I have watches from 35 to 46 mm and I enjoyed both sizes and everything in between. If I like the watch I wear it. I like larger watches but don't care if I really like the watch. I like my Bulova Lunar Pilot and it is large. Just wear what you like.
Another interesting topic good sir. I know some would completely ignore all parameters and just go with what the heart wants. Diesel, Invicta and Aragon offer sizes from 40mm -70mm. There's no rules with these brands!
All things have to be considered. I have to say though, I am a 5’6” person and I notice that man my height or shorter look silly with larger watches on. Like they took a wall clock and put a strap on it. I have relatively thick wrists, at 7.25”, but because of my height I never venture beyond 44mm. My personal choice. Other than that wear what makes you happy. Great topic. Thanks for sharing James.
Thanks for the caption clarification 😂 Lug to lug sometimes is more important that the case measure itself. Taking into account integrated bracelets and end links type for me (small wrist)
So I started truly collecting watches with watches that were 48-52mm. Yes huge. I enjoyed them. I’ve since changed my choices and now wear anything between 40-47mm. I do sometimes sprinkle in a 50mm. Point is, where what you like and what makes you feel comfortable wearing. When I was wearing the larger watches I felt comfortable in them. I don’t so much now. So I wear watches that are a little smaller because I feel good in them.
My wrist is 6.25” and it’s relatively flat on the top & underside. As a rule I don’t go over 40mm, but a max lug-to-lug of 48mm is the real measurement. I can wear a 42mm Seiko “5KX” with no problem & it looks fine. It’s probably dependent on the individual watch & how it’s built; I should really be trying on watches before purchase!
Watch size is my big problem, with a 22cm wrist, a watch under 40mm looks ridiculous (to me, at least). My wife gave me the 45mm Bulova Lunar Pilot a couple of Christmas ago and it fits me just like your Longines does, but I also admit that my ideal size is 42mm. Very good reviews. Greetings from Melbourne
My rule is that if the lugs overhang the edge of my wrist, the watch is wearing me. 50mm lug to lug on my flat 16.5 cm wrist is max for me, I only care for that measurement now. James, that IWC looks great on you anyway.
In an ideal world, we could all walk into a shop, try on all the watches we fancy and choose the one that looks and feels best. As we can't, we have to go on those measurements and they don't tell us the whole story. This problem is a big part of why channels like yours are so popular, seeing a watch on your wrist gives me a much better idea of how it woud fit me, so thanks for your help 👍😁
For me case shape (and whether the lugs turn down) and actual dial size (excluding bezel) seems to have the biggest impact. I do use overall case size and lug-to-lug as a gauge for microbrand watches where you don't really have a chance to try them on. Hadn't thought about pairing sizing and style as I probably own a few exceptions such as 40.5mm dress watch (yes, you Orient Bambino). I've often found that if a watch doesn't fit or look quite right then a strap change can suddenly transform it such as removing a bracelet for soft leather or rubber.
I think your own perspective comes from (as you said at the beginning), having average sized wrists. If you really do have narrow wrists there are a lot of watches that really are too big, and there really are upper limits for case diameter and lug to lug, irrespective of watch style (which as you say is also important).
I have to be honest I don't have 70 watches to see how many I can get ... I have that many because I like variety. I have watches from 34mm (vintage JLC) to 44mm and have even been intrigued by the monstrously large 52mm+ Invicta or Aragon watches (to see how they feel and fit) ... Again because I like having that variety to fit any mood. I also agree that different case shapes fit differently.
Ironically (IMO) not only does size matter, it matters by the tiniest of amounts. Literally by millimeters! I have a 7in wrist and I’m a 38 to 42 case size only. The only exception being my Willard Homage. Thanks!
I have a CasiOak and a tiny vintage Hamilton tank from the 40’s in my collection. Both get wrist time, depending on the occasion. It is all so individual…
James, you're spot on. I own 35mm to 45 mm watches, have a 17.5-inch wrist, and depending on the style and if they are vintage or modern designs, they all get wrist time. Excellent video and point of view. Thanks!!!
Enjoyed that - thanks. For me its more about relative proportions than any one dimension on its own. So its the ratios of things like diameter to lug-lug and lug width, or case size to dial diameter. A good example is the citizen promaster diver which just doesn't look like a 44mm watch when it's on wrist because of the relative proportions of the case size, bezel thickness and dial diameter. Cheers.
Great considerations, on point. I would also mention that bezel can drastically change the visual aspect how the watch looks on wrist. 43mm divers can still look good, if the bezel-to-dial ratio is done well :)
What an IWC James! I agree. It depends entirely on the watch. Sometimes you cant go on dimensions only but you have to consider case shape, thickness and even where the spring bars are.
Wrist size 7.25 inches (18.5cm)... I agree, James, that there are so many factors that influence how the watch wears on wrist! I have a 43mm watch that I think is a bit big, so I have been looking primarily at watches with a diameter of 39mm or 40mm or 41mm. Then a friend bought me a pilot style watch with a diameter of 44mm and a lug-to-lug of 53mm, and it actually looks fine. The case is brass-colored and the lugs do turn down, so I am guessing the color and the watch style and the turned down lugs all make a difference.
