Absolutely. People will say it's just a matter of trends, but back when I first started to get into watches, it was very much the height of the big watch movement, and even back then, I thought it looked stupid. Classy and understated will always win over big and loud, and I don't think that it's just a matter of trends.
The big watch trend seems to have crested and watch sizes are now trending down slightly. However, I don’t see Watch sizes going all the way down to what they were 30 or 40 years ago
I HATE small watches,on me small watches look TERRIBLE,they are also not practical/you can't see your moon phases/tides/time date/day easily/44mm is the smallest watch I would want,my favorite watches are 50mm,I have one 52.4mm watch as well,unfortunately I have one 39.5mm watch and its entirely to small,it sucks,because I really like everything about the watch, other than the mms of the watch and the skinny/tiny band as well,tiny watches just look and feel like toys/junk,also solar and 200mm is a necessity as well,also quartz keeps better time as well and atomic isn't a bad thing either. More indepth info on what I wish would change when it comes to watches/I wish the bar was raised,Honestly for these prices, every single watch made by these companies/GRAND Seiko/Rolex/Richard Mille/Ulysse Nardin/Piaget/Omega/Brequet/Panerai/Breitling/Hublot/Vacheron Chopard/Patek and so on, SHOULD, MAYBE be made out of Titanium,even if its disguised titanium, meaning they can still keep the look their going for, but just add that durability, it should DEFINITELY have sapphire glass,it should DEFINITELY be 200mm+ water resistant,it should be solar and it should be atomic, no matter which watch it is/if the watch is over $1000 it should have ALL OF THESE FEATURES/the value of these parts are DEFINITELY not worth the price tag anyway, your paying for a name and to be honest, they should make ALL of their watches keep time to 1 second a year,even if they aren't using quartz, or just perfect it,even if Atomic is built in or if it uses a satellite of some kind, after all for these prices, there is no limit/for the price their charging, NOTHING should be left out/left off,no excuses,we should DEFINITELY hold these companies to higher standards/I think if you buy a watch at these prices, it should have ALL of these features and you should have access to their time keeping satellites,that could auto wind your watch/send a signal to automatically set/wind your clock at midnight, every night or when ever you want to manually set your watch,to the time keeping satellites. We need to hold these companies to a higher standard/they can't ask for crazy prices,without offering everything other watch manufacturers are offering, for much cheaper prices/we don't want to just be buying a name, to fit in,we want quality made products. These are good watches,SOME lack SOME features,but they are all at least built well/they are not just junk/they will actually hold up; Bulova Sea King Omega Ploprof Omega Seamaster Ultra Deep Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Titanium Rolex Deepsea dweller Tudor Pelagos 25600tn-bkti Titanium Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Deepquest ii Shinola The Ice Monster Seiko Tuna Orient Triton MTG-G1000D Steel GST-B100 MTG-B1000XBD Mudman Rangeman Frogman ProTreks GW-5610 GSW-H1000 GPR-B1000 Rangeman
@@mattmatt2417 I have heard of body dysmorphia, but never watch dysmorphia. Honestly, unless you are an absolute giant, I can't imagine a watch that is over 52 mm wide, and likely 55 or 58 mm lug to lug looking good on an ordinary sized wrist. Even people with really large wrists have issues with overhang when you get much past 52 mm lug to lug. I understand you disagree, so as they say, a picture is worth 1,000 words.
“Does this watch look too big for me?” The answer is most always yes. I’ve got to agree. My wrist is 7 1/4” in circumference. For dress watches, I prefer case diameters of 36-38mm. With diver watches 40-42mm can work. Lug-to-lug distance is also an important consideration. A moderate lug-to-lug can offset a larger case diameter and make the watch wear smaller.
I definitely agree smaller is better! My first watch was a 44mm Fossil I wore half way up my forearm for ~4 years before I knew anything and fell down the watch rabbit hole. Now I'm wearing a 35mm Longines
I came of age in the 70s and 80s when the standard watch was around 33 to 35 mm, a sport watch was 36 to 38 mm, and anything larger than 40 mm was considered oversized. and that was pretty much how things were looking back to the early days of the wrist watch in the 1920s until the early 2000s, when suddenly, brands like Panerai got popular thanks to certain action movie stars wearing them in public, and the other brands started to follow suit with bigger watch cases. I think the idea was to substituted sportiness and wrist presence for elegance and classic design. And, dress codes got more casual so you didn't necessarily need a watch small enough to fit under a dress shirt sleeve. The problem though was, there was an upper limit for most men not big enough to play defensive line in the NFL or power forward in the NBA. For some guys it is obvious, as the lug to lug of a lot of oversized watches is so huge the lugs hang off the sides of the wrist. Or with the crown, it is actually painful to move one's wrist as the crown digs into the back of the hand, meaning the only way you can wear the watch is high on the forearm. Fortunately, there are reasonable choices for most men. A guy with a wrist size below 6.5" probably should not go larger than 38, and would do very well with vintage size 33 or 34 mm. A guy with a wrist size between 6.5" to 7.25" can go a little larger, maybe 40 or 41 mm. And a guy with a wrist size of 7.5" to 8" can go un to 43, though even at this wrist size, 40 mm is probably still better. A lot depends also on the type of watch. A Pilot watch or a diver can be somewhat bigger than a dress watch and not look out of place. I have made my peace with larger watches and select them on a case by case basis. I will now wear a 42, even 43 mm watch if it is a sports watch, and if it sits ok on my wrist. But I still prefer 40 mm, or even a bit smaller. Much smaller if it is vintage.
I'm 6'3" and have a 7" wrist. My 14270 explorer is my favorite watch and its 36mm. So comfortable and goes with everything. Thanks for the vid. I agree that more people should be wearing smaller watches.
I actually went the other direction and started exploring a bit bigger watches like 42 mm, but only in sports watches as their bezel and overall look make them appear smaller, like a 40 or even 38 in some cases. But in general, smaller watches are more comfortable
I love how smaller watches are making a comeback. There are still debates on watch forums whether the 39 is a better case size for the explorer rather than the 36, but like Brock says, it really depends on your wrist size. For someone like me who has a smaller wrist and a tighter budget, I prefer smaller watches as they can be more versatile (dressy and sporty).
