What factors make a watch too big?
Discussion
I keep hearing that wrist size is the over riding factor when discussing suitable watch sizes but are there any other factors like hand size, forearm size, upper arm size etc?
The thing is I can't make up my mind if my used Breitling Avenger is too big for me. If feels very big to me but I have never really worn a watch so anything would feel awkward and take some getting used to. I love the looks of the watch but the weight of it was a real shock.
My Wife bought it for me as a Birthday present as I expressed an interest for a 'sporty and masculine' watch, I was not really expecting this thing though! even my wife says that it looks more chunky than she expected. My mates say it looks fine but it is difficult to tell if they are just being polite.
My wrists are just under 7 inches, I do have big forearms and big upper arms, but I am not sure if that would offset the sheer heft of this thing. Also, although the watch is undoubtedly well made I am not sure how long it will look pristine as a daily wearer as I am always clumsily smashing it into walls, furniture, tool boxes etc.
The thing is I can't make up my mind if my used Breitling Avenger is too big for me. If feels very big to me but I have never really worn a watch so anything would feel awkward and take some getting used to. I love the looks of the watch but the weight of it was a real shock.
My Wife bought it for me as a Birthday present as I expressed an interest for a 'sporty and masculine' watch, I was not really expecting this thing though! even my wife says that it looks more chunky than she expected. My mates say it looks fine but it is difficult to tell if they are just being polite.
My wrists are just under 7 inches, I do have big forearms and big upper arms, but I am not sure if that would offset the sheer heft of this thing. Also, although the watch is undoubtedly well made I am not sure how long it will look pristine as a daily wearer as I am always clumsily smashing it into walls, furniture, tool boxes etc.
My wrist is 6.75" - I happily wear a 45mm Blancpain and a 45mm Radiomir but had to sell a 45mm Planet Ocean chrono which looked daft on me.
Curvature of the lugs, length of the watch rather than just diameter, height, the way it sits, bracelet/strap adjustment all play a part. If it hangs over your wrist it's probably too big OR if it feels wrong, it's too big. I caught sight of the 9300 on me in a mirror and that was it - gone. It felt great though as it was light (Ti), but I couldn't cope with the way it sat
The Rolex Deepsea has a bad rep for being too big but it has such a lovely bracelet adjustment that it always fits perfectly - it therefore doesn't move on the wrist or act like a pendulum and the weight becomes irrelevant. Any options on your bracelet? Try moving the links around so the clasp sits elsewhere on the wrist, can take a few goes to get it perfect (i.e. take one out of one side of the bracelet and put in the other). If it's on a strap, consider a deployant without holes, just a sliding and locking style.
As to hitting your watch - you'll get used to wearing it and will adjust to the height which is why it's getting caught and knocked.
Curvature of the lugs, length of the watch rather than just diameter, height, the way it sits, bracelet/strap adjustment all play a part. If it hangs over your wrist it's probably too big OR if it feels wrong, it's too big. I caught sight of the 9300 on me in a mirror and that was it - gone. It felt great though as it was light (Ti), but I couldn't cope with the way it sat
The Rolex Deepsea has a bad rep for being too big but it has such a lovely bracelet adjustment that it always fits perfectly - it therefore doesn't move on the wrist or act like a pendulum and the weight becomes irrelevant. Any options on your bracelet? Try moving the links around so the clasp sits elsewhere on the wrist, can take a few goes to get it perfect (i.e. take one out of one side of the bracelet and put in the other). If it's on a strap, consider a deployant without holes, just a sliding and locking style.
As to hitting your watch - you'll get used to wearing it and will adjust to the height which is why it's getting caught and knocked.
I think Yeti has hit the nail on the head. There are so many factors. From my own personal experience.
Tag Heuer Monaco. 40mm. Lovely looking watch. Face on it's perfect from the side it looks like a pillow sitting on my wrists.
Tag Heuer Carerra. 41mm due to the slightly domed crystal and thinner lug width (20mm vs 22mm on the Monaco) I think this watch looked fine.
Rolex DJ 2. 41mm looks huge. Possibly because I consider there is only one DJ and that is 36mm.
Rolex DSSD. 42mm. Looks huge but consider that against the other until recently introduced range from Rolex.
Omega PO. 42mm. Looks perfect. No issue.
All IMHO. I could go on. It's all subjective.
Tag Heuer Monaco. 40mm. Lovely looking watch. Face on it's perfect from the side it looks like a pillow sitting on my wrists.
Tag Heuer Carerra. 41mm due to the slightly domed crystal and thinner lug width (20mm vs 22mm on the Monaco) I think this watch looked fine.
Rolex DJ 2. 41mm looks huge. Possibly because I consider there is only one DJ and that is 36mm.
Rolex DSSD. 42mm. Looks huge but consider that against the other until recently introduced range from Rolex.
Omega PO. 42mm. Looks perfect. No issue.
