How to Pick the Right Watch Size & Does It Matter? Trends, Times, Genres ...

The debate about the right watch size for men can be annoying. Watches are complicated things, connected to technology, culture, fashion and more. In this speech I deliver my thoughts about everything between delicate dress watch and the big Pilot timepiece.
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[@davidlloydjones752]

My current collection ranges from 42-32mm. Nice to have a differing sizes of watch on different days, and for different occasions👌

[@Zwepol]

Hear hear! I`ve got from 35 to 47mm in my collection of (cheap) watches. And I enjoy wearing them all. (My wrist is 8 inches (20cm)).

[@user-kx2yy8vm1q]

👍

[@marcgoulding5230]

Absolutely agree. I just picked up a few vintage (Longines, Astral, Rado...) pieces, all in the low 30s across. I'm accustomed to wearing 40 or 42 divers, but I am really pleased with the small diameter, as well. For me, both ends for different moods.

[@theintrnationlst]

The thing that no one seems to talk about but which I think makes a very meaningful difference is not case size but dial size. I have a Hamilton Khaki Aviation which is 42mm, a Zelos Hammerhead which is 44mm and a Ciga Design Blue Planet which is 45mm and on wrist the Hamilton looks bigger because it's all dial. How a watch is perceived has to do with so much more than just case size.

[@dunderhay9169]

This is spot on, case size is important to know if the watch will physically fit onto the wrist, but visually dial diameter has much more importance.

[@pete531]

sternglass naos 38mm dial size but no bezel because its a bauhaus so it looks like its 40mm

[@Vox-Populi]

I pick my watch sizes based on whether I can easily tell the time at a glance, day or night, glasses or no glasses. The size of the bezel impacts that quite significantly on some watches. 41mm or 42mm are perfect for me.

[@formolzinho]

As I grow older and my eyes are getting tired my watches are getting bigger. With thicker indeces and hands.

[@eucitizen78]

Thank you Tim. Words of reason and wisdom where spoken.

[@cohecency7288]

Express your personality with your style any way you see fit. That’s the fun of it. 🙂

[@alexandermarquardt597]

I agree and I love the shoe example: Im 1.92 cm and 120 kg, when people react shocked to the shoe size I wear, I always want to ask them If they want me to fall over. And I tried different watch sizes, found out everything under 39 makes me sad. Now I found what I liked and buy the watches that make me happy.

[@trippgs]

Tim, thank you again for thoughtful commentary. I'd like to say that I've never thought of myself as the sort of person to wear a sub 36mm watch. Yet, my 32.5mm Omega feels like the perfect size. Case diameter, of course, isn't the only consideration as you have alluded to regarding lug width. There is also dial aperture and the shape of the watch.

[@matiasortuzar6306]

Im 1.95 mts and my favorite watch of my collection is a 34mm Rolex Airking

[@BriarBlues]

Tim, all great points. IMHO the most important measurement for me is lug to lug, for comfort.

[@edgeyt1]

I'm happy to wear anything between 34 and 42mm it just depends on the form and nature of the watch - dress, tool, diver etc; what's more important to me is the lug to lug measurement, crucial for how the watch feels on the wrist imho.

[@day_changer]

Great video! As a good example - my father is shorter and a lot slimmer than me. His daily wearer is a Rolex Explorer 1 at 39mm. I am taller and a lot heavier than my father, and my favourite watch in my collection is a Breitling Avenger Chronograph at 43mm.

[@emm_arr]

I'm glad the really small shoe thing went out of fashion too. Size 39 makes my toes go blue.

[@emm_arr]

(The last time I made a silly comment on this channel, it got taken seriously ...)

[@user-ed9fl7hu1y]

Hi Tim your points are right personally I prefer watches on the smaller size of the spectrum I consider them more elegant

[@hibernopithecus7500]

And where I agree that smaller watches are more elegant, I’m a clod. A lump. A grunt. Proudly rough around the edges (without being obnoxious). Elegance is wasted on me & I’m good with that. It doesn’t fit, like putting ballet slippers on a roughneck.