There is one thing that needed to address here, people are inconsistent in measuring their wrist size. Theres 3 different ways to measure that give totally different measurements, theres before the joint bone, on the joint bone , and after the joint bone (closer to the finger). The right way is before the bone so the watch doesnt restrict the wrist movement. You measure after the joint bone 3:16 which technically give a larger wrist size, its quite confusing because on 6:41 you wear it the right way, which is before the bone
I don’t agree that there is a right or wrong way to wear a watch. Back in the day, most men wore their watches low on the wrist as they also wore dress shirts. If you wore your watch high and tight, it would be hard to tell time without rolling up your sleeve.
@@martintanz9098 Men in upper class always wore their watches under the sleeve. To wear it low on the wrist was and is considered to be proletarian and shady.
I am a jewelry saleswoman and I agree with you. in theory, the width of a watch case should never exceed 3/4 of the width of the wrist: if your wrist is 60 mm wide, the maximum diameter of your watch should be 45 mm. The shape of the wrist is important too, with equal circumference, a big watch is better suited to a flat wrist than to a more rounded one. then for a woman, there is no real rule, some girls like to wear 38-40 mm watches that are almost as wide as their wrist and it's very pretty.
I prefer smaller watches. Anything between 34mm and 38mm is good on my 6.5inch wrist. Most vintage watches are in that range, and they look nice, especially when they look slightly aged. I even have vintage watches as small as 30mm. It's a bit too small tbh but they wear fine. I love their stealthy presence on my wrist. One of my favourites is the Casio MQ-24... it's plastic and only tells the time but it wears so well.
I'm helping my son upgrade his wardrobe and knowing what size watch to get is a huge help. It's not an item I'd thought of until now. Thank you so much. His 37th birthday is very soon. Now I know what to get him.
I used to wear some monstrosities in the late 90's and 2000's, I had G-Shocks with the minimum or 45mm - 50mm, a Lambretta watch wich was about 53mm. The smallest watch I had was 42mm. I wore such large watches for so long that 40mm watches felt too small. During the last 8 years or so I have had a period of reprogramming by wearing a 38 -39mm watches everyday during that time that now if I put on a 40 - 41mm, it actually feels like a large watch again.
That Nomos Minimatik is the bomb. Nomos is still an underrated brand and the Minimatik is one of their hidden gems. You can’t talk about Nomos with mentioning LUGS. This watch is probably the best model where this is not an issue.
Agree. The plasticity of perception is at work here too; if you wear a 36mm watch for a couple days, the 42mm looks huge; and vice versa. I also don’t like how thick watches have become. My Omega triple date is thinner than a lot of plain 3-hand watches today, as well as smaller. :)
I recently acquired a vintage Omega Seamaster (1954) measuring at either 33 or 34 mm. My only other watch is a Seiko PADI Turtle diver measuring over 40 mm. I wasn’t sure I could pull it off but now I much prefer the small watch in general because it fits better under my cuffs when working than my diver ever did. Time and place certainly influences me on which to wear but I find myself using the Seamaster more and more because it looks and feels more comfortable.
Great video! I have a 7.5 inch wrist and I just picked up a Rolex DJ 41mm. It fits perfectly because it actually measures 39.5mm across. So that is something to keep in mind.
Most youtubers have tiny arms and they try really hard to push idea that small is better. On the other hand you are right about this- big hand can wear 38 just as 42mm
Currently wearing my late 40s Lord Elgin which has a 28mm square case and round glass. I love this watch and my wrists are about 8". I wish I could find a similar modern watch with its thin case it's incredibly light and goes with everything. People compliment it all the time.
Two of my favorite watches that I enjoy wearing are Raymond Weil and Orient Bambino, their watches fit great on my wrist with minimal design. Currently, I wearing a Timex Ironman Triathalon.
@@BrockMcGoff I have two 32mm dress watches. One is a very clean 1969 Omega DeVille that almost looks like a new watch-stainless steel with a brown strap. The other is a 1980s Reymond Weil knock-off of a Patek Calatrava in gold finish with a black strap. Both are manual wind. I haven't found too many new watches in that size that don't look more like a bejeweled ladies watch these days.
@@the.dirty.pigeon oh thanks man I have smaller body frame hence small wrist so I was looking for such watches. I'll look in these you've mentioned thanks. My wrist is around 6" i don't do any gym or anything so yeah😭 i jus measured to tell u LMAOO
You absolutely nailed every point. If guys with bigger wrists won't consider even 36mm watches it's their loss. Smaller is definitely better when it comes to watches.
I couldn’t agree more. I have a 6’5 inch wrist, and I always search 34 to 38mm watch. My 38mm bambino is much nicer than a 41 mm (the 36mm is just too hard to find on stock). One of my favs are lorier, seiko and citizen (vintage). Nice video mate.
I disagree, small watches don't always look good. It's more important to find the right-sized watch for the individual. For example, I have a 35mm Cartier Santos and a 43mm Amin Strom and both look good on my 6.5in wrist. Case shape and occasion for wearing a watch seems more important to me. A 42mm Parmigiani GT wears just as nice as a 40mm Bulgari Octofinissimo because the lugs curve down. But I'd rather wear the Parmigiani with long sleaves vs the flat case of the Bulgari goes better with rolled up or short sleeves(for me). It's all about personal preference.
It all comes down to proportions, especially the dial. For example, a 42mm Speedy looks phenomenal. Some 40mm 3-hand watches look monstrous, garish even. But I completely agree that class is king and makes a greater impact than being ostentatious for its own sake.
Great video! I think that thinner watches are pretty cool - back to your point of packing a lot of good things into a smaller space. Dress watches most often, and fit under the cuff very nicely.
I have always preferred smaller watches as I have a small wrist. But in my experience from a few years ago, smaller watches were hard to find. And the ones I liked were even harder to find in smaller size.
Agreed. My Explorer II 16570 is by the far the biggest I'd go for a sports watch. I bought a Datejust II and had to sell it a few months later. It was too big.