All IMHO. I could go on. It's all subjective.
Thanks for the replies, the lugs do seem to curve round the shape of my wrists perfectly so I guess thats ok, it's just the weight and the height that will take a bit of getting used to.
I had it on a bracelet but just changed to a hirsch heavy calf and this did make the whole thing feel lighter and a bit more manageable.
I guess I will have to give it time and see if we can build a relationship together; who knows, in a couple of months we could be inseparable!
I had it on a bracelet but just changed to a hirsch heavy calf and this did make the whole thing feel lighter and a bit more manageable.
I guess I will have to give it time and see if we can build a relationship together; who knows, in a couple of months we could be inseparable!
Craikeybaby said:
There is an element of getting used to it too. My Oris has a 42mm face and when I first got it, it looked and felt too big, now I've had it for 6 months I don't notice I'm wearing it.
This 100%I got my Omega Seamaster about 8 years ago and it seemed massive and very heavy but with daily use it soon felt light and compact and I have average to smaller wrists. The same happened the first time I wore my Heritage 46 and now even that feels normal.
You really do get used to anything!
If you look at it and think, "That's too big!".
Then it's too big
Works the same with 'too small'
Otherwise, who cares?
A watch with a narrow (or no) bezel always looks bigger than it is, to me, but I've got (and wear) watches from 34mm to 45mm, although, for me, the sweet spot is 40-42mm.
M.
Then it's too big
Works the same with 'too small'
Otherwise, who cares?
A watch with a narrow (or no) bezel always looks bigger than it is, to me, but I've got (and wear) watches from 34mm to 45mm, although, for me, the sweet spot is 40-42mm.
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Friday 11th April 14:13
marcosgt said:
If you look at it and think, "That's too big!".
Then it's too big
Works the same with 'too small'
Otherwise, who cares?
A watch with a narrow (or no) bezel always looks bigger than it is, to me, but I've got (and wear) watches from 34mm to 45mm, although, for me, the sweet spot is 40-42mm.
M.
Interesting - my Oris has a very thin bezel, so would look bigger than it is:Then it's too big
Works the same with 'too small'
Otherwise, who cares?
A watch with a narrow (or no) bezel always looks bigger than it is, to me, but I've got (and wear) watches from 34mm to 45mm, although, for me, the sweet spot is 40-42mm.
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Friday 11th April 14:13
Although it is the lugs that made it feel big to me.
Craikeybaby said:
marcosgt said:
If you look at it and think, "That's too big!".
Then it's too big
Works the same with 'too small'
Otherwise, who cares?
A watch with a narrow (or no) bezel always looks bigger than it is, to me, but I've got (and wear) watches from 34mm to 45mm, although, for me, the sweet spot is 40-42mm.
M.
Interesting - my Oris has a very thin bezel, so would look bigger than it is:Then it's too big
Works the same with 'too small'
Otherwise, who cares?
A watch with a narrow (or no) bezel always looks bigger than it is, to me, but I've got (and wear) watches from 34mm to 45mm, although, for me, the sweet spot is 40-42mm.
M.
Edited by marcosgt on Friday 11th April 14:13
Although it is the lugs that made it feel big to me.
Different things bother different people I think, which makes it had to generalise. Lots of people say that Panerais 'wear smaller' because of their curved lugs, but they nearly all look huge to me.
M
I said originally that it is subjective, but I will add that perception plays a part too.
Watches on wrists don't necessarily look how we think they do. This is brought home to me by the Oris photograph above. I have a similar watch which looks smart but doesn't wear particularly large on my wrist. My own wrists and forearms appear to be slender to me...
Watches on wrists don't necessarily look how we think they do. This is brought home to me by the Oris photograph above. I have a similar watch which looks smart but doesn't wear particularly large on my wrist. My own wrists and forearms appear to be slender to me...
Funny, this thread ties in with my query about the apparent size of the Sinn 756. Many think the width is out if proportion to a 40mm watch.
I suspect this is made more obvious by the fact that the pinholes for the strap on the lugs are very low, making the watch sit high on the wrist.
I suspect this is made more obvious by the fact that the pinholes for the strap on the lugs are very low, making the watch sit high on the wrist.
A similar Oris to the one posted above:
Large on that members wrist, but quite small on mine. That shows clearly that its subjective and an 'XXL watch' for one fellow may be a subtle daily for another. Of course, the other Oris wearer may not consider it to be as large on his wrist as I do...
The rule has to be that if it looks too big then its too big. Whose opinion on that you choose to take is up to you.
Large on that members wrist, but quite small on mine. That shows clearly that its subjective and an 'XXL watch' for one fellow may be a subtle daily for another. Of course, the other Oris wearer may not consider it to be as large on his wrist as I do...
The rule has to be that if it looks too big then its too big. Whose opinion on that you choose to take is up to you.
Gassing Station | Watches | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff