Discussion
The current fad for large faced watches poses those of us to whom the fates have granted unfeasibly small wrists something of a challenge.
In my quest for a black-faced, stainless steel automatic watch on a brown strap I have found a number that I rather like, but many would simply look ridiculous on me. Panerai are out, as is an IWC Pilot's Watch. Even a Zenith Captain or Stowa Flieger at 40mm might be pushing it. The Omega Railmaster 39mm would be perfect, but they're out of production and I am not sure I could be bothered with the whole second hand malarky.
Anyone got any suggestions for something suitable for a 6.25" wrist that won't look like I'm 12 and have borrowed my dad's?
Thanks in advance.
In my quest for a black-faced, stainless steel automatic watch on a brown strap I have found a number that I rather like, but many would simply look ridiculous on me. Panerai are out, as is an IWC Pilot's Watch. Even a Zenith Captain or Stowa Flieger at 40mm might be pushing it. The Omega Railmaster 39mm would be perfect, but they're out of production and I am not sure I could be bothered with the whole second hand malarky.
Anyone got any suggestions for something suitable for a 6.25" wrist that won't look like I'm 12 and have borrowed my dad's?
Thanks in advance.
My wrists are the same and came to similar conclusions on the iwc and panerai range, the 40mm pan was just about ok but that size doesn't have the vision panel at the back.
Have you looked at jlc range - master chronograph or calendar come in 40mm on either brown or black strap. The sporty versions, master compressor, are 42mm.
Another is the Daytona in white gold on brown, 40mm, not cheap but seen a nice one on blowers with zenith movement for just over £10k
Have you looked at jlc range - master chronograph or calendar come in 40mm on either brown or black strap. The sporty versions, master compressor, are 42mm.
Another is the Daytona in white gold on brown, 40mm, not cheap but seen a nice one on blowers with zenith movement for just over £10k
Shaw Tarse said:
Don't get too focused on the size of the face, the depth/ thickness makes a difference to how the watch sits on your wrist.
Agree 100% with this. I have 6.75" wrists and always shopped for 40mm watches. I fell in love with the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms but at 45mm didn't even consider it. I then tried one on in Selfridges and it looked great. It is all to do with the lugs and the bezel. I have a 40mm with no bezel and it wears bigger then the Blancpain.If you wanted to delve into preowned, there are many excellent examples of the recently discontinued IWC Mark XVI at 39mm floating about. An excellent watch by all accounts.
If you wanted new, this Longines Conquest Heritage is worth a look. It is 40mm, but it is very slender, so should look fine on your wrist:
http://www.longines.com/watches/heritage-collectio...
Both could have their straps swapped for a brown one.
If you wanted new, this Longines Conquest Heritage is worth a look. It is 40mm, but it is very slender, so should look fine on your wrist:
http://www.longines.com/watches/heritage-collectio...
Both could have their straps swapped for a brown one.
or as suggested above, some of the earlier IWC pilots.
Lungauer said:
The current fad for large faced watches poses those of us to whom the fates have granted unfeasibly small wrists something of a challenge.
I'm glad you called it a fad, it's a also pet hate of mine. Watchmakers spent 100 years perfecting the craft of miniaturised complications yet the marketeers took just 5 years to convince people that their ridiculously oversized pieces are fashionable. Of course such huge watches can be seen by the cameras on the wrist of football managers or other sports people thus gaining free advertising, while a big watch also means more space for brand logo so it's obvious why they do it! If you look at men's watches from 1950 to about 2000 they were from 35-38mm, 40mm was large and 45mm was a pocket watch. Now people wear watches at 50mm which is bigger than my bloody bedside alarm clock. There is even a fashion for soldering lugs on pocket watches and wearing them on a strap, why? 
I'd suggest to investigate the vintage and second hand market, there are styles to suit all tastes and budgets. I have a JLC Crono from about 1998 and an Omega Speedmaster Reduced from the late 80s. Oh and my mum always said slim wrists were a sign of breeding
Edited by RichB on Tuesday 3rd July 21:07
If your budget is big enough then what about this with a nice strap of some sort?
If not, then another vote for a black faced Tissot Visodate, utterly timeless.
If not, then another vote for a black faced Tissot Visodate, utterly timeless.
Lungauer said:
The current fad for large faced watches poses those of us to whom the fates have granted unfeasibly small wrists something of a challenge.
O/T. It's just as bad for those of us blessed with tree trunks. Most of the watches big enough not to look completely lost are ghastly and most of the classy watches are too small.
Thanks all for your replies - some very useful suggestions that I will certainly investigate. With regard to the thickness of the watch (and I am sure it does make a difference), does anyone know how thick the Stowa Flieger is? I've looked on their website and can't see it mentioned. I would be interested to know how it compares to a Zenith, for example, which is quite slim.
I will cleave to the notion that slim wrists show good breeding, though I can't think for the moment where that breeding may lay in our family lineage!
I will cleave to the notion that slim wrists show good breeding, though I can't think for the moment where that breeding may lay in our family lineage!
Lungauer said:
Thanks CardShark - couldn't see for looking.
Is 10.2mm average these days, or does it err on the chunky side?
I would say that's in the normal range for a mechanical watch. For comparison, the Sinn 356 is 16mm and looked absolutely comical on my (6.5") wrist which was disappointing to say the least as I love the look otherwise. My GMT IIc is 12mm thick and I'd say that looks "normal" to me if that helps!Is 10.2mm average these days, or does it err on the chunky side?
It depends on the style of the watch as to the average thickness, I'd say that 10.2mm may be a shade under the modern day average. Diver/sports/chronos tend to be thicker, dressier watches at around that level or maybe thinner, though the Tissot posted above is a mil or so taller than the Stowa. I wouldn't describe 10.2mm as being chunky, by any means 
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