36mm watches too small?
Discussion
I've only one watch of that size, all others I own are larger, I don't think that I'd wear smaller however I feel that 36mm can wear very well.
I started a thread about smaller watches on TZ, for reference I've a 7.25" wrist.
https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.php?417514-Let-...
I started a thread about smaller watches on TZ, for reference I've a 7.25" wrist.
https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.php?417514-Let-...
Wrist sizes are another factor I suppose. I’m 5’11” and 95kg. A lot of these watch reviews look very very slim or small.
The guy that owns HODINKEE Ben looks a big guy but he can afford any watch he wants and therefore has a big collection. The smallest I’ve owned is a 38mm Speedmaster but that felt lovely and side by side to my Speedmaster Professional didn’t look a lot smaller.
The guy that owns HODINKEE Ben looks a big guy but he can afford any watch he wants and therefore has a big collection. The smallest I’ve owned is a 38mm Speedmaster but that felt lovely and side by side to my Speedmaster Professional didn’t look a lot smaller.
bristolbaron said:
It depends largely on the style of watch too. A datejust looks good on my wrist, a mid size Seamaster looks tiny.
A mid size 36mm Seamaster is only 28mm watch face the rest bezel, where as a 36mm Rolex OP is 32mm watch face and as such wears so much bigger. Try and seeIt's obviously subjective but I often think that a lot of wrist images show watches that are too big. I would argue that the reason most classic watches are 34-38mm is because that is the optimum size for most wrists according to suit cut, etc.
Modern fashions call for bigger sizes but I can't help thinking it started with very skinny waifs (normally the classic fashionistas) wearing normal watches and them appearing outsize. For that style to translate into the high street, watches had to be made bigger to keep the look for people with normal wrist sizes. No doubt it'll revert at some point.
Modern fashions call for bigger sizes but I can't help thinking it started with very skinny waifs (normally the classic fashionistas) wearing normal watches and them appearing outsize. For that style to translate into the high street, watches had to be made bigger to keep the look for people with normal wrist sizes. No doubt it'll revert at some point.
As I'm 62 it seems that watches the size of bedside alarm clocks are a recent fashion. Manufacturers love them because they're are big enough that on football managers wrists that you can read their brand name on the 60" UHD TV screen. From the '60s through the '90s many men's watches were 35/36mm dia. This is my JLC Chrono and at 36mm I think it looks fine. 
) with slim wrists and wear a 35mm (Longines Conquest) up to a 44mm Alpina Startimer and both look fine.RichB said:
Manufacturers love them because they're are big enough that on football managers wrists that you can read their brand name ………...
/\ This.Many years ago a friend of mine was given a large watch at a foreign film festival and after photographs were taken with him wearing it, it was taken away and he was told that a brand new one was waiting for him back in Bond Street.
Back in London, on collection he commented that the new watch appeared smaller; it was explained to him that
manufacturers had originally made a limited number of large watches to be given to and seen on the wrists of 'celebrities' so that their brand could be more easily recognised by the public, but the public then wanted exactly the same size watch ….
…. and so started the fashion for watches that were too large for most people's wrists
.Edited by Elderly on Sunday 6th January 09:36
RichB said:
As I'm 62 it seems that watches the size of bedside alarm clocks are a recent fashion. Manufacturers love them because they're are big enough that on football managers wrists that you can read their brand name on the 60" UHD TV screen. From the '60s through the '90s many men's watches were 35/36mm dia. This is my JLC Chrono and at 36mm I think it looks fine.
What a great looking piece that is. Very nice indeed. AJB88 said:
I'm wearing a 36mm Datejust today, if I was buying this new these days I would go for 38mm-41mm.
I prefer to wear my Seamaster or Tudor GMT.
When I was working in Hong Kong in the late eighties 'mid size' was the watch in demand and the full size was pretty much 'meh'. I seem to remember that Rolex and Tag were the watches of choice.I prefer to wear my Seamaster or Tudor GMT.
Fallingup said:
Once you get used to wearing a 'smaller' watch (ie: sensible size) you will be shocked at how much anything over 40mm looks on your wrist.
I agree - it just takes a while to get used to it.I started buying watches in the 90s and 36mm was not considered "small".
Personally I am not sure it is entirely to do with the size of your write unless you are at the extreme ends of the spectrum.
A massive, thick watch like the latest big sea dwellers can look a bit wrong with a shirt cuff and suit but look great on the same person wearing a different set of clothes.
Personally, I think the move to ever bigger watches is slightly comical - they look absurd on some people.
I remember when the 36mm Datejust was considered to be a big chunky watch. Now it looks quite modest, but an all time classic. 39/40mm is probably the optimum size for most people.
I looked at the 40mm and new 42mm Explorer IIs last week. Handled a tried both, and without doubt preferred the original.
I think bigger watches are designed to make more of a statement.
I remember when the 36mm Datejust was considered to be a big chunky watch. Now it looks quite modest, but an all time classic. 39/40mm is probably the optimum size for most people.
I looked at the 40mm and new 42mm Explorer IIs last week. Handled a tried both, and without doubt preferred the original.
I think bigger watches are designed to make more of a statement.
RichB said:
As I'm 62 it seems that watches the size of bedside alarm clocks are a recent fashion. Manufacturers love them because they're are big enough that on football managers wrists that you can read their brand name on the 60" UHD TV screen. From the '60s through the '90s many men's watches were 35/36mm dia. This is my JLC Chrono and at 36mm I think it looks fine.
That JLC is stunning! Jumpingjackflash said:
RichB said:
As I'm 62 it seems that watches the size of bedside alarm clocks are a recent fashion. Manufacturers love them because they're are big enough that on football managers wrists that you can read their brand name on the 60" UHD TV screen. From the '60s through the '90s many men's watches were 35/36mm dia. This is my JLC Chrono and at 36mm I think it looks fine.
That JLC is stunning! 
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