[@joshuabriggs7114]

Nice perspective Tim. I'm 190.5cm with 18.5 to 19cm flat wrists (60mm across). I have worn everything from a 36mm Smiths PRS-48 to a 47.5mm SBBN031 Seiko Tuna. I just wear what I like :)

[@wingi7722]

Excellent topic with some excellent observations. Particularly about shoe size , this puts prejudice into perspective 😅. One aspect that you didn't cover is eyesight. One of the reasons that I wear larger sizes is that the small ones are simply too hard for me to see and therefore I can't enjoy smaller watches. Fortunately my wrist is reasonably large so I can easily wear larger watches as they suit me

[@ylee7644]

I'm surprised lug-to-lug length doesn't get discussed more. I only recently started looking into watches after I decided to buy my first one in over 20 years. I was surprised how big watches had become. I found one which fit well and that I liked (Seiko SRPJ83), and now I'm looking for a similarly sized dress watch. In the process, I tried on a Hamilton Murph 38, and I was surprised how well it actually fit despite the case being 2mm larger. It turns out the lug-to-lug length is almost the same as my Seiko. The Murph is still a bit too bulbous on my wrist when viewed at an angle, but it at least works looking at it from the top down. I'd like to see case diameter and lug-to-lug length--as well as case thickness--as the three distinguishing factors when people discuss watch sizes, not simply case diameter as the sole one.

[@Anirossa]

I wear watches from 33mm to 42mm in diameter. My dresswatch to my biggest diver. 40mm+ I tend to stay away from. I do however think measuring by the diameter as explaining the size is quite missleading, a 42mm watch can look way too large or just right depending on if it is a fliegere or a diver watch. Also lug to lug and center of mass are both much more important for how it wears and if will disapear on your wrist or not.

[@gew1898]

I’m a pretty big guy. I own several vintage watches, some are minuscule 1930s watches. I love them. That being said, I feel the perfect modern watch sizes are 36-40. 36mm for a dress watch. 38mm for a simple casual watch. 40mm for a dive watch or a sport watch with complications, like a chronograph. Any smaller and it can be hard to see the complications.

[@lefroy1]

Most people are just following the fashion. Those who proudly wore 44mm Bremont's 5 years ago are now professing their love for small watches as if they have some prophetic intuition.

[@NeoWahNah]

😂

[@void1984]

Can we not follow it, if we shop what's available? I like vintage, mainly for that reason.

[@deedee8568]

Wow kinda cynical, like people haven't been true to themselves in the watch-wearing sphere of humankind. Hey there's a cynical aspect to marketing, sure, but let's keep it upbeat, folks!

[@hughming]

Bremont sucks. Terribly overpriced and weird design choice. Also very politically correct.

[@grmpf]

@@hughming "Also very politically correct." That part is categorically different from other complaints against them and there was no need whatsoever to bring it here other than to signal your political alignment.

[@xchazz86]

Basically if the lugs are overhanging from your wrist it’s the wrong size. And if the watch looks like a pimple on your wrist it might be a bit small. For most men 36-42mm is the optimal standard size.

[@mkyhou1160]

Agreed. I think it’s like jeans. A small watch on a big wrist looks terrible, just like tight jeans on a big guy. Too loose is awful too. Buy what fits your wrist. I have a 7.5 inch wrist, 41 is perfect for me, I like a lug to lug of about 50. 40 to 43 can work, when I had a 39 Explorer it just didn’t feel right. A quartz 40 Tissot PRX looks great though (longer lugs), oddly my favourite watch now.

[@danielfrancis3660]

I just bought a second hand T W Steel TS5 watch and it's a beast at a jaw dropping 47 mm. I don't think I'll wear it that often but I will. By the way i have skinny forearms but that didn't put me off.

[@richardb22]

I am mostly a "bargin bucket " kind of guy . Old Seikos ! I particularly wanted a watch that was made in June 1964 . I found on eBay a Sportsman 66-7990 handwound 33mm which I got for 67.99GBP . Yes it is small but as always each of my watches were a particular choice and tell a story. Cheers Richard

[@finesse49]

To each his/her own. I don't want to stick out in a crowd so prefer smaller watches, though "allowable" sizes are a bit larger for divers and fliegers. I tend to wear field and casual dress watches most, though.

