Why all the hate for big sizes?

[Boothroyd]

I believe that the "classic" sizes of today are as likely to look dated to milennials as "classic" 34mm mens wristwatches of the 1940's look to us. Unless you have a smaller wrist, with a few exceptions, I don't hear people on TRF championing 34mm as the perfect size men's watch. I believe larger sizes are here to stay for quite some time.

[landroverking]

So many oversized watches just look funny on some.
6.6 and 275 lbs one thing. Little guy with lugs hanging over just looks odd IMO.

[Cru Jones]

it always amuses me how some watch fans become fashion police over a millimeter here or there.

buy and wear what you like, and appreciate others who do the same. i'd much rather see a large mechanical watch on someone instead of no watch or a "smart" watch.

[J!m]

My personal "hatred" is not for big size watches.

I don't like disproportionate watches, regardless of size.

I have a Planet Ocean 45.5mm watch and also an older Tag Heuer chrono that is 38 or so (maybe slightly under?).

I have observed that with bezel watches, the relationship of the bezel diameter and case diameter have an impact on how big the watch "wears".

The old Sub has a bezel that extends beyond the actual case and the Planet Ocean has a bezel that is equal with the case.

I will also comment that the new direction of the ceramic sub cases is with lugs that are disproportionate to the overall case. It looks to me like they never finished shaping the lugs on these watches. The Seadweller 4000 (116600) has restored the proportions and looks better in my opinion. If the sub follows suit, I may consider a ceramic sub in the future.

[captain_NEMO]

40mm is definitely my limit. Been chasing the Exp I 36mm for the longest, and when I finally tried it on, I ended up buying the 39mm version strictly on the fit factor. To each his own, IMHO. I have 7.25" wrists, and larger than 40mm just looks really douche-y on me.

I do have an Omega Geneve Auto that is ~34 and was a gift from my dad - I wear that purely out of uniqueness and sentimental reasons. And yes, I do love how it looks.

Got a buddy who loves rocking his Nixon - you know, the ones you can tell time on from the other side of the bar - and he criticizes my choices in watches, saying they are too plain and small. One of these days when I've had a few too many, and he knocks my new Exp I, I'll gladly knock him down a peg or two.

[HogwldFLTR]

I feel pretty happy with my size range from 36mm to 42mm. A lot depends on the watch. Both my Breitling SuperOcean and my Tudor GranTours are 42 mm watches and feel great and do their jobs well. Nothing more than that for me other than they look reasonable on my wrist. Those three are the biggies for me. I really find 36mm the lower end of what I'm willing to tolerate. I have a 6.5 in wrist.

[jfmiii]

i wont go above 40mm. id love to own a ceramic Sub or GMT but the huge size relative to vintage models is a non-starter for me. it looks gaudy and ostentatious; just my opinion, of course.

[Boaters]

I think to say hate is a strong way to put it. In this day an age lots of people are wearing large watches. Been there done that told myself I would never wear a 40mm watch but now I find thats my sweet spot can I wear larger watches sure my wrist is 8'' and I can pull it off do I want to not really. My last larger watch was the IWC Aquatimer beautiful watch but at 44mm just started to not feel right. I think each individual needs to make his own decision on what they like and if there good with it so be it. I see people walking around with watches on there wrists that look like a golf ball strapped to there wrist does it look odd or clownish in my opinion yes but they probably look at me and wonder how I can even read the time on my puny 40mm piece of wrist candy. So to each his own.


Here is a good laugh back in the old days a almost 60mm Invicta Venom

Love my 40mm Rolex's

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by matbaj

Explorer 39mm looks fine, at least its not square looking, 36mm looks smaller but will fit anyone unless you have massive wrists its a dressy watch.

I bought the 39mm first, but once compared it against the 36mm in my wrist decided to switch to the smaller size:





39mm does looks a bit square IMHO, but not as bad as other models in that size.


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[AK797]

I suspect the guys who like huge watches, like Donald Trump, have small hands...

[MickCollins1916]

I'm kind of a "whatever makes you happy" type of guy, and I advocate buying for comfort. I've owned watches as small as 33mm and as large as 44mm. I've learned neither end of that spectrum is for me.

I can do 36mm, but I never end up happy with pieces that size, since I am a fairly big guy. I've learned 38-42mm is right in my comfort zone and tend to stay there these days.

I'm not sure there is dislike of the large sizes generally though...I see a decent number of DSSDs and similarly-sized Breitlings and the like around DC.


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[Explorertwo]

I'm with Flavor Flav: love big watches..
But not on me 😄😄😄

[capote]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I've been seeing smaller watches creep into the catalogs of lesser brands for awhile and I've been predicting this change even longer, often to hostile reactions.

