What's your watch-to-wrist size ratio?

TheIdler · Oct 12, 2007

I'm not much of a watch guy, but I'm looking to get a third watch to supplement the two I wear. Most days, I wear a Tissot 34mm, and I also have a vintage Seiko which is 36mm. I realize my wrists are schoolgirl-thin (7 inches around), but it seems to me that a lot of guys' watches these days are way too big. A 42mm watch on me looks ridiculous IMO, but I see lots of smaller guys with watches like that.

So I'm curious--what size watch do you guys wear and how big is your wrist? Do you like a big face that kind of covers your wrist? And how loose do you wear it--does it slide around a bit or is it tight enough to stay in one place?

yfyf · Oct 12, 2007

gdl203 · Oct 12, 2007

IMO, if the lugs hang beyond your wrist, the watch is too big for you. Anything else work.

I personally wear watches from 36mm (vintage Longines and Omega) to 46mm (IWC BigP). My sweet spot is 40-44mm

dave · Oct 12, 2007

my wrists are about 7.25 or so and I don't particularly care for anything over 40mm (38-40 being the hot spot for me). I flirted with 44s in the past but came to realize they just don't do it for me. Shame too as the Big Pilot and the Panerai Historic line are some great looking pieces.

The only exception I make is for the JLC reverso series. I loves me some XGT Reverso and I find it quite comfortable in fact.

wq1999 · Oct 12, 2007

My wrist is about 6.25". All my watches are 36mm to 38mm.

TheFoo · Oct 12, 2007

I know I'm in the minority, but I don't worry much about the size of my watch even though I have small wrists (6.5 inches). I think the style and design of the watch matter much more; the Big Pilot, for example, is large but not clunky. Also, I think a lot depends on how confidently you wear it and how bold your other features are. I have a big head, big hands, and big feet. Big glasses, big watches, and big collars just seem to make sense for me.

gdl203 · Oct 12, 2007

I agree with mafoofan here. Size should not be an important factor. However, I think it does look silly when the lugs stick out on the side of the wrist

dave - JLC XGT case is OK length and width wise but the height of the case is unbalanced IMO. I used to have a RGD and, no matter how pretty it was, I had to sell it because of the funny case height proportions (GT and Classic have the same proportions but XGT does not)

kolecho · Oct 12, 2007

One of the issues of large watches is having them work with sleeve cuffs. I can order shirts with large cuffs, but they look awkward. Having the watch stick out under a cuff is also awkward. Wearing the watch over the cuff is the worst IMO.

TheFoo · Oct 12, 2007

Originally Posted by gdl203

I used to have a RGD and, no matter how pretty it was, I had to sell it because of the funny case height proportions (GT and Classic have the same proportions but XGT does not)

The RGD is my favorite Reverso; it's mentally pegged as my next watch purchase. Unfortunately, watch-collecting is a terribly expensive hobby, and engagement rings are also terribly expensive, so 'my next watch purchase' won't be anytime soon.

dave · Oct 12, 2007

Originally Posted by gdl203

dave - JLC XGT case is OK length and width wise but the height of the case is unbalanced IMO. I used to have a RGD and, no matter how pretty it was, I had to sell it because of the funny case height proportions (GT and Classic have the same proportions but XGT does not)

The case could certainly be thinner but it hasn't really bothered me. the Grande Taille was the other one I was considering when I got the Grande Reserve but I just felt like the GT case was a bit too small for me once I had tried the XGT.

grimslade · Oct 12, 2007

I just ordered the Stowa Antea 365 because it has a 36.5mm case, instead of the 40 of the standard Antea. The hand-windy-ness of the kleine secundehad kept me away from it.

gdl203 · Oct 12, 2007

oh the mistake... the delicious and soothing pleasure of winding a manual watch...

dave · Oct 12, 2007

agreed. there's just something about the ritual of getting out of bed and winding the days selection.

it's therapeutic.

SoCal2NYC · Oct 12, 2007

Originally Posted by gdl203

oh the mistake... the delicious and soothing pleasure of winding a manual watch...

Originally Posted by dave

agreed. there's just something about the ritual of getting out of bed and winding the days selection.

it's therapeutic.

And all the better if you have a power reserve to watch the hand climb higher and higher.

Ambulance Chaser · Oct 12, 2007

I have a thin (6.75") wrist and prefer watches in the 36-40mm size range.

Just as important as case size is lug-to-lug length and relative widths of the dial and bezel. I cannot wear the 42 mm IWC Aquatimer because the lugs extend beyond my wrist, creating an unsightly gap between bracelet and wrist. I can wear a 44 mm Panerai, which has lugs that are short and curved downward. The 41 mm IWC Portuguese, which has a very thin bezel, looks like a clock on my wrist, while the 42 mm Seiko Orange Monster looks fine.

What's your watch-to-wrist size ratio?

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