Agreed. I'm glad watch-makers are starting to move away from the oversized watch trend. I've seen so many people wearing absurdly huge watches that just look goofy. It depends on the watch, though. I've been able to pull off some watches I was positive would be too large, yet they somehow work. That lug-to-lug is super important and can make all the difference. I'm also excited to see that classy, vintage-style dress(ish) watches are starting to make a comeback.
I have a 7.5 inch wrist, so I can wear up to about 42mm without looking ridiculous, but I do like the 37mm of my snk793. I wore it most often when I wore watches. Only recently started again after wearing just a Fitbit for 2 years.
I'm currently wearing a 34mm watch with a 44mm lug-to-lug. I've relied on the formula on your website to determine what size watches I can wear … which indicates that I max out at 37.5mm case and 46.5mm lug-to-lug. I like affordable mechanical watches, so it can be a real challenge finding dive watches and chronographs that are small enough. Vostok Amphibia starts at 39 to 40mm and 44 to 46mm lug-to-lug. There are a few chronographs with the Seagull movement that are about the same size. It's far easier to find dress watches, etc. that are smaller.
Looking for a small and affordable chronograph, I can highly recommend the Seagull 1963 Panda Chronograph made by Sugess (Aliexpress) with the ST19 movement. It's a 38mm case that wears more like it's 37 - thanks to its classic, rounded design and black chapter ring on the dial. It's the world's most affordable mechanical chronograph with a wonderful see-through caseback. The movement is trusty and reliable. I bought mine used at 200€ and it's priced similarly when new. My best friend put it best when he saw it: Looks like a sports car on the wrist.
And instead of the Vostok, I'd opt for a San Martin diver in 38mm, which also wears like a dream and can be bought via Aliexpress. It's a homage to the 50s Rolex that Connery wears in Dr. No. That one has been out of production for decades and will never come back, so the San Martin is a nod to the original design - but with sapphire crystal and 200m WR for around 200$. Sure, the Vostok is quirky and reliable, but no comparison to the exceptionally well-finished San Martin. I own one and wear it with joy.
I came of age in the 1970s, when watches were worn primarily for their function of telling the time. They were usually 34mm to 36mm for men. It seems that nowadays many people wear them not to tell the time but for others to see them wearing them. Hence the large size, often worn on the wrist joint.
Great video Brock! I got one of the Orient bambino 38mm after having the 40mm for awhile. It is definitely my new go to watch - great content as always
I thoroughly agree. If watch manufactures would make 33mm to 36mm watch diameters, I'd be buying a lot more watches. But for now, I'd rather save and by a vintage. Don't know what they're thinking. You can't beat the classics.
Just stick to ladies' watches if that's how you prefer your watch size. Nothing wrong with that. There are ladies' watches that look unisex, in fact lots of them.
Boom! Spot on. Totally agree with your intro comments, and the 6 reasons you gave. 👍🏼It brought further clarity to my decision making criteria when short listing possible additions to my collection. I also share your style preference. Thanks, Brock, for articulating these so well.
I have a 7.5" wrist, so I'm a little reluctant to go to 36 even though the explorer is one of my all time favorites. I made the mistake of getting a 47mm diver once, wore it twice and put it away. It was like strapping a toaster oven to my wrist. I think 39-40mm is perfect for me, but if you're going really vintage you kind of have to (unless it's an OG Flieger) those tiny ones do look pretty cool. I think the smaller case sizes go great if your overall style is much more "classic". 🤷♂
I have very small wrists. So getting into watches was very hard. I made a few mistakes before i came to the same conclusion as you. You do limit yourself by always going for the smaller sizes. But i think as times goes this oversize stuff is going out of fashion. In fact can i already see it. Also smaller can get more expensive if you like complications. But if you just like to tell the time more often you are saving money. As a note. What is my go to watch? Anything from Cartier as they do small very well. Cost is an issue here for almost all mortals. But the second hand market on Cartier is very good.
I have a 7.69 inch (19.6 inch) wrist. I absolutely adore some 36mm watches but many depending on bezel type/L2L just don't work for me. 38 is the smallest I own
Totally agree with you, Brock. Big watches are just non-elegant and display some lack of confidence. I also started with The Fifth and other mass-market brands that were not a good fit for my wrist and style. Over time I was fortunate enough to learn more about style and watches and now I love wearing my little cream-dial Merci LMM-01. My next purchase will be a Seiko, by your recommendation of the brand, the Lord Marvel. And some day I hope to afford a Rolex 34mm. Great content, as always.
the rolex example you gave that a the rolex airking or a date is cheaper than a submariner or a explorer 2 because of the size is maybe true but the reason why a submariner is more expensive is because it is more sought after than a 34mm airking. either way love your videos
Could not agree more. Echoing many other comments, I think smaller wrists can rock up to a 42mm diver due to the smaller wear perception, especially Seikos with their very respectful lug distances. Thank God Orient added 38mm Bambinos; really no reason to look at the 40.5s now that they have 38 and 36. Good job on grabbing that 36 too, those are hard to find.
I don’t have too many watches but the biggest one I have is the timex marlin 40mm auto. It takes up almost my entire wrist but I love the way it looks. The best fitting one I have is the Hamilton Murph 38mm. Smallest is the orient stela 36mm.
I have 6.5" left wrist and I always felt like my 42mm watch was a bit too big for me. But they only had one size. I really like Hamilton's new Khaki Field Mechanical with white dial. You convinced me to get 38mm if I ever get one. it's been on my shopping list for so long but I wear Apple Watch all the time and can't seem to justify the purchase.
Generally, I totally agree and love the elegance of the smaller watches. One of your examples though I have to disagree with. I recently tried on the 38mm and the 42mm Omega speedmaster fully expecting to prefer the 38mm. But it was so much thicker than the 42mm and the 42mm has such a compact lug to lug that I much preferred the larger one. I agree that small watches are awesome but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are always better than their larger counterpart. Great video!
I like that you promote smaller watches. I bought my first Rolex in 2010, a 1982 Fluted 36mm Datejust with an acrylic crystal. I also bought an early 2000s Submariner. I wear the Datejust far more often because I have 7 inch wrists and it feels more balanced than the Submariner, even though I enjoy wearing it as well.