JLC has shrinked some models the last years and Lange introduced a 35 mm Saxonia the other year, granted their sizes has been yo-yoing the last years. Personally I'm no fan of large watches. I'm good at 39-40, and I wear a vintage 34 mm in rotation.

[captain_NEMO]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

I bought the 39mm first, but once compared it against the 36mm in my wrist decided to switch to the smaller size:





39mm does looks a bit square IMHO, but not as bad as other models in that size.


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In the first pic, the 39mm just dwarfs the 36mm. The 2nd pic, however, the 39mm looks smaller than the 36mm. Did a triple take even. Either the camera angle is playing tricks on me, or I need to step away from my computer for a little bit and log off this time-sucking forum!!

[ndsleep612]

One thing that most people don't realize is that when a brand increases the case size of a particular model, the diameter movement still remains the same.

To compensate for the same size movement in a new larger case, everything on the dial is moved towards the center, thus looking awkward and out of proportion. If you ever wonder why you see some watches with the date more towards the center of the dial rather than nearer the edge of the dial, it's because of this.

Also when people complain that the minute and second hands are shorter, is because the brand cut costs and uses the same stuff on their small cases.

Not all larger watches are great and some that are small. It's more of a comfort and preference of how they wear on every wrist.

[jrs146]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Chaps

If you want a watch to attract attention, wear a large one.

If you want to be a bit more discreet, wear a small one.

To my mind, 40mm is the natural medium and suits everyone. The moment you go over 40mm, you start looking loud.

Regards

Mick

Don't mistake being loud for looking bad. Now, I'm not talking about a 50mm clock on a wrist, but there are many 41-44mm watches that are fantastic. A little loud? Yes. But still classy

[WristEnvy]

I go both ways.

[J!m]

Originally Posted by WristEnvy

I go both ways.

Ummm... Thank you for sharing but you may be on the wrong forum?

[WristEnvy]

Originally Posted by J!m

Ummm... Thank you for sharing but you may be on the wrong forum?

not that way

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[johnnyjazz]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

It doesn't hurt. Nice hollow body, mate!
dP

Thank you very much. it is an Ibanez GB100, I have a few archtops, always go back to the GB or my old Epi Emperor for rowdy gigs. Gibsons have never done it for me.

[Manofsteelpt]

I never criticize someone's choice of watch size, to each their own. Myself, I do prefer a larger watch, as I don't feel the 36-40's look good on ME.

[kilyung]

Not me. I'm perfectly content with small and big watches.

[Fiery]

Having cursed with a slim wrist, it's getting harder and harder to find a classically sized gents sports watch lately (apart from Rolex, of course). I have no problem expanding a brand's collection with bigger watches, I just get a bit upset when a brand moves away from a perfectly good sized (e.g. 39-42mm) model and replaces it with a 43+ mm one that is out of question for me. In case Rolex introduced a GMT-Master III with a 42-44mm size, and kept the current GMT-Master II intact, fine with me. I don't hate big watches, I only dislike such companies that only offer big watches.

And if we look at the current Rolex lineup, I think there's a watch for everyone. Basically all "big" watches have a smaller alternative. That's how it should be done. One exception might be the SKD, but let's say the DD40 is sort of a smaller alternative to it :)

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by AK797

I suspect the guys who like huge watches, like Donald Trump, have small hands...

The same can be said for shoe size .... Errrr wait a minute, never mind

[Dr.Brian]

Am I the only one that thought this thread would be about Paul's expanding waistline?

[DPE]

As I get older the bigger watch is better to read.

[mfer]

I think it is all about proportions.

[ltmgeller]

I love the bigger models.

[gtnator]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Chaps

If you want a watch to attract attention, wear a large one.

If you want to be a bit more discreet, wear a small one.

To my mind, 40mm is the natural medium and suits everyone. The moment you go over 40mm, you start looking loud.

Regards

Mick

If you want to pickup chicks...

[Timesurfer]

Interesting topic, all valid points...

No hate.... Not here....

A matter of personal taste for sure.... I agree with 40mm being the tipping point for medium to small wrists.... My 2c. Is that at some point there is an overall "fashion" trend to all of this (that is being pulled/pushed by the industry in general).

I also believe this trend comes and goes with the decades, It wouldnt surprise me to see the scale being pulled toward 36mm and smaller in comming years, I personally love 40mm.

There are also watches that look large at 40 and some that look small at the same size do to factors we all know like lugs, case design, materials, color, etc.

And finally, I like my dress watches smaller, why? Maybe since they tend to sit flatter (At least the ones that I like) larger ones arent as comfortable...

Just be happy!