When Does a Watch Become “Too Small” or “Too big”?

For me too small is 35mm and too big is 45mm. I don't have huge wrists but that's where I draw my line. My sweet spot is 36-44.

33-42. My sweet spot is between 35-39.

"When it feels that way." I don't mean that to be flippant, just that it's a personal thing. For me, 39-41 seems to be my range mostly, but depending on the case shape I could go larger or smaller by a bit.

I'll wear anything 😂😆. Ask @Kalsota or @SpecKTator ....

Top Wolbrook Worldtimer Vintage 33-ish mm, bottom Bombfrog ABC 60mm

#custodesspecial

Not sure if I can or should comment 🤣😂

For me, the lug to lug distance makes the difference. I have a 45mm that’s too big because the L2L is over 50. But I also have a Seiko Willard that’s 45mm with a relatively short L2L and it fits like a dream. That said, my sweet spot is 37mm-42mm

The Timex looks great on your wrist - 'traditional' mid 20th C watch styles always look better with a smaller foot print.

In fact - with the exception of some tool watches (mainly divers) 'too small' is rarely an issue imo. I often see a wrist shot and think 'too big', but rarely the opposite.

Here…

…and here

I wanted the 39mm Tudor Ranger because it reminds me of a few vintage watches that I collected decades ago but it feels smaller than I prefer. 40mm- 44mm appears to be my comfort size. I have a few 46mm and one older 48mm watch but admittedly they are big watches.

Most of my collection consists of watches that are about 37-40mm, but I'll wear anything from 34mm in diameter all the way up to 46mm or so as long as I like it. It's a lot easier to go too big rather than too small and lug to lug distance only really matters if the tips noticeably overhang your wrist, imo.

Often times when I try on a watch I'll check my reflection in a mirror while standing at least a few feet back from it. That typically gives a much more reliable perspective of how a watch looks. Doing things that way, I've found that most watches that might seem a bit too small actually look totally fine, if not better than larger watches I've tried on.

34 to 39mm is fine with me. I can sometimes do 40 if the lug to lug is short enough.

For me, "too big" is the easiest to tell. If the lugs are protruding over your wrist, that watch is simply too big. It looks weird and I can't imagine it's very comfortable either. "Too small" however is a bit more subjective. I'm with you here, it's about proportion and style more than actual size. Both watches look great on you.

My smallest watch is the Casio A168 but thanks to the vintage style and square shape I think it fit me very well. I think lug-to-lug sizes up to 48 fit me well.

Too small doesn't really exist unless talking tiny vintage ladies watches on larger men. Too big is if the lugs overhang the wrist. I should add IMO but it's just a fact. 😁

Too big when the lugs overhang and you can't see at least 20% strap looking down at your wrist.

Too small when you see only strap and the proportions with your wrist feels off. This one is a lot more subjective.

2 ft

~36 to ~42 I guess 🤷

The machine spirit approves oh Reclusiarch. @Kalsota @SpecKTator sorry not sorry 😐.

While I agree 100% I have started to wear watches up to 44mm. This has coincided with my wrist going from 7.5" to 8.5". I still prefer the look of under 40mm however.

Is that a manacle? 😂

30 to 42, but it depends on the watch type [and shape - not all watches are round]. And it is less of a hard cut-off, and more a decline: oh, this is really on the small/large side, this is an issue, making me less likely to purchase or wear a watch. 36mm is about perfect for me. Today I'm actually wearing a "ladies" watch, but it it is really just of a traditional dresswatch size

Wear what is comfortable for you and what you think looks good? I mean I'm guilty for def giving insecure men shit for thinking that they need to wear some gigantic watch or else they'll get their macho manly man card revoked. Dwanye Johnson or Jason Momoa you are not. Did I just throw more shade? Eh, sue me haha. Wanna fight? Lol. But seriously, wear what fits your image of what looks good and what fits your general lifestyle and typical attire. I have 6.5 inch wrists and have a business casual lifestyle, which means I tend to float btw. 36mm and 40mm with some exceptions . . . of course lug to lug can also be more important and in that regard 44 to 46.5 lug to lug looks great in terms of strap ratio and not looking proportional. I can go beyond that if need be up to 48.5 lug to lug but that is often a case of me wanting the look while sacrificing ideal proportions for me . . .95% of people would say it still looks fine (with a body length photo) but would cry bloody murder if I sent a wrist only shot.

I have an old 34mm that looks small but a 36 with long lug-to-lug that looks good. Generally I think they look more like a clock than a watch around the 42mm point.

I haven’t worn it for longer than it took to take picture but this always makes me chuckle.

I tried on a 36mm Rolex Thunderbird (OP with a rotating bezel) and it felt way too small, which is surprising since I didn’t think it would be too different from my 37mm Seiko. I was looking for a pic of the thunderbird but I guess it was such a disappointment that it “didn’t fit” that I didn’t even take a pic. So here’s my vintage Seiko 5, that’s the smallest I’m “comfortable with”

As for upper limit… I think it depends on the watch but I think anything larger than like 48mm would be too big. Had a 50mm invicta gifted to me and just felt ridiculous to me when I wore it.

Timex works awesome for you (and me).

35-43. Sweet spot 39-40

What timex reference is that?! I’m in love!

It’s all about how one feels. That will determine it.

Not really sure. I picked it up at a goodwill for $4. I’d say it’s from the 70s. That’s about all I know about it sadly. Wish they made a new version of it

On my 17.5 cm wrist it is all about 36-39mm watches with a lug to lug of 43-47mm.