There is much, much more than the case size. Lug to lug, the type of lugs, etc all play a roll in the wearability of any given watch. That being said, 40mm is the upper limit for most watches…except the Blancpain Bathescape @42mm fits nicely, and the Tudor Black Bay at 41mm looks and fits smaller than 40mm, and……
A 36mm watch face might be fine for smaller framed men, but at 6' 5", massive hands (my wedding band is a size 17), and a nearly 8" wrist, the small stuff is comically small and noticed by almost everyone. Honestly the best fit and feel for me is 50-57mm units.
Except my f91w every watch I had was 40+ mm. They was g shocks so some where over 45 and always felt they where a little big and heavy. Just bought a 37mm seiko 5 and my god does it look so much better. Love the elegent look😊
I have a strong preference for mesh watches where the clock face is the most prominent feature, with the strap being significantly thinner and serving as a complement to the clock face, rather than having the strap be of equal thickness to the clock face. Although my watch is 43 mm, it does not seem bulcky at all as its metal strip is significantly thinner than the watch face. Despite its 43 mm size, my current watch maintains a sleek appearance due to the significant difference in thickness between the metal strap and the watch face.
I wear a smallish Jaeger Le Coultre Reverso... called Medium in JLC language and wear it with confidence and pride. My wrists are large, but it’s very comfortable and retains a classic look.
Nicely done Brock. Another great video with practical viewpoints. I’ve watched (pun intended) several of your watch videos and I always learn something. Still an Apple Watch guy 😂 however, if I’m going to buy a non-tech watch your info will be priceless. ⌚️🙌🤙
I do agree with this. However; you have to keep an open mind. As there are many factors that come in to play. Including Dial size and lug to lug. Nomos for example have very long lugs. Junghans have small dimension but wear very large as it’s all dial. Larger dive watches often wear smaller, due to dial size and inclusion of a bezel. There are plenty of 40mm watches that will wear smaller than 37 and 38 watches. The cheaper Seiko’s are often very thick, so they don’t wear flush to your wrist, so many considerations.
I wanna get the ap 37mm ice blue. My wrist is 7inch or 17cm tho. But since having 40mm watches ym and tudor chrono. I feel i need to get a small watch. Whats yr take on 37mm ro on my 7in wrist?
I have a small wrist, I like mostly small watches, but there are some watches with a 40mm case that I like a lot, and I think are good on me, but that's because they are very slim :)
I wear from 33mm to 36mm watches. those are my sweet spots. the issue is that even though women watches tend to be smaller. you will still find 38mm marketed as a ladies watch. which is frustrating because alot of the watches that i like are over 40mm or 36mm but with feminine look. thats why i tend to look into microbrands or vintage to find those vintage proportions.
It’s not just about your Wrist Size! - Hand Size - Arm Length - Arm Circumference - Your Height - Type of Clothes and Shoes you wear And the most important one: Your own personal TASTE!
The problem is it’s incredibly hard to find small case watches here in India. Either it won’t look good or be way too expensive 😢. Anyways always admire your work, keep going man💙💙…
I have an 8" wrist and currently wear a 44mm and it looks good not sure I'd want to go lower than a 42 but if it was a dress watch 40 would be fine. On the other hand I'd be comfortable with a 46 or 48 if it looked nice...which of course is a matter of opinion I prefer a chronograph style.
Absolutely. People will say it's just a matter of trends, but back when I first started to get into watches, it was very much the height of the big watch movement, and even back then, I thought it looked stupid. Classy and understated will always win over big and loud, and I don't think that it's just a matter of trends.
Agreed 100%
The big watch trend seems to have crested and watch sizes are now trending down slightly. However, I don’t see Watch sizes going all the way down to what they were 30 or 40 years ago
I love watches in which I can see the gears. But they tend to be bigger.
I HATE small watches,on me small watches look TERRIBLE,they are also not practical/you can't see your moon phases/tides/time date/day easily/44mm is the smallest watch I would want,my favorite watches are 50mm,I have one 52.4mm watch as well,unfortunately I have one 39.5mm watch and its entirely to small,it sucks,because I really like everything about the watch, other than the mms of the watch and the skinny/tiny band as well,tiny watches just look and feel like toys/junk,also solar and 200mm is a necessity as well,also quartz keeps better time as well and atomic isn't a bad thing either.
More indepth info on what I wish would change when it comes to watches/I wish the bar was raised,Honestly for these prices, every single watch made by these companies/GRAND Seiko/Rolex/Richard Mille/Ulysse Nardin/Piaget/Omega/Brequet/Panerai/Breitling/Hublot/Vacheron Chopard/Patek and so on, SHOULD, MAYBE be made out of Titanium,even if its disguised titanium, meaning they can still keep the look their going for, but just add that durability, it should DEFINITELY have sapphire glass,it should DEFINITELY be 200mm+ water resistant,it should be solar and it should be atomic, no matter which watch it is/if the watch is over $1000 it should have ALL OF THESE FEATURES/the value of these parts are DEFINITELY not worth the price tag anyway, your paying for a name and to be honest, they should make ALL of their watches keep time to 1 second a year,even if they aren't using quartz, or just perfect it,even if Atomic is built in or if it uses a satellite of some kind, after all for these prices, there is no limit/for the price their charging, NOTHING should be left out/left off,no excuses,we should DEFINITELY hold these companies to higher standards/I think if you buy a watch at these prices, it should have ALL of these features and you should have access to their time keeping satellites,that could auto wind your watch/send a signal to automatically set/wind your clock at midnight, every night or when ever you want to manually set your watch,to the time keeping satellites.
We need to hold these companies to a higher standard/they can't ask for crazy prices,without offering everything other watch manufacturers are offering, for much cheaper prices/we don't want to just be buying a name, to fit in,we want quality made products.
These are good watches,SOME lack SOME features,but they are all at least built well/they are not just junk/they will actually hold up;
Bulova Sea King
Omega Ploprof
Omega Seamaster Ultra Deep
Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Titanium
Rolex Deepsea dweller
Tudor Pelagos 25600tn-bkti Titanium
Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon Deepquest ii
Shinola The Ice Monster
Seiko Tuna
Orient Triton
MTG-G1000D
Steel GST-B100
MTG-B1000XBD
Mudman
Rangeman
Frogman
ProTreks
GW-5610
GSW-H1000
GPR-B1000 Rangeman
@@mattmatt2417 I have heard of body dysmorphia, but never watch dysmorphia. Honestly, unless you are an absolute giant, I can't imagine a watch that is over 52 mm wide, and likely 55 or 58 mm lug to lug looking good on an ordinary sized wrist.
Even people with really large wrists have issues with overhang when you get much past 52 mm lug to lug.
I understand you disagree, so as they say, a picture is worth 1,000 words.
“Does this watch look too big for me?” The answer is most always yes. I’ve got to agree. My wrist is 7 1/4” in circumference. For dress watches, I prefer case diameters of 36-38mm. With diver watches 40-42mm can work. Lug-to-lug distance is also an important consideration. A moderate lug-to-lug can offset a larger case diameter and make the watch wear smaller.
Hi, I too have your wrist size and for me 40 to 42 for a dress watch is perfect. Also my wrist width is 2.5 inch, what is yours?
I definitely agree smaller is better! My first watch was a 44mm Fossil I wore half way up my forearm for ~4 years before I knew anything and fell down the watch rabbit hole. Now I'm wearing a 35mm Longines
I came of age in the 70s and 80s when the standard watch was around 33 to 35 mm, a sport watch was 36 to 38 mm, and anything larger than 40 mm was considered oversized. and that was pretty much how things were looking back to the early days of the wrist watch in the 1920s until the early 2000s, when suddenly, brands like Panerai got popular thanks to certain action movie stars wearing them in public, and the other brands started to follow suit with bigger watch cases.
I think the idea was to substituted sportiness and wrist presence for elegance and classic design. And, dress codes got more casual so you didn't necessarily need a watch small enough to fit under a dress shirt sleeve.
The problem though was, there was an upper limit for most men not big enough to play defensive line in the NFL or power forward in the NBA. For some guys it is obvious, as the lug to lug of a lot of oversized watches is so huge the lugs hang off the sides of the wrist. Or with the crown, it is actually painful to move one's wrist as the crown digs into the back of the hand, meaning the only way you can wear the watch is high on the forearm.
Fortunately, there are reasonable choices for most men. A guy with a wrist size below 6.5" probably should not go larger than 38, and would do very well with vintage size 33 or 34 mm. A guy with a wrist size between 6.5" to 7.25" can go a little larger, maybe 40 or 41 mm. And a guy with a wrist size of 7.5" to 8" can go un to 43, though even at this wrist size, 40 mm is probably still better.
A lot depends also on the type of watch. A Pilot watch or a diver can be somewhat bigger than a dress watch and not look out of place. I have made my peace with larger watches and select them on a case by case basis. I will now wear a 42, even 43 mm watch if it is a sports watch, and if it sits ok on my wrist. But I still prefer 40 mm, or even a bit smaller. Much smaller if it is vintage.
I'm 6'3" and have a 7" wrist. My 14270 explorer is my favorite watch and its 36mm. So comfortable and goes with everything. Thanks for the vid. I agree that more people should be wearing smaller watches.
6ft3 should go with 8inch wrist .
I actually went the other direction and started exploring a bit bigger watches like 42 mm, but only in sports watches as their bezel and overall look make them appear smaller, like a 40 or even 38 in some cases.
But in general, smaller watches are more comfortable
Also , really dig this channel , crisp and clear , on the point , and ur humbleness adds a lot of depth to ur speech . Wishing u a good day man !
I love how smaller watches are making a comeback. There are still debates on watch forums whether the 39 is a better case size for the explorer rather than the 36, but like Brock says, it really depends on your wrist size. For someone like me who has a smaller wrist and a tighter budget, I prefer smaller watches as they can be more versatile (dressy and sporty).
There is one thing that needed to address here, people are inconsistent in measuring their wrist size. Theres 3 different ways to measure that give totally different measurements, theres before the joint bone, on the joint bone , and after the joint bone (closer to the finger). The right way is before the bone so the watch doesnt restrict the wrist movement. You measure after the joint bone 3:16 which technically give a larger wrist size, its quite confusing because on 6:41 you wear it the right way, which is before the bone
I don’t agree that there is a right or wrong way to wear a watch. Back in the day, most men wore their watches low on the wrist as they also wore dress shirts. If you wore your watch high and tight, it would be hard to tell time without rolling up your sleeve.
@@martintanz9098 Men in upper class always wore their watches under the sleeve. To wear it low on the wrist was and is considered to be proletarian and shady.
I am a jewelry saleswoman and I agree with you. in theory, the width of a watch case should never exceed 3/4 of the width of the wrist: if your wrist is 60 mm wide, the maximum diameter of your watch should be 45 mm. The shape of the wrist is important too, with equal circumference, a big watch is better suited to a flat wrist than to a more rounded one. then for a woman, there is no real rule, some girls like to wear 38-40 mm watches that are almost as wide as their wrist and it's very pretty.
What does “in theory” mean?
A few years ago I bought a Tudor Black Bay 36. I haven’t bought another watch since.
I prefer smaller watches. Anything between 34mm and 38mm is good on my 6.5inch wrist. Most vintage watches are in that range, and they look nice, especially when they look slightly aged. I even have vintage watches as small as 30mm. It's a bit too small tbh but they wear fine. I love their stealthy presence on my wrist. One of my favourites is the Casio MQ-24... it's plastic and only tells the time but it wears so well.
I'm helping my son upgrade his wardrobe and knowing what size watch to get is a huge help. It's not an item I'd thought of until now. Thank you so much. His 37th birthday is very soon. Now I know what to get him.
A vintage 34 mm Calatrava? 😊
I used to wear some monstrosities in the late 90's and 2000's, I had G-Shocks with the minimum or 45mm - 50mm, a Lambretta watch wich was about 53mm. The smallest watch I had was 42mm. I wore such large watches for so long that 40mm watches felt too small. During the last 8 years or so I have had a period of reprogramming by wearing a 38 -39mm watches everyday during that time that now if I put on a 40 - 41mm, it actually feels like a large watch again.
That Nomos Minimatik is the bomb. Nomos is still an underrated brand and the Minimatik is one of their hidden gems. You can’t talk about Nomos with mentioning LUGS. This watch is probably the best model where this is not an issue.
Agree. The plasticity of perception is at work here too; if you wear a 36mm watch for a couple days, the 42mm looks huge; and vice versa. I also don’t like how thick watches have become. My Omega triple date is thinner than a lot of plain 3-hand watches today, as well as smaller. :)
@Pukeutuminen the punctuated equilibrium of settled perceptual frameworks. ;)
100% agree. My daily is a my old Casio W59, functional and I think it looks good too.
I recently acquired a vintage Omega Seamaster (1954) measuring at either 33 or 34 mm. My only other watch is a Seiko PADI Turtle diver measuring over 40 mm. I wasn’t sure I could pull it off but now I much prefer the small watch in general because it fits better under my cuffs when working than my diver ever did. Time and place certainly influences me on which to wear but I find myself using the Seamaster more and more because it looks and feels more comfortable.
Sounds like a beauty!
After wearing 42mm watches for a long time slipping back on a 36mm just wears like a dream. Almost invisible like a bracelet and super comfortable.
Very similar to my experience!
R U 👠
Great video! I have a 7.5 inch wrist and I just picked up a Rolex DJ 41mm. It fits perfectly because it actually measures 39.5mm across. So that is something to keep in mind.
Most youtubers have tiny arms and they try really hard to push idea that small is better.
On the other hand you are right about this- big hand can wear 38 just as 42mm
I’d argue smaller is better for small, medium and sometimes even large wrists.
Small is not better neither big, medium is perfect
@@BrockMcGoff Dial looks better when it's large.
Currently wearing my late 40s Lord Elgin which has a 28mm square case and round glass. I love this watch and my wrists are about 8". I wish I could find a similar modern watch with its thin case it's incredibly light and goes with everything. People compliment it all the time.
Two of my favorite watches that I enjoy wearing are Raymond Weil and Orient Bambino, their watches fit great on my wrist with minimal design. Currently, I wearing a Timex Ironman Triathalon.
6 1/2” wrist here. My dress watches are 32mm. My casual watches are 34mm. My biggest watch is a 37mm dive watch and it always feels a little too big.
What’s your go to 32mm watch these days?
@@BrockMcGoff I have two 32mm dress watches. One is a very clean 1969 Omega DeVille that almost looks like a new watch-stainless steel with a brown strap. The other is a 1980s Reymond Weil knock-off of a Patek Calatrava in gold finish with a black strap. Both are manual wind. I haven't found too many new watches in that size that don't look more like a bejeweled ladies watch these days.
Can u recommend me cheaper options for 32 mm to 36 mm watches?
@@endless782 The Timex Marlin 34m, perhaps? Also worthy of a look are the Seiko Presage 34mm or Hamilton Khaki Field Officer Auto 34mm.
@@the.dirty.pigeon oh thanks man I have smaller body frame hence small wrist so I was looking for such watches. I'll look in these you've mentioned thanks. My wrist is around 6" i don't do any gym or anything so yeah😭 i jus measured to tell u LMAOO
You absolutely nailed every point. If guys with bigger wrists won't consider even 36mm watches it's their loss. Smaller is definitely better when it comes to watches.
I couldn’t agree more. I have a 6’5 inch wrist, and I always search 34 to 38mm watch. My 38mm bambino is much nicer than a 41 mm (the 36mm is just too hard to find on stock). One of my favs are lorier, seiko and citizen (vintage). Nice video mate.
Where do you find Seiko for 100$. I keep looking it's like 300$. ( It's Canadian but I can't even find 100usd)
I disagree, small watches don't always look good. It's more important to find the right-sized watch for the individual. For example, I have a 35mm Cartier Santos and a 43mm Amin Strom and both look good on my 6.5in wrist. Case shape and occasion for wearing a watch seems more important to me. A 42mm Parmigiani GT wears just as nice as a 40mm Bulgari Octofinissimo because the lugs curve down. But I'd rather wear the Parmigiani with long sleaves vs the flat case of the Bulgari goes better with rolled up or short sleeves(for me). It's all about personal preference.
It all comes down to proportions, especially the dial. For example, a 42mm Speedy looks phenomenal. Some 40mm 3-hand watches look monstrous, garish even. But I completely agree that class is king and makes a greater impact than being ostentatious for its own sake.
Great video! I think that thinner watches are pretty cool - back to your point of packing a lot of good things into a smaller space. Dress watches most often, and fit under the cuff very nicely.
I have always preferred smaller watches as I have a small wrist. But in my experience from a few years ago, smaller watches were hard to find. And the ones I liked were even harder to find in smaller size.
That is so funny this video came today. Just this week I got a 38 mm Islander field watch it looks so much better than the larger watches.
Agreed. My Explorer II 16570 is by the far the biggest I'd go for a sports watch. I bought a Datejust II and had to sell it a few months later. It was too big.
love my 33mm Seiko Dolce so much. Simple, elegant and accurate
7&3/4” wrist here. Any size watch “ fits” but agree, smaller is in better taste.
Agreed. I'm glad watch-makers are starting to move away from the oversized watch trend. I've seen so many people wearing absurdly huge watches that just look goofy. It depends on the watch, though. I've been able to pull off some watches I was positive would be too large, yet they somehow work. That lug-to-lug is super important and can make all the difference. I'm also excited to see that classy, vintage-style dress(ish) watches are starting to make a comeback.
I have a 7.5 inch wrist, so I can wear up to about 42mm without looking ridiculous, but I do like the 37mm of my snk793. I wore it most often when I wore watches. Only recently started again after wearing just a Fitbit for 2 years.
I'm currently wearing a 34mm watch with a 44mm lug-to-lug.
