NYT article on trend toward smaller men’s watches

[miamiclay]

Prominent article in today’s Sunday New York Times about a trend toward smaller watches for men - “In the Watch World, Size (Small) Increasingly Matters.”

It’s not just about 36mm vs. 40mm or the like - The lede is about an Italian jeweler and his opal dial 26mm Lady DJ.

I’m linking this as a “gift” article, so (afaik) y’all should be able to read it behind the paywall.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/08/f...hare&sgrp=c-cb

[ferrissteve11]

Fashion runs in cycles and maybe we're heading into slightly smaller. However, I think the 36-40mm size hits the sweet spot for many.

[RolexAwaytheDew]

Originally Posted by ferrissteve11

Fashion runs in cycles and maybe we're heading into slightly smaller. However, I think the 36-40mm size hits the sweet spot for many.

I completely agree. I do not think that we are entering an era where men will be commonly wearing 26 to 28 mm watches. But who knows?

[Dan Pierce]

Wear what you want, fashion trends be damned.
dP

[Harry-57]

Fashion trends can and will do as they please. I know what I like.

[enjoythemusic]

Which influencers are they paying and how long is their contract? Were any names discussed?

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by harry-57

fashion trends can and will do as they please. I know what i like.

+1.

[DC116710LN]

Originally Posted by ferrissteve11

Fashion runs in cycles and maybe we're heading into slightly smaller. However, I think the 36-40mm size hits the sweet spot for many.

Agreed

[Krash]

I think the reality is that larger watches are not going out of style. It’s just that smaller watches seem to be more in vogue now.

Plenty of room for both large and small watches….


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[WatchEater666]

39mm - 40mm is perfect and always has been imo.

Dont think super small watches are coming back. Back then people were also super short lol

[CHRONOLEX]

Well for those of us who thought 36 was small when it was the only choice, I predict we will continue to think that regardless of what the trend makers say.

[omar-rye]

I prefer to have a watch that is too small rather than one that is slightly too large.

[askdanny]

The fashion world cited in the article is not part of our world — the Rolex, Tudor, Omega, TAG Heuer, etc... world — they are not comparable.

Cosplay is very much part of the marketing fabric of the world we operate in. Look at those brands' latest videos: You're an Explorer, a Pan Am pilot, a race-car driver, a deep-sea diver, an astronaut, a Mi6 agent...

26mm watches will never speak to our world.

—Danny

[marmite2005]

Smaller watches will rage back and become the norm, over the next few years. As others have said, fashions/trends change.
Personally I think 1990's midsize 31mm Rolex's are a bargain and could become in vogue, within a few years, as well as all gold watches as gold prices continue to climb and gold comes back into fashion.......or we go the other way, everyone is bored with mechanical watches and go back to digital/smart whatever.

I'll continue to buy what I like

[Rolex1982]

Originally Posted by dan pierce

wear what you want, fashion trends be damned.
Dp

+1!

[jb335]

Originally Posted by ferrissteve11

Fashion runs in cycles and maybe we're heading into slightly smaller. However, I think the 36-40mm size hits the sweet spot for many.

I agree

While I still have and enjoy many 40mm sports watches, I have fully embraced 36mm. Would never buy a DD, DJ or OP in anything larger than 36.

[rvanno]

I recently inherited my father's 16233 and absolutely love the size and charm of it. I also find myself preferring the size of my Pelagos 39 over my 124060.

[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by marmite2005

Smaller watches will rage back and become the norm, over the next few years. As others have said, fashions/trends change.
Personally I think 1990's midsize 31mm Rolex's are a bargain and could become in vogue, within a few years, as well as all gold watches as gold prices continue to climb and gold comes back into fashion.......or we go the other way, everyone is bored with mechanical watches and go back to digital/smart whatever.

I'll continue to buy what I like

I don’t think men are going to be wearing 31mm Rolex because it was never a thing, and it’s not about to become a thing. I don’t think this article is talking about men wearing watches made for women.

[CHRONOLEX]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

I don’t think men are going to be wearing 31mm Rolex because it was never a thing, and it’s not about to become a thing. I don’t think this article is talking about men wearing watches made for women.

Lol

[marmite2005]

The 31mm was never made for women, it was actually marketing for the oriental market, back then Hong Kong traders.
If we look globally, yes American men are of a larger statue due to their mixed superior genes but there are huge swathes of the world, India, China, South America, Africa where an average man's physical frame is not 6"7, size 13+........a smaller watch will be in more proportion for them.....plus if we get a fashion trend of younger starlets wearing a smaller watch / bracelet everyone will follow.
Timothy Chalmet as one young star of Dune and other films, loved by a much younger generation has been spotted wearing teeny tiny Cartier Panther watches.
I'm sure other rappers on tiktok have also been spotted (I'm too old to be able to name them all)

I believe tiny / smaller watch fashion is coming.

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[Doood]

It’s all about proportions. When it looks good, it looks good, regardless of current fashion trends.

[Calatrava r]

Great. Just when I am looking for a PP 3796. LOL

[Rolexken]

And in the real world, life goes on…..

[Cassian739]

Originally Posted by Rolexken

And in the real world, life goes on…..

Exactly. Most men, and some women, will continue to wear 39-42mm as the preferred size. But hey, if I ever make it to the Red Carpet, maybe I'll let my stylist convince me to wear a 32mm watch.

[marmite2005]

Originally Posted by Rolexken

And in the real world, life goes on…..

LOL :-)

As always, wear what you like or suits you.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

An interesting article about migrating watch hype. Thankfully I’m not cool and therefore not susceptible to hype, hell it took me until 2020 to jump on the Panerai Luminor Marina bandwagon. I predict that when these youngster hipsters buying these teeny weeny watches all grow old enough to develop presbyopia there’ll be another article in the New York Times hailing the return of big watches.

[Blansky]

Hodinkee had the same type of article by a lady writer who covered fashion.

But there is a distinction between people buying fashion, and people who are into horology. Obviously some crossover but …..

Fashion is all about change and making people dissatisfied with what they have and steering them into spending money on new stuff.

Horology is about……oh wait.

But basically, I just find these articles to be mostly filler and fluff pieces.

[rmlovett1]

Regardless of the article, I still see a plethora of men wearing 42mm and larger, watches. Granted, most aren’t Rolex, PP, AP, etc….

[austinp]

My poor eyes can barely read my 40 mm. No way I’m going smaller. 40-47mm for me.


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[7sins]

Love my smaller watches...