Wrist size and Watch size
Discussion
Nearly all men think they have rather slim wrists and therefore can't wear a watch of more than 38 to 40mm diameter.
However, here's a 44mm wide and 14mm thick watch sitting on my own, rather dainty 7-inch wrist. It fits perfectly, is nicely balanced, doesn't move about and doesn't rotate around my wrist. It's also not on the smallest possible hole on the strap.
So, bigger watches can work perfectly on smaller wrists.
A lot of the issues come when someone who has worn a small watch tries a big one on. It's exactly the same problem I had when moving from a 2+2 to a whopping big SUV; it just felt far too big and bulky. An SUV incidentally isn't my choice of car but was provided for not getting stuck in the desert, which I've proved on several occasions is inaccurate. SUV size of course feels perfectly normal now.
The getting stuck in the desert brings me to the other point. A watch (like a car) has to be designed correctly. I chose the SUV based on comfortable suspension and going over speed bumps without slowing down. Amazingly though it has no differential locks so when you get stuck you just spin one or two wheels and have to phone someone with a shovel. Same with a watch; on a slim wrist avoid a watch that has a freely rotating strap to case connection and aim for one that has a deployment clasp with a nice smooth inner profile. Fixed case to strap departure and a deployment clasp are all that's needed to make it fit comfortably.
However, here's a 44mm wide and 14mm thick watch sitting on my own, rather dainty 7-inch wrist. It fits perfectly, is nicely balanced, doesn't move about and doesn't rotate around my wrist. It's also not on the smallest possible hole on the strap.
So, bigger watches can work perfectly on smaller wrists.
A lot of the issues come when someone who has worn a small watch tries a big one on. It's exactly the same problem I had when moving from a 2+2 to a whopping big SUV; it just felt far too big and bulky. An SUV incidentally isn't my choice of car but was provided for not getting stuck in the desert, which I've proved on several occasions is inaccurate. SUV size of course feels perfectly normal now.
The getting stuck in the desert brings me to the other point. A watch (like a car) has to be designed correctly. I chose the SUV based on comfortable suspension and going over speed bumps without slowing down. Amazingly though it has no differential locks so when you get stuck you just spin one or two wheels and have to phone someone with a shovel. Same with a watch; on a slim wrist avoid a watch that has a freely rotating strap to case connection and aim for one that has a deployment clasp with a nice smooth inner profile. Fixed case to strap departure and a deployment clasp are all that's needed to make it fit comfortably.
I don't mind admitting having relatively puny wrists (despite being powerfully built in all other areas, this is Pistonheads after all).
I briefly owned a 47mm Panerai 'homage' (actually a cheap Chinese Marina Militaire) but it looked like I had a wall clock on my wrist. 42mm is probably the largest I'd go for now.
I briefly owned a 47mm Panerai 'homage' (actually a cheap Chinese Marina Militaire) but it looked like I had a wall clock on my wrist. 42mm is probably the largest I'd go for now.
Lorne,
It's an interesting point; I recall we discussed the curved-end strap creating a better fitment on slim wrists when I bought my offshore.
My argument is that a straight-edged strap can rotate more from the case and create a better fit around the whole wrist. I found with the curved end, the only parts touching my wrist were the watch-back and the clasp.
I would try it, but I'm trying to keep my OEM Offshore neoprene strap un-worn. If I knew I could get a replacement from you (cost?) I'd me more inclined, come to think of it.
It's an interesting point; I recall we discussed the curved-end strap creating a better fitment on slim wrists when I bought my offshore.
My argument is that a straight-edged strap can rotate more from the case and create a better fit around the whole wrist. I found with the curved end, the only parts touching my wrist were the watch-back and the clasp.
I would try it, but I'm trying to keep my OEM Offshore neoprene strap un-worn. If I knew I could get a replacement from you (cost?) I'd me more inclined, come to think of it.
FreeLitres said:
I have always worked on the basis that if the lugs are not wider than your wrist, the watch isn't "too big".
As demonstrated in this schematic;
But that assumes your wrists and the lugs are totally flat, which won't be true.As demonstrated in this schematic;
If you have very rounded wrists, a relatively small watch will have space under the lugs as your wrist curves aways, whereas someone with flatter, oval wrists could get away with something bigger, even if they plan view is the same (or even smaller).
Equally, a watch with lugs that curve down sharply can work on someone, whereas a watch with flatter lugs would not.
I do, though, tend to agree with your overall logic, but it's not quite that simple.
M
There are many factors which affect wearability, comfort and whether a watch looks too big or otherwise. Case diameter is only one part of this. Lug-to-lug length is of more importance in my experience. Other factors are lug shape, case and bezel shape/profile and the diameter of the visible dial.
I have a flat 7 inch wrist and am sat here wearing my 44mm Sinn UX. It has relatively short lugs and I feel it wears, or has a perceived size smaller than other 44mm watches which I have tried and am not comfortable wearing. My taste has changed though and I have got used to wearing watches larger than I would have previously considered.