I've relied on the formula on your website to determine what size watches I can wear … which indicates that I max out at 37.5mm case and 46.5mm lug-to-lug.
I like affordable mechanical watches, so it can be a real challenge finding dive watches and chronographs that are small enough. Vostok Amphibia starts at 39 to 40mm and 44 to 46mm lug-to-lug. There are a few chronographs with the Seagull movement that are about the same size. It's far easier to find dress watches, etc. that are smaller.
Looking for a small and affordable chronograph, I can highly recommend the Seagull 1963 Panda Chronograph made by Sugess (Aliexpress) with the ST19 movement. It's a 38mm case that wears more like it's 37 - thanks to its classic, rounded design and black chapter ring on the dial. It's the world's most affordable mechanical chronograph with a wonderful see-through caseback. The movement is trusty and reliable. I bought mine used at 200€ and it's priced similarly when new. My best friend put it best when he saw it: Looks like a sports car on the wrist.
And instead of the Vostok, I'd opt for a San Martin diver in 38mm, which also wears like a dream and can be bought via Aliexpress. It's a homage to the 50s Rolex that Connery wears in Dr. No. That one has been out of production for decades and will never come back, so the San Martin is a nod to the original design - but with sapphire crystal and 200m WR for around 200$. Sure, the Vostok is quirky and reliable, but no comparison to the exceptionally well-finished San Martin. I own one and wear it with joy.
@@aPixelcoffee , I'd been considering that one, so I'm glad that you shared your opinion of it.
Another great vídeo. Congratulations from Portugal my friend.
Thank you!
I came of age in the 1970s, when watches were worn primarily for their function of telling the time. They were usually 34mm to 36mm for men. It seems that nowadays many people wear them not to tell the time but for others to see them wearing them. Hence the large size, often worn on the wrist joint.
Great video Brock! I got one of the Orient bambino 38mm after having the 40mm for awhile. It is definitely my new go to watch - great content as always
Thanks! 38mm is a great size 👍🏼
I completely agree!
I thoroughly agree. If watch manufactures would make 33mm to 36mm watch diameters, I'd be buying a lot more watches. But for now, I'd rather save and by a vintage. Don't know what they're thinking. You can't beat the classics.
6.25 inch wrist, 150 lbs, most “small” 38mm watches just still seem too big, I just bought a 33mm sternglas and am very happy.
Just stick to ladies' watches if that's how you prefer your watch size. Nothing wrong with that. There are ladies' watches that look unisex, in fact lots of them.
Brock! Long time no see. Nice to see
you back !
Thank you!
Boom! Spot on. Totally agree with your intro comments, and the 6 reasons you gave. 👍🏼It brought further clarity to my decision making criteria when short listing possible additions to my collection. I also share your style preference. Thanks, Brock, for articulating these so well.
i wear a tissout prx 35mm
That's a beautiful watch.
Love the Nomos! Wears a bit bigger bc of the long lugs, but it's beautiful and lasts forever
I have a 7.5" wrist, so I'm a little reluctant to go to 36 even though the explorer is one of my all time favorites. I made the mistake of getting a 47mm diver once, wore it twice and put it away. It was like strapping a toaster oven to my wrist. I think 39-40mm is perfect for me, but if you're going really vintage you kind of have to (unless it's an OG Flieger) those tiny ones do look pretty cool. I think the smaller case sizes go great if your overall style is much more "classic". 🤷♂
I have very small wrists. So getting into watches was very hard. I made a few mistakes before i came to the same conclusion as you.
You do limit yourself by always going for the smaller sizes. But i think as times goes this oversize stuff is going out of fashion. In fact can i already see it.
Also smaller can get more expensive if you like complications. But if you just like to tell the time more often you are saving money.
As a note. What is my go to watch? Anything from Cartier as they do small very well. Cost is an issue here for almost all mortals. But the second hand market on Cartier is very good.
34mm-36mm can be sold as unisex watch, broadening the market reach with a single size.
Great advice! Even though for me, 40mm for an everyday field watch is my sweet spot since I have 7 inch wrist.
I have a 7.69 inch (19.6 inch) wrist. I absolutely adore some 36mm watches but many depending on bezel type/L2L just don't work for me. 38 is the smallest I own
Totally agree with you, Brock. Big watches are just non-elegant and display some lack of confidence. I also started with The Fifth and other mass-market brands that were not a good fit for my wrist and style. Over time I was fortunate enough to learn more about style and watches and now I love wearing my little cream-dial Merci LMM-01. My next purchase will be a Seiko, by your recommendation of the brand, the Lord Marvel. And some day I hope to afford a Rolex 34mm. Great content, as always.
I've always admired those smaller Lord Marvel watches. Great choice!
John McCain wore a 34mm Air-King. Now that was a watch.
Brock, I love the content. Always on point! By far my favorite fashion influencer on TH-cam. Keep it up! Blessings from Canada 🇨🇦 🙏.
I appreciate that!
Thank you very much for the feature!
My pleasure!
good video i really needed to hear
this about watches. i got a 38mm thinking it was too small but know i know it was a good choices. thanks.
Perfect size!
38 mm is never too small, but often too big.
I wear a 38mm apple watch, was thinking I had to get the bigger 40-42mm but now after listening to you I’m more grateful for what I have
the rolex example you gave that a the rolex airking or a date is cheaper than a submariner or a explorer 2 because of the size is maybe true but the reason why a submariner is more expensive is because it is more sought after than a 34mm airking. either way love your videos
Very insightful.
Could not agree more. Echoing many other comments, I think smaller wrists can rock up to a 42mm diver due to the smaller wear perception, especially Seikos with their very respectful lug distances. Thank God Orient added 38mm Bambinos; really no reason to look at the 40.5s now that they have 38 and 36. Good job on grabbing that 36 too, those are hard to find.
Unfortunately 38 mm ist still too big for a dresswatch. The perfect size for that kind of watch is 30-35 mm.
I don’t have too many watches but the biggest one I have is the timex marlin 40mm auto. It takes up almost my entire wrist but I love the way it looks. The best fitting one I have is the Hamilton Murph 38mm. Smallest is the orient stela 36mm.