[@shawnmungur4875]

My diver is a 41mm because it's legible underwater (yes, I am a certified diver that has a diver as a backup), my office watch is 36mm. To his and her own, and that should be enough!

[@brendandennis5868]

May I ask if you wear the diver over a wet suit?

[@shawnmungur4875]

@@brendandennis5868 depends; dry suit (colder dives), yes. Shorty wet suit (warmer dives), no. I have placed it on a single pass NDC strap as I do wear it over my motorcycle jacket when I'm riding to work.

[@rodg2335]

I started today wearing a 36, changed to a 34.5, now wearing a 42mm. I have a 200mm wrist. The issue of watch size ended for me long ago

[@Karl-hx6sw]

I think many important factors come into play here. Example...I got a Addisdive 36mm as a gift for my brother. It had a light sky blue wavy textured dial. I tried it on next to my Smiths Commando 36mm with brown tropic dial. The addisdive looked way bigger due to the longer lug length and lighter dial colour. Dial size (not case size) was similar but this is important too. It suited my 7.25cm wrist better. Also, I swapped out my smiths braclet for a strap which made it wear better on me as it broke up the continuation of steel on wrist. This can also sometimes work the other way making it wear smaller on wrist, just depends on the watch. I'd say don't dismiss any size watch untill its actually on wrist because of all these factors.

[@waterfordrs22]

My take is that XL case sizes were popularized in the mid to late 90’s when people generally speaking were less interested as a whole with respect to horology expressed in the form of mechanical wrist watches. Action movie stars such as Arnold and Sly Stallone famously wore some massive watches on film, most notably their Panerai. They were about flex, they struck a chord with a lot of people looking to make a statement and in no time, it was off to the races. Tool watches have dominated the last 25 years. They’ve been selected for maximum impact, intended to be the center of attention. That’s endured for quite sometime. With that in mind. If that’s all we were ever offered, at some moment, the general environment states to feel stale. Consumers, there’s way more of them and their understanding of horology is more nuanced. People are open and even looking for alternatives to yet another tool watch. There are those who look for that more balanced visual approach. Maybe horology isn’t the be all end all, they might be dynamite dressers and simply want a stylish timepiece that works ensemble. I know a barista at a local cafe, the guy has his own style, he wears a very small watch by today’s standards, but it’s got a great bracelet and works with his style of dress. If you need your watch to be the center of attention, go XL. Beyond that, you’ve got lots of options

[@kjeldpedersen666]

Hi Tim Think your points are right. In my eyes the personal preferences are most important. A big Dutch man wearing a 34mm dress watch, a smaller Italian guy wearing a big divers watch...who cares as long as it satisfies them...? I have relatively small wrists, and feel generally limited towards the smaller sizes. Think my sweet spot is around 36-38mm. But I do have a 42mm diver and a 34mm dress watch. Think it makes perfectly sense as long as I enjoy it. Watch trends? Couldn’t care less...

[@cedarcanoe]

Makes perfect sense Tim! Myself I am 2 meter long but I am used to smaller vintage watches (36-40mm). It’s all personal taste right?

[@supapornchanchai4282]

Hi Tim, I agree with everything you've said. I have a seven inch wrist and tend not to exceed 40 mm however, I've always wanted to add to my collection a wrist watch with a pocket watch complication. I have my eye on a Molnija watch with the calibre 3603, the smallest size being 42" I know I'm breaking the golden rule, but I just can't resist the thought of listening to the sound of winding a hand wound watch with such an iconic movement. 😊

[@OscarOSullivan]

My favourite watch is an 8204 Citizen Promaster NY0040-17L diver’s watch to me it is the perfect size for a diver for me and think Citizen fecked up by making the mark 1.5 and 2 fugus bigger. Italy sounds ideal for clothes shopping for me as I am 175cm. And I love the diplomatic watch and its engineering sophistication. Oris is good for very diverse watch sizes.

[@carlospagi]

Perfect guiance Tim! I wear 34mm to 43mm and notice some wear smaller or bigger than their actual dimensions. A 39mm dress watch will look huge next to a 43mm Diver. Great video, thanks very much.

