Question for the Ladies - best watch size?
A few years ago, my wife - who at the time was my fiancé and just getting into watches - and I were exploring the crowded streets of NYC. We came across a watch shop that not only had the Hamilton Field Murph, but also the lacquer Tesseract watchbox. The cathedral hands, the simple yet stunning dial, the 'eureka' in morse code on the seconds hand - it was an easy decision!
Even at 42mm, I love when she wears her Murph. Which brings me to my question for the ladies of WatchCrunch: are you more enamoured with what would traditionally be a 'men's size' watch like 40-42mm, of do you go out of your way to find 34-36mm (or smaller) versions of the same?
And of course, I'm jealous. I love smaller pieces like the JLC Reverso, and some vintage pieces...but I could never pull off a 34mm vintage piece with my gorilla wrist.
Ladies - let me know what you think! And gents, eager to hear your thoughts as well...
Cheers!
Watch nerd from the beginning.
My wife thinks my 36mm watches are "way too big and manly" for her. 32mm is the absolute largest she'll wear, and that is a stretch. I think my 36mm look great on her, but she won't wear them. She's got small wrists, about 5.5 inches, so I can see where she's coming from.
I have relatively small wrists (5.75 inches) but I wear a wide range of watch sizes.
I have a tiny little Blancpain cocktail watch (that belonged to my grandmother) that I love to wear (it's probably around 15mm across), a Datejust 26mm that's part of my regular rotation, and 22mm Baume & Mercier Diamant on a steel bracelet that hugs my wrist perfectly. But I'm just as comfortable wearing a 35mm vintage Omega Constellation, 38mm Timex Q, 40mm Victorinox chronograph, and so on. The largest piece in my current collection is this ridiculously oversized (for me) but super light Swatch chronograph (43mm!!) that I used to wear all the time in my 20s. I haven't worn it for years but I can't seem to let it go.
I view my watches like my handbags or shoes; some days I want a mini little clutch and some days I want to carry around a giant tote...some days I want little ballet flats while others I'll grab my oversized sneakers. I don't stick to rules - I just wear what I'm in the mood for that particular day.
That Murph looks absolutely spectacular on your wife!
That Murph looks spot on for your Mrs 👌
I find I gravitate to 38-40mm watches. I think this is likely for no other reason than that's the size most watches seem to be and if I limited myself to sub-36's there would be so many I wouldn't be able to enjoy. For me personally I'm happy with a watches size as long as the lugs don't go past the edges of my just under 6inch wrist.
Thanks Kaysia! Her wrists are also just under 6 inches. I think that 38-40mm is the sweet spot for women these days (barring an obscene lug-to-lug). But what a great point about volume in certain sizes - I never considered that before.
Cheers!
I have relatively small wrists (5.75 inches) but I wear a wide range of watch sizes.
I have a tiny little Blancpain cocktail watch (that belonged to my grandmother) that I love to wear (it's probably around 15mm across), a Datejust 26mm that's part of my regular rotation, and 22mm Baume & Mercier Diamant on a steel bracelet that hugs my wrist perfectly. But I'm just as comfortable wearing a 35mm vintage Omega Constellation, 38mm Timex Q, 40mm Victorinox chronograph, and so on. The largest piece in my current collection is this ridiculously oversized (for me) but super light Swatch chronograph (43mm!!) that I used to wear all the time in my 20s. I haven't worn it for years but I can't seem to let it go.
I view my watches like my handbags or shoes; some days I want a mini little clutch and some days I want to carry around a giant tote...some days I want little ballet flats while others I'll grab my oversized sneakers. I don't stick to rules - I just wear what I'm in the mood for that particular day.
That Murph looks absolutely spectacular on your wife!
Thank you Celine!
I bet wearing your Swatch Chrono feels like a cuckoo clock on your wrist after wearing your grandmother's Blancpain! Also, I love that you have a piece from your grandmother. That is special!
I admit that I choose my piece by mood as well. I also find that I may choose a particular watch that, for whatever reason, I have emotionally matched to a certain piece of clothing. For example, I have a simple grey v-neck sweater. If I'm wearing that, I always wear my Superocean Heritage in the blue alligator. If I wear anything else, it just feels weird.
Cheers!
My wife thinks my 36mm watches are "way too big and manly" for her. 32mm is the absolute largest she'll wear, and that is a stretch. I think my 36mm look great on her, but she won't wear them. She's got small wrists, about 5.5 inches, so I can see where she's coming from.
Very interesting Joel. I guess that means she's never 'stealing' your beautiful Oris Big Crown! :)
Thank you Celine!
I bet wearing your Swatch Chrono feels like a cuckoo clock on your wrist after wearing your grandmother's Blancpain! Also, I love that you have a piece from your grandmother. That is special!
I admit that I choose my piece by mood as well. I also find that I may choose a particular watch that, for whatever reason, I have emotionally matched to a certain piece of clothing. For example, I have a simple grey v-neck sweater. If I'm wearing that, I always wear my Superocean Heritage in the blue alligator. If I wear anything else, it just feels weird.
Cheers!
Superocean Heritage with blue leather...swoon!
I have a 14.5cm wrist and it depends. I have a 42mm Moser that is elegant and curves gracefully on the wrist and looks lovely. I almost never wear my Rolex GMT because it sits on my wrist like a giant wall clock although technically smaller in diameter than the Moser. 36-40 is the sweet spot but for the right piece would make exceptions and just rock the grandfather clock on my wrist look (like, say, a Lange Terra Luna. swoon!)
This is kind of a month late and a dollar short, but I couldn't go with bigger than a 40 mm watch, and I've been eyeing a 29 mm from Tissot.