I have a flat 7 inch wrist and am sat here wearing my 44mm Sinn UX. It has relatively short lugs and I feel it wears, or has a perceived size smaller than other 44mm watches which I have tried and am not comfortable wearing. My taste has changed though and I have got used to wearing watches larger than I would have previously considered.
TimLambert7 said:
Lorne,
It's an interesting point; I recall we discussed the curved-end strap creating a better fitment on slim wrists when I bought my offshore.
My argument is that a straight-edged strap can rotate more from the case and create a better fit around the whole wrist. I found with the curved end, the only parts touching my wrist were the watch-back and the clasp.
I would try it, but I'm trying to keep my OEM Offshore neoprene strap un-worn. If I knew I could get a replacement from you (cost?) I'd me more inclined, come to think of it.
Tim, for you, free. I'm back in the UK in a few days and I'll post another OEM strap to you. Watch back and clasp fitting against the wrist with the rest of the strap just touching here and there is exactly how it should be.It's an interesting point; I recall we discussed the curved-end strap creating a better fitment on slim wrists when I bought my offshore.
My argument is that a straight-edged strap can rotate more from the case and create a better fit around the whole wrist. I found with the curved end, the only parts touching my wrist were the watch-back and the clasp.
I would try it, but I'm trying to keep my OEM Offshore neoprene strap un-worn. If I knew I could get a replacement from you (cost?) I'd me more inclined, come to think of it.
Its a good point made by FreeLitres that lug size being a touch less than wrist width is a very good way of not buying a watch that will be too 'dinner plate' in appearance, but that fixed departure of strap to case, in my experience at least, is critical.
I spent many years as a kid with watches in which I had to make extra holes to get them tight enough not to slip around. I think it was an all plastic casio digital that had the fixed departure angle that made me realise it was the way to go and didn't make my wrists look overly weedy. It was a cool watch for a 14 year old as it had a complete calculator and hundreds of buttons and functions!
Lorne said:
TimLambert7 said:
Lorne,
It's an interesting point; I recall we discussed the curved-end strap creating a better fitment on slim wrists when I bought my offshore.
My argument is that a straight-edged strap can rotate more from the case and create a better fit around the whole wrist. I found with the curved end, the only parts touching my wrist were the watch-back and the clasp.
I would try it, but I'm trying to keep my OEM Offshore neoprene strap un-worn. If I knew I could get a replacement from you (cost?) I'd me more inclined, come to think of it.
Tim, for you, free. I'm back in the UK in a few days and I'll post another OEM strap to you. Watch back and clasp fitting against the wrist with the rest of the strap just touching here and there is exactly how it should be.It's an interesting point; I recall we discussed the curved-end strap creating a better fitment on slim wrists when I bought my offshore.
My argument is that a straight-edged strap can rotate more from the case and create a better fit around the whole wrist. I found with the curved end, the only parts touching my wrist were the watch-back and the clasp.
I would try it, but I'm trying to keep my OEM Offshore neoprene strap un-worn. If I knew I could get a replacement from you (cost?) I'd me more inclined, come to think of it.
Its a good point made by FreeLitres that lug size being a touch less than wrist width is a very good way of not buying a watch that will be too 'dinner plate' in appearance, but that fixed departure of strap to case, in my experience at least, is critical.
I spent many years as a kid with watches in which I had to make extra holes to get them tight enough not to slip around. I think it was an all plastic casio digital that had the fixed departure angle that made me realise it was the way to go and didn't make my wrists look overly weedy. It was a cool watch for a 14 year old as it had a complete calculator and hundreds of buttons and functions!
I wonder if Rolex give that level of service...
Orchid1 said:
It always gives me a chuckle at how hairy peoples wrists are on here.
The hair used to be on the top of my head, but like most things as we get older it's slipped a little. No wrist shots come out well in photographs, but for a how big is your wrist-watch combination it was difficult to avoid. I think time for someone else to add some photos of big/small on fat/skinny combinations.(if you fancy a smooooth wrist try Veet for men, but google it on Amazon and read the reviews first - best laugh for a week)
pstruck said:
There are many factors which affect wearability, comfort and whether a watch looks too big or otherwise. Case diameter is only one part of this. Lug-to-lug length is of more importance in my experience. Other factors are lug shape, case and bezel shape/profile and the diameter of the visible dial.
I have a flat 7 inch wrist and am sat here wearing my 44mm Sinn UX. It has relatively short lugs and I feel it wears, or has a perceived size smaller than other 44mm watches which I have tried and am not comfortable wearing. My taste has changed though and I have got used to wearing watches larger than I would have previously considered.
Agreed. I've had several U Series Sinn's and they do wear relatively small.I have a flat 7 inch wrist and am sat here wearing my 44mm Sinn UX. It has relatively short lugs and I feel it wears, or has a perceived size smaller than other 44mm watches which I have tried and am not comfortable wearing. My taste has changed though and I have got used to wearing watches larger than I would have previously considered.
This monster is something like 53mm and whilst the biggest watch I have, is just about OK on my 7.25" wrist IMHO
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