[@heiner71]

I ordered the CW 36mm yesterday. I have a 7-7.25" wrist and I like small watches as they usually are out of the way and don't flop around on my wrist. The new CW has almost the exact dimensions of the Rolex Explorer 36mm which I also own and which works perfectly for me. I owned the 39mm Sealander in the past and it felt too big.

[@philipsdefreville6138]

Tim, you absolutely nailed it. Perfect commentary on watch size!

[@maxso809]

“The highest people in the world are the Dutch,” I bet they are. 😮‍💨💨💨

[@CasebackWatches]

Haha, wasn't meant as a joke to be honest. I shot the video with a very rough script, had to focus on many things and just stepped right into it. Real life comedy ;-)

[@jackochainsaw]

Different styles of watch will wear differently, the diameter isn't always a determining factor where it comes to comfort. Strap choice, case design, case back design, thickness of watch and weight of watch will all have a bearing on the ultimate comfort. Comfort will be the decider most of the time. In order to judge comfort you will have to try the watch on, you can't judge it on the internet. If you had a 60mm watch that was comfortable on wrist, you could wear it. It would look like a dinner plate on your wrist but you could wear it. The biggest I've worn was 55mm lug to lug and 50mm diameter and I classed that as an oversized. I have a 17cm wrist. My smallest watch is a 28mm bronze dolce vita style watch that feels almost weightless on wrist and has a 16mm strap (some might class that as a ladies watch). Choosing a ladies watch size is an option, don't feel put off doing that if you have a thin wrist. The norm back in the 90s and early 00s was smaller than our current average of 40mm. 36-38 are great watch sizes for all wrist sizes in my opinion. If you have mammoth wrists (7 to 8 inches and above), the strap choice is important.

[@peakrider4886]

I’m in agreement with you Tim. The extremes of oversize and too small are best avoided but otherwise I think the choice is probably most closely associated with the type and function of the watch. As you say, flieger’s tend to be larger as are various Casio’s such as G-shocks and Protrek, and more dressy watches are mid to small sizes.

[@rabadabadoo491]

Great discussion of the topic, cheers 🍻

[@MrJerry160]

As my taste for watches becomes more refined I am starting to appreciate the understated elegance of smaller sized watch, especially when wearing a long sleeve. but also i try to keep in mind non watch peoples interpretations of watch size, i don't want the watch to appear as the size of a modern women's watch in peoples mind. There is a fine balance.

[@michaelj8793]

I say just do you and stop listening to people telling you what you like to wear Completely ridiculous imo Thanks for sharing as always my friend Be well 👍

[@tcapd]

Thank you, Tim, fine words of wisdom.

[@Kiddomike]

I dunno where I stand on this topic. 😅 I wear a G-Shock Mudman GW-9500 and a 36mm Explorer 1. I have a 7” wrist. I love both watches.

[@davem6735]

I started wearing watches in the late 70s and early 80s as a teen. These were Timex analog watches and I gravitate toward the same look and feel still today. So, 38 mm plus or minus works well for me. Anything over 42 mm feels too big and anything under 36 mm feels too small. But, that's just me. Wear what you enjoy.

[@jamesgreig8796]

Tim, spot on with your view on watch sizes. 👍

[@Musashi413]

The perfect size is whatever you like, according to your current mood. I have watches ranging from a very thin 27mm tank-style dress watch that will fit under any cuff, to a ridiculously large 50mm diver with a case thickness of 17mm, and I love them all. I know my large watches might look ridiculous to others, but I don't care. I call them my "superhero" watches, and wearing them feeds my inner (well, outward) child. You do you, don't put down anyone else's taste, and let's all have fun with this hobby!

[@FlaneurSolitaire]

I agree with almost everything, except one point: I do think that there is not just diversification going on, but that there is an actual trend back towards smaller watches for men. This may just be a side effect of there also being a (beginning) trend towards dressier models and more refined watches. Which all suits me perfectly fine, because I like small, delicate watches and I also have an absolutely tiny skinny wrist. My personal sweet spot is around 34 mm, but I also own a vintage Piaget in a 31 mm size, on a 16 mm bracelet, and it looks stunning. I usually buy women's straps anyway, so your last point isn't really relevant for guys with extremely small wrists.