42mm is my preferred size on my 7.25 inch wrist. However, I have a 46mm Citizen Orca with a 48mm lug to lug on an integrated bracelet and also an Orient M-force at 45mm with a 51mm lug to lug. Both wear smaller than their sizes suggest due to well designed case/bracelet combinations.
Bracelet link size and taper are actually more important for sizing for me. If there's not enough articulation I can injure myself while doing things that require movement, like moving furniture or pushups. I have found Helms Engineer and Signums Hex bracelet as the most comfortable if I'm in a situation like traveling.
Size definitely does matter when it comes to comfort. A couple of my watches are pretty close replicas of Rolex designs, different dials but Rolex clone cases, a 39mm Explorer and a Yacht Master, and with their hand finished bracelets and on-the-fly adjustment they are very comfortable watches, but they are also quite heavy, and I've noticed that just the weight of a watch can become uncomfortable at times. In terms of comfort they don't hold a candle to my Casio Sapphire with its rolled link bracelet and stamped clasp because it's so thin and light that it disappears on wrist in a way that a heavy luxury watch just can't.
I really only consider style - the dimensions are fine to understand its size, but when on wrist it is the combination of case size, bezel size, dial size matched against dial color, dial style, handset, the band etc. I can be wearing a Casio A700 in the morning, move on to a Direnzo Aerolite 2 and then switch over to a G-Shock mudmaster in the afternoon. They all look fine because of the design. A Seiko Tuna with a black dial looks bigger than one with a custom purple dial on a custom purple waffle, yet they are the same. Its like pixel peepers in the DSLR world - it aint the raw specs, its the design and the art and how it all works to give that visual factor. Edit: though I do have medium wrists so can get away with any size....
@@WATCHingJames he just re-released the aerolite 2, which sold out in about an hour around this time last year. I managed to get the burnt orange one, but it again has sold out on this years re-release. Seriously considering adding his wandering star in green to the collection - it has a starship enterprise feel to it!
It's 100% the style of the watch that makes the difference - Also something that could be overlooked, the size of your hands. If you have large hands like me, anything under 40mm looks even smaller. By the same token, because I have large hands, a watch with lugs on the edge of my wrist doesn't look as large.
Interesting commentary. I’ve notice I tend to prefer a particular dial size as opposed to case size. Some watches have larger case sizes but proportionately small dials. Thus happens on many divers. Other styles with ultra thin bezels work for me in smaller cases because dial size in large enough. Just my2 cents
Lug-to-lug matters more than case diameter; case size has nothing to do with masculinity; and a good design might make a "by the numbers" watch looks actually more wearable than it seems. These are my personal takes on the matter of size.
The biggest watch I own is a 47 mm Tandorio pilot with a big onion crown, and it feels just as comfortable as my 36 mm watches. I get what’s comfortable on the wrist. I’m tempted to get an even bigger watch like an Invicta, the Addiesdive 1000m puck or the Xeric Invertor to see how it feels on the wrist.
I love a divers extension on a bracelet. With a perfect fit (don't like them loose) i struggle to get the watch over my hand. Mustn't be a common issue though.
Imo, most men would improve their style by wearing a slightly smaller watch. Unless they are built like a pro basketball or (American) football player. And I am including tool watches such as Pilot or Dive watches, though I would allow that they should wear larger than dress watch counterparts. And I get that historically Fliegers and divers were big for a reason. But unless you are wearing your pilot watch over a WWII flight suit or Space suit, or your name is Jacques Cousteau, chances are you are wearing your tool watch to go work in a office. Practically what does all this mean? Generally dress watches in the 34 to 38 mm size, and Sport watches from 36 to 42 mm. And no more than 12 mm thick for a dress watch, and 13 to 14 mm for a sport watch. For me, anything smaller looks too dainty, and anything bigger, too clumsy.
Hi james very interesting video me like you have given my self size limitations (me no smaller than 41mm have 215mm wrist) but I really want to be able to go to 40mm because it opens so many more ranges of watches. But some watches look ridiculous on my wrist like the Rolex Daytona and I love the watch but I know I will never be able to where that stile of watch at that size. I find that gold and bi metal watches look bigger on the wrist than they are and wight face watches as well.what do you think thanks John.
You've touched on some great points here, measurements don't tell the whole story. That's why I like to see video reveiws and see them on wrist (and hopefully know the wearer's wrist size) And a very important thing to consider is wrist shape, mines a more flat wrist so more 'real estate' for the watch to sit on, and with that I can wear bigger watches. Mind you recently I've been buying and wearing smaller watches, even divers. Might be because I love vintage and vintage style watches. I'm lucky I can wear big (hydroconquest, samurai) or smaller (super squale or a vintage piece) and feel comfortable with either. The old adage wear what you like because you like it. Great video as always cheers James.
