and sync the watch. Then hold the watch face (or the menu button), choose Watch Face and select Plain Field Chrono.

First launch

Black dial, cream 12 and hands, small date window, three subdials: battery on top, heart rate lower left, steps lower right. The 7-day trial starts the first time the face runs.

Controls

Watches with buttons (START, UP, DOWN, BACK)

  • No actions of its own. Settings: menu button (UP), Watch Face, Customize.

Touch watches (tap, hold, swipe)

  • Touch and hold a subdial to open Garmin's screen for its data. No matching screen, nothing happens.

Settings

Watch: menu button, Watch Face, Customize. Phone: Connect IQ app, Plain Field Chrono, Settings (code fields only there).

  • Top subdial, Lower left subdial, Lower right subdial: each shows one of 45 data types, from heart rate to weather, or stays empty (the subdial then disappears). Defaults in that order: Battery, Heart rate, Steps. Progress arcs fill from the data (battery level, steps against the goal, heart rate on a 0-200 scale) where the data has a natural scale; other values show the number only.
  • Numeral at 12: 12 or Bar. Default: 12.
  • Dial colour: Black, Olive, Navy, Desert. Default: Black.
  • Numerals and hands: Cream, White, Lume green. Default: Cream.
  • Accent color: 10 color sets, White to Lime. Default: Orange. The watch menu adds "Popular", the sets others pick most.
  • Seconds hand: on or off. Default: on.
  • Date window: on or off. Default: on.
  • Second time zone: fixed UTC offset, UTC-12 to UTC+14 with half-hour zones, no automatic daylight saving.
  • Date language: Automatic, English, Polski. Default: Automatic. It keeps working after the trial.

License

  • Trial: 7 days from the first launch, everything works.
  • Price: 4.99 EUR once at dialforge.dev, no subscription. The 8-character code is tied to your watch's UID.
  • Where to enter it: phone, Connect IQ app, Plain Field Chrono, Settings. Read the UID in "UID (dialforge.dev)", buy the code, then type it into "Unlock code".
  • After the trial without a code: settings return to defaults (the language setting stays) and UNLOCK DIALFORGE.DEV appears at the bottom. Time and data keep working.

Privacy and permissions

Permissions:

  • Sensor history: recent body battery, stress and similar values.
  • User profile: data like max heart rate and units.
  • Complications: Garmin's own data for the fields.
  • Background service: a periodic task.
  • Internet: only for the color service below.

Color service (only faces with a color choice): every 6 hours the watch asks dialforge.dev for the popular color sets (the request carries only the face name). If you changed the set meanwhile, it also sends the set number and face version. No UID, e-mail or location.

Troubleshooting

The code does not work. Check that the UID you bought for matches "UID (dialforge.dev)" and type all 8 characters (case is ignored, no 0, O, 1 or I). A code for another face does not fit. Sync, then reopen.

A field shows --. On small 240 px screens (for example Forerunner 245) a subdial may show -- when its text does not fit (distance without the unit, training status); numbers of 5 digits or more are shortened to 12K. The watch has no value for it right now: it may need a sensor reading, a connected phone (weather), a Garmin feature turned on, or a newer watch. The face never invents numbers.

Battery drain? Seconds are drawn only while the watch is awake, in low-power mode the face redraws once a minute.

What does always-on look like? On AMOLED, always-on shows the 12, thin subdial rings and the hands as outlines, dimmed and shifted every minute. MIP watches have no separate always-on mode.

12-hour or 24-hour? Analog face, so there is no 12/24 setting.

Contact

kontakt@dialforge.dev or dialforge.dev. Please write before leaving a low rating.

Plain Field comes in more styles, see them all at https://dialforge.dev/

Permissions and privacy

This product asks the watch for the permissions below. Connect IQ shows them when you install it.

  • Sensor history: Reads recent values stored by the watch (for example Body Battery, stress, heart rate, steps trend).
  • Your profile: Reads your Garmin profile on the watch (for example age, weight, heart rate zones) to calculate values for you.
  • Watch data (complications): Shows data from other watch features, such as battery or steps, on the face.
  • Location (GPS): Uses the watch location for distance, speed or sun and moon times. The location is not sent anywhere.
  • Background process: Lets the app run short tasks in the background, for example reminders.
  • Internet through the phone: Lets the watch make a web request through your phone. Used only for the colour service described below.

Popular colour sets service

Every 6 hours the face downloads the list of popular colour sets from dialforge.dev. If you changed the colour set, it also sends that set's number. The request contains only the number, the face name and the face version. It contains no watch ID, no unlock code and no e-mail. We count choices, not people. Details: privacy policy.

In preparation

Plain Field Chrono is not in the Connect IQ store yet. It will appear there when Garmin approves it. This page will then get the install button and the price.

From the same family

Plain FieldThe original. Flat dial, numbers 1 to 12 and a 24-hour ring.Plain Field 4DComing soonThe same layout with depth: numbers and hands in three layers, cream digits with a shadow, orange seconds hand. Flat on MIP screens.Plain Field GlassComing soonDate window and two indicators (steps, battery) as glass pills, the 24-hour ring as a glass track. AMOLED only.Plain Field MotionComing soonThe 4D look with motion: the seconds hand glints and moves smoothly when you raise your wrist. AMOLED only.Plain Field LightComing soonA light dial in cream and sand with black numbers and an orange accent. AMOLED only.

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