[@darrenhojnacki6636]

Well said. Great video

[@kolekole6017]

I have a 7 inch wrist and I wear watches anywhere from 34mm to 45mm. It all depends on my mood and the occasion which I choose to wear.

[@larsvaldemarlarsen1528]

I like most sizes (I love watches

[@ilmaril8432]

Dial colour and the size of the bezel also matters. White dials look larger. Vintage watches for men were typically quite small. 33-35 mm was a standard size.

[@watchalot919]

I have a 17cm wrist. Dress watches 36mm-38mm, sports watches 36mm-40mm, dive watches 38mm-41mm. I think it's hard to wear a watch too small, but easy to wear something two large

[@allanlarsen5098]

I tend to prefer larger watch sizes. It's not due to fashion. It's because of me being in my 50s and the accompanying poor eyes

[@SpaceG95]

You must have been hanging out on WatchCrunch this week 🤣. I am a large guy 6ft 4 in 260lbs with a 7.75 inch wrist. I personally prefer watches over 40mm. You are spot on when you mentioned trends vs business strategy. My example would be Aragon Watch Company. They started in the early 90s along with Invicta making 50-55mm watches. Later on they offered many of the larger models in 45 and 43. This year they have come out with a few 40mm models.

[@2500MSUB]

I collect dive watches and have about an 8 inch wrist, I do have a few small watches around 36mm but don’t wear them most of my collection is above 40mm to 52mm (a Seiko auto tuna) I prefer a larger watch but to each their own buy what you like

[@cylentone]

I have zero understanding for such discussions. Watches are more fashion or statement pieces than functional tools for most of us. We constantly have the exact time, day and date on our phones. There are no such size discussions about sizes of glasses, bracelets, none about rings, necklaces or earrings. Wear what you like. One topic that almost nobody considers - people like me that have reading glasses cannot read the time without the glasses if the watch is small and/or has poor contrast. Thus, I stopped wearing the few 38mm watches I had and gave them to my son. Now I don't have any watch under 40mm, my favorite size is 42mm and I have a few 44mm that wear "small".

[@dollarsex9020]

I prefer size 38-42. At first i thought my 38mm junghans max bill looked too small but now i think its the right size

[@CasebackWatches]

That watch has a huge dial compared to other similar sized watches. That might explain it.

[@HeroAntagonist]

Thank you. Found this is really helpful. Been looking at the recent 36mm Hamilton aviation watches and worried that 36mm is too small for me, maybe 38m would be better. A reevaluation of size to, as you say, negative space, is important to consider.

[@ausaleve6002]

Do what you want, don't listen to people thinking they know what's good for you. I own watches from small square 29mm ones to 45mm divers, even bigger if I include G-Shocks.

[@gotshpilkes]

My first grown up watch was a Timex Self-Wind that my grandfather gave me when I went in the Marines. It was a 36mm (w/a Twist-O-Flex band) and it was fine because that was the size men's watches were. But I have big hands and wrists so a Seiko Sumo or Breitling Superocean 44 (my faves) look most appropriate for EDW. I'll go to 40-42 for dress. Be happy that you can get any size that suits you.

[@OscarOSullivan]

Was that pre G shock days?

[@gotshpilkes]

@@OscarOSullivan By about 15 years.

[@leightodd7335]

I'm 5' 8" with a 17cm wrist. I prefer a 40mm watch mostly for every day or sports type and smaller 38-36mm for dress occasions in general. But there are of course many other factors including but not limited to; lug width and length, case thickness, case shapes, bezel width if any compared to the face of the watch. I defiantly agree that there is always too much or too little style be damned! lol Life and watches are about Proportions. lol Nice Tim!

[@bash44]

i think 40mm with 47.5 lug to lug 20mm lugwith taper down to 17mm with female link bracelet is the best formula for best watch size

[@eurovnik]

My smallest watch 28mm My largest watch 44mm I don't get why people get so hot under the collar about this topic.