Best men’s fashion channel on TH-cam
Much appreciated 🙏🏻
I have 6.5" left wrist and I always felt like my 42mm watch was a bit too big for me. But they only had one size. I really like Hamilton's new Khaki Field Mechanical with white dial. You convinced me to get 38mm if I ever get one. it's been on my shopping list for so long but I wear Apple Watch all the time and can't seem to justify the purchase.
Generally, I totally agree and love the elegance of the smaller watches. One of your examples though I have to disagree with. I recently tried on the 38mm and the 42mm Omega speedmaster fully expecting to prefer the 38mm. But it was so much thicker than the 42mm and the 42mm has such a compact lug to lug that I much preferred the larger one. I agree that small watches are awesome but that doesn't necessarily mean that they are always better than their larger counterpart. Great video!
I went from wearing 40mm to now 34/35mm. They are in proportion to my wrist. No going back.
Watches are like shirts, you wear it appropriate to your wrist size. I have 6inches wrist and 32-34mm is my size
You are correct.
I like that you promote smaller watches. I bought my first Rolex in 2010, a 1982 Fluted 36mm Datejust with an acrylic crystal. I also bought an early 2000s Submariner. I wear the Datejust far more often because I have 7 inch wrists and it feels more balanced than the Submariner, even though I enjoy wearing it as well.
Thanks for the video
I completely agree, Brock! I have several watches, and the great majority are smaller sizes. They are simply better, overall.
There is much, much more than the case size. Lug to lug, the type of lugs, etc all play a roll in the wearability of any given watch. That being said, 40mm is the upper limit for most watches…except the Blancpain Bathescape @42mm fits nicely, and the Tudor Black Bay at 41mm looks and fits smaller than 40mm, and……
A 36mm watch face might be fine for smaller framed men, but at 6' 5", massive hands (my wedding band is a size 17), and a nearly 8" wrist, the small stuff is comically small and noticed by almost everyone. Honestly the best fit and feel for me is 50-57mm units.
God, I needed this video! All the watches larger 38mm that I tried seems ridiculous to me. THANKS!
Awesome advice as always . Just love your style.
I agree 100%, I have a big wrist (19cm) and my favourite watch size if it's not a diver is 37mm to 38mm.
Except my f91w every watch I had was 40+ mm. They was g shocks so some where over 45 and always felt they where a little big and heavy. Just bought a 37mm seiko 5 and my god does it look so much better. Love the elegent look😊
36mm is king
Truth
Great video, thanks for sharing. Definitely I agree. I am also small-wristed, so I understand what you mean.
I have a strong preference for mesh watches where the clock face is the most prominent feature, with the strap being significantly thinner and serving as a complement to the clock face, rather than having the strap be of equal thickness to the clock face. Although my watch is 43 mm, it does not seem bulcky at all as its metal strip is significantly thinner than the watch face.
Despite its 43 mm size, my current watch maintains a sleek appearance due to the significant difference in thickness between the metal strap and the watch face.
I absolutely love big watches, below 40mm doesn’t do it for me 40-44 is my sweet spot
Really liked your point of view.🤞
One thing I know…small watches are timeless and never go out of style
I too love minimal small analogue watches.
I wear a smallish Jaeger Le Coultre Reverso... called Medium in JLC language and wear it with confidence and pride. My wrists are large, but it’s very comfortable and retains a classic look.
Nicely done Brock. Another great video with practical viewpoints. I’ve watched (pun intended) several of your watch videos and I always learn something. Still an Apple Watch guy 😂 however, if I’m going to buy a non-tech watch your info will be priceless. ⌚️🙌🤙
Thanks! I've considered an Apple Watch, just wish they made a smaller version 😏
I do agree with this. However; you have to keep an open mind. As there are many factors that come in to play. Including Dial size and lug to lug. Nomos for example have very long lugs. Junghans have small dimension but wear very large as it’s all dial. Larger dive watches often wear smaller, due to dial size and inclusion of a bezel. There are plenty of 40mm watches that will wear smaller than 37 and 38 watches. The cheaper Seiko’s are often very thick, so they don’t wear flush to your wrist, so many considerations.
I wanna get the ap 37mm ice blue. My wrist is 7inch or 17cm tho.
But since having 40mm watches ym and tudor chrono. I feel i need to get a small watch.
Whats yr take on 37mm ro on my 7in wrist?
17cm is 6.6 or 6.7 inch wrist , not 7inch
I used to love big watches. Now I like smaller because it’s less noticeable, more refined , not as heavy and fits better. I have a 7 inch wrist
I have a Timex Easy Reader watch and I do not dare to use it because it is small, but after this video you convinced me to use it. Thank you
I have a small wrist, I like mostly small watches, but there are some watches with a 40mm case that I like a lot, and I think are good on me, but that's because they are very slim :)
I wear from 33mm to 36mm watches. those are my sweet spots. the issue is that even though women watches tend to be smaller. you will still find 38mm marketed as a ladies watch. which is frustrating because alot of the watches that i like are over 40mm or 36mm but with feminine look. thats why i tend to look into microbrands or vintage to find those vintage proportions.
Yeah, it's annoying brands take any watch under 38mm and stick jewels all over the dial 😂
Thanks for the info
It’s not just about your Wrist Size!
- Hand Size
- Arm Length
- Arm Circumference
- Your Height
- Type of Clothes and Shoes you wear
And the most important one: Your own personal TASTE!
My wrist width is 50mm (its a better measurement to use along with the lug to lug) to know how it will wear on you
The problem is it’s incredibly hard to find small case watches here in India. Either it won’t look good or be way too expensive 😢. Anyways always admire your work, keep going man💙💙…
Thank you for this One!
Very helpful, thank you !
Where can i get the watch from 7:31?
That's a vintage Seiko but not sure what the ref number is...
I have an 8" wrist and currently wear a 44mm and it looks good not sure I'd want to go lower than a 42 but if it was a dress watch 40 would be fine. On the other hand I'd be comfortable with a 46 or 48 if it looked nice...which of course is a matter of opinion I prefer a chronograph style.
Agreed with you so much! Less is more!