[@chakkerzo_o8911]

i think you’re spot on and put this together well. I recently got a G Shock G9000 mudman, which i was surprised had quite a small face, and also the overall watch is quite smaller than i thought. But it is lovely, it probably is the smallest digital watch i have but it just works, and i think what you mentioned about balconies is why: the band still flares around the wrist making the watch wear bigger by just blending into my wrist. Unlike most G shock i wear this tighter and it remains comfortable. But my dive watch (Aragon Divemaster Evo) is huge yet oddly while it looks huge and massive another G shock (GSTS110) is bigger but looks / wears smaller because it contours differently, while the Aragon is a more contrasting shape on the wrist. And that goes to your genre or function point. And while i haven’t followed the discussion, i think bottom line is it has to work for the individual. You won’t know til it is on your wrist, and making any arbitrary assessment of what it ‘should’ be is … well arbitrary.

[@otraguardia]

I run without my glasses so I prefer a large display. I don’t care about any „balcony“.

[@michaelbradley6488]

I love this video, quite humorous. I have watches in multiple sizes and styles. I choose the watch that makes sense for me, I have large wrists, but I still don't like a hockey puck on my wrist, smaller watches can be quite elegant and classy, not to mention just more comfortable to wear.

[@toughguy2186]

Aloha Tim !!! 🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️🏄‍♂️ as usual excellent topic, 👍👍👍 I got a question for you, I really would like to know what brand is your vest, if you could show us please.

[@CasebackWatches]

I bought that in an outlet, altered it and removed the tag. That's years ago so unfortunately I don't remember the brand anymore :-(

[@williammiller8317]

I feel comfortable with a 40mm case, but there’s no hard fast rule for choosing, it’s simply what you’re comfortable with IMO. Thanks Tim for another great video! 😎

[@DanCath]

Go Tim!!

[@eggsII]

I feel like the true issue is proportionality. As long as the proportion is right for what you are wearing and the activity that you are doing…

[@davidryan4454]

Great that everyone has an opinion. Disappointing how many people think that their opinion must be applied to us all 🙄

[@BobMarley-pm1xb]

Fine vid!

[@user-yo3so2lr2h]

You nailed it

[@Arimaquinador]

It's just personal taste and function. I use 36-38mm, from my experience it doesn't go well outside that range. I think women can make almost any size work, it's a bit diferent for men.

[@philspencelayh5464]

Just wear what you like, I have some 42s all divers they look and feel ok because the bezel needs to be accomodated. There are some vintage one starting at 34mm which also look and feel ok. Most of my watches are between 36 to 40mm. On my wrist, 7.5 inches a 44mm looks and feels rediculous wobbling about .

[@emm_arr]

A strp sizing concern that gets little attention is exactly where the clasp is on your write. Having equals lengths of strap each side of the clasp might not get you the optimal fit. If you have microadjustment holes on each side of the clasp, you can't assume moving the clasp a little one way or the other won't change the fit.

[@emm_arr]

@@IDKline Have you tried Gorilla glue?

[@emm_arr]

@@IDKline Yeah - of course! I meant huffing it from a plastic bag. You won't really notice the watch issue. (Only joking - you know that. NOTE TO READERS: don't do this! THIS COMMENT IS HUMOUR AND NOT LIFESTYLE ADVICE.)

[@ElderPinto254]

thats why i am dutch huge... love that shoe size thing lol!

[@martinsyer1430]

Lug to lug and thickness are the most important factors in wearability... You can have 42mm diameter with a lug to lug of 47mm and 12mm thickness that most people be comfortable wearing... All you Seiko turtle fans know this is true...

[@201950201950]

The perfect size is the size you decide to wear that day. I own watches ranging from 36mm to 58mm.

[@keywestjoe1]

I don't want people telling me a 42mm is ridiculous because they want to wear a 32mm. 40mm and 42mm were not ridiculous when that was the size all watch makers were producing. And, don't tell me that a 40mm Rolex at a good price isn't going to sell quickly.

[@khronokraze]

I think I agree on all your points regarding watch sizes and the last two points on limitations to consider, that being the lug to lug length as well as the maximum or minimal size for a strap possible. The latter maybe not so important, depending on the watch style and context. I have found don't be too scared of raw lug to lug measurements. If lugs and bracelet/strap is designed well, you'd be surprised how well it may actually work. I am currently comfortable with a relatively small watch collection ranging from 33mm to (near)43mm. Definitely part of the flexibility in size range comes from understanding and accepting the context of the particular watch design, is it vintage, dress, modern, tool, or a mix of both. For reference, I have a wrist size of approximately 6.9". Ultimately, the first rule for yourself is buy what you like. Experimentation with surprise and disappointment is part of the experience of honing and inevitable evolution of your personal style presented as a watch on your wrist.

[@khronokraze]

​@@IDKline I know. I think I generally addressed this as well. Can't judge by raw measurements, regardless if too long or short, but, generally longer scares more folks. I'd add I'd have to consider the lug width as well.. for example, I really love the glycine Airman design. Have tried many and the current one I like, The Chief models, only come in 40mm. The problem is how broad the lugs are. In combination with the case, it wears like a square watch. For slender and rounded wrists, such as I have, the visual despair comes when looking down at certain angles and the lugs just seem to suspend a bit too far away from wrist curvature/contour. And, the Airman is known for being thin for a GMT and actually have good down angle on the lugs. But, the more vintage styles can be a bit thin from the side and have a bit of suspension gap between wrist and undersides of the lugs. But, there in lies a slight problem trying to accept a vintage design in a more modern and upscaled size. Kind of doesn't work, at least not for me. Btw, the best Glycine Airman design for me is the Airman 18 model. 39mm with 20mm strap size. Too bad they stopped making them. Hope they bring them back since the expansion of watch size range is ever popular these days.

[@khronokraze]

@@IDKline I would lastly, like to add to my glycine airman example, it's sort of the way with the integrated sports watch craze. they wear really flat and wide. And they have very specific points where the bracelet starts to angle downward. And I ferl that anyone with a 7-in wrist or smaller will likely need something smaller than they're used to. I would say at least 37 mm would probably fit better. But everyone's wrist size and shape can vary a bit where there might be some flexibility in what some people can wear. My long way of explaining you really just have to try on a watch, whenever possible, to really know what works and what does not. For most, the opportunity to try every single watch that you're interested in is not that high. Luckily, there are no shortage of videos and people to ask to help make a more informed and educated decision before buying.

[@velviaman3206]

To each his own. I have more problems with finding smaller watch straps, my perfect size is 70 by 110 but this is often not an option sadly. I hate to see the end of a strap poking out when I look at my watch.

[@CasebackWatches]

Yes, that's a problem. I hear the same complaints from people that need longer straps. Unfortunately both parties are often not big enough to buy a longer/shorter line of straps wholesale.

[@Hermesforthree]

Before finally switching to wearing watches on my slightly larger right wrist on account of bracelet fit (there are only so many removable links, and even then the clasp fold might end up bulging on one side), I was getting custom straps from Veblenist (and will continue to get straps from them, even if not custom). Try also Strap Tailor for custom straps.

[@jamesrobert4106]

I bought from new my Omega Seamaster Goldeneye 41mm in 2001. I bought my 34mm Rolex Oyster perpetual date from new 15200 in 2005. I will never part with either. Trends are simply marketing for the simple of mind.

[@StuntpilootStef]

Dress watches for me should be easily able to fit under a dress sleeve. I have no idea who put the idea in their heads that 45mm dress watches should be a thing.

[@davidryan4454]

Great thoughts Tim & in the comments. Personal aesthetics are yours alone & no-one should criticise - yet some seek to impose their preferences on others. I have a 20cm wrist. I own & wear everything from a 30mm 1940's Avia to CWC G10, a 36mm Rolex Explorer 1 (114270) & a 40mm GMT 1 i have had since i was 18 (42 years ago) My 114270 is my daily. Sourcing vintage xl straps for the Avia was problematic but i did. In past times it was felt that miniaturising watches was a sign of high craftsmanship & technology. Mobile phone were like that for a while but watches & phones are all about being very obviously visible. Bling is king sadly. If you listen & heed the criticism of others you must be a very insecure individual. I cherish a photo of WW2 aviators wearing small watches. I think even with a choice of a large watch back then that they would mostly have gone for small watches that did the job & nothing more. And class never screams to be noticed 👍🏻

[@benjaminvis]

I am really rather tolerant ultimately, and probably slightly more tolerant towards smaller watches, but that's also because they bottom out more quickly than the other extreme. For myself I have my limits. These limits are also very much a guideline. Since not all watch sizes are measured equally and proportions play a big role and especially the lug to lug plays a big role, I can deviate slightly from my 36-40mm remit and 37-38 ideal. 41mm is still worthy of consideration, but I (strategically) really start hesitating at 42mm. A 48mm lug to lug is possibly an even harder limit, and that has everything to do with overhang. Under 36mm I start feeling that things get really dainty, but I could go 35mm with good presence or longer lugs. I'm not sure I'd seek to go to a vintage-like 32-34mm for men. That still doesn't mean that I cannot appreciate such watches for what they are and on other wrists, but I will like the look more as long as wrist and watch stay visually proportional, and I'm happy to judge that without knowing any measure.

[@benjaminvis]

​@@IDKline TIL TIL

[@kevingilhooley2064]

Was that an intended 'Freudian Slip' Tim...saying that the Dutch were the 'highest' people on the planet?.... it's certainly not surprising,judging by the amount of coffee shops they have.

[@youtubename1974]

Verschiedene Größen wirken manchmal gleich groß und gleiche Größen wirken manchmal verschieden am Handgelenk. Ich empfehle immer die Uhr im Laden anzuprobieren. Das Design und die Farben führen unsere Augen gerne in die Irre.

[@TheGrenadier97]

If men stormed Normandy with 32mm watches i'm all-right with them.

[@couldntthingofone269]

If you can read it, then it's not too small. If it doesn't over hand your wrist then it's not too big. And If you want to wear a watch that over hangs your wrist or that you can't read then go for it. If it fits on your wrist it won't look odd unless it's at an extreme. And if you like it and it works then it's fine.

[@anthonydevono8833]

My collection goes from 36mm to 42mm the most important measurement is the lug to lug that’s what determines what it wears like on my puny wrist!

[@shanephillips8735]

I'll wear any size watch if it speaks to me, the limit is the lug to lug not being much more than 50mm

[@ofb7212]

It seems this whole issue was blown up by u tubers with small wrists complaining about and critical of the larger watches not fitting their personal wrists well. I'm happy with brands offering multiple sizes for each model. I did not understand criticism of a watch for being a certain size. I don't criticize a watch for being too small for my 7.4 in wrist. I just don't buy it.

[@jamesblonde2271]

Its interesting to note that 7.5 is in fact the worldwide average. The average youtuber is well below that exzagerrating the noise around the smaller watch trend. Its also as well to remember that this trend is prevalent amoungst watch collectors and enthusiasts, while we (they) are a useful bellweather or predictors as early adopters but in marketing terms we (they) are a vanishingly small demographic.

[@zplapplap]

⁠​⁠@@jamesblonde2271What’s the source of your worldwide average of 7.5 statistic?

[@user-hl1bw1nx3j]

I wear 34 mil Watch

[@derosa1989]

It should be obvious that "the right size" is the one for you personally, and not one size for everyone. Your wrist diameter is a bigger factor, i'm not sure how tall people in the Netherlands are has anything to do with how good a watch looks on your wrist. Lug to lug, dial diameter, and case thickness are all design elements that factor into how suitable the watch is for the intended use and the owner's preferences.

[@BAF605]

All very sensible, just as I'd expect from a German. Sorry for the stereotyping.

[@alfieakaronaldog]

I’m not convinced a lot of the people who have been asking for smaller watches over the last couple of years are actually buying many of them.

[@dannycph]

The normal size for an average man is 36-38 mm. The only reason for a larger watch is if it’s wery important to quick and at a glance you need to tell time or measure something, namely dive and flieger watches and some chronographs. These 3 watchtypers are to me the only one to consider larger sizes. Gent’s - stay within 36-38 - it wil make you much more happy in the long run 😊

[@dannycph]

@@IDKline7.25 inch