I like big watches and I'm kind of ashamed of it (but also I'm not)
Hello crunchers,
So this is potentially going to be a long one so hang on tight as we dive into this.
First of all, what IS a big watch? I was wondering this myself, and as I've got nothing better to do, this morning I took measurements of all of my watches, and made a table. From there on, I simply added all of the numbers, and whichever one was the biggest, would have to be a big watch, makes sense right? It was then that I noticed that some of my favourite watches, were also some of the biggest I owned. Pictured up here is the one that came up the biggest:
43.2 mm diameter, 17.3 mm thick and 222.6 g
Now I don't ONLY wear big watches, in fact most of my watches are on the "regular" size of things, as shown by this table:
And I also like wearing smaller watches from time to time, such as this little Seiko:
27 mm wide, 6.8 mm thick and only 28 g (my wood watch is lighter by 6 g)
Now, why do I say I'm kind of ashamed of liking big watches? Because of the stigma that comes with it. I often see on here that the "sweet spot" for watches is between 36 and 38 mm, and that's fine, I also like watches that size, even if I don't have a lot of them. I also know I won't get judged too harshly on here for liking big watches, because, I do what I do and that's fine. But outside, in the real world, I know what people think of people that wear large watches, just like I know how people look at me when I ride by on my loud motorcycle, or my loud car with the big rims. On the surface, I don't care, I do what I do because I enjoy those things and screw the opinion of other people, but deep inside, I kind of feel shame for liking those things, as if it wasn't "normal", as if I should be ashamed for liking those obnoxious things. Sometimes I just wish I could just have my big watch, and my loud car, be completely invisible so that only I would be able to enjoy them, because I don't want to annoy people by being obnoxious, but at the same time, I also don't want to stop myself doing something I like, just because other people don't like it.
So in conclusion, I will keep wearing my big watches, and being the annoying neighbour (I always do my best to keep it as quiet as possible until I get out of town), but deep down I'll still feel that lingering shame every time I do.
For those who also want to know about my big watches, the Cronos is the biggest, followed by:
56 mm diameter, 15.7 mm thick and 210 g
45 mm diameter, 16 mm thick and 203 g
45 mm diameter, 14.7 mm thick and 185 g
And rounding up the top 5
44.9 mm diameter, 13 mm thick and 182 g
4 of my top 10 favourite watches are included is the top 5 biggest watches btw.
And for those of us who also like tables, here is the complete table of dimensions that I filled myself and used as reference for this post:
The thickest one at 17.7 mm is a vostok mounted on a nato, which is why I measure Effective thickness and Effective length, to take into account that the thickness of a nato, or the length of a male endlink affects wearability and perceived size. Oh and by the way, my wrist is not that big at 17.7 cm (around 7 inches) so make of that what you will.
And as a bonus for those who stayed until the end, the biggest next to the smallest:
Motorsport mechanic, watch enthusiast, low budget, high fun, here to talk all about cheap watches and read about expensive ones
I have thoughts.
It never occurred to me that the size of the Ploprof was the issue. I say this knowing you and many others like that watch, but my god it’s ugly. I can’t seem to get to “it’s so ugly it’s good” with this thing, it’s just ugly.
You’re right, it doesn’t matter what others think, but I firmly believe that anyone here who says they don’t care at all what others think is lying. Everyone cares at least a little. My thing is I want people to notice my watch, but not too much. I want to be just the right degree of flashy. And I want people to appreciate my watch for what it is, not because they think it’s expensive. I’d be really embarrassed if somebody seemed impressed because they thought I paid a lot for a watch. So I’m fairly crazy, so are you, and so is everyone else.
I don’t really like big watches, so this shift to smaller watches and the accompanying scorn heaped on large watches doesn’t bother me. Then again, it’s all fashion, and as such will change again. With a little luck I’ll live long enough to see the next time small watches are out of style. My point is, I wouldn’t worry too much. There’s no real reason that 44mm is too big or 34mm is too small. It’s just fashion, and fashions change.
Since you’re pretty clear about the fact you wear what you like, I’ve got no advice for you other than keep keeping on.
Saying a watch is too big (or too small) is like saying someone's hat is too big (or too small) - there's a definite range where it doesn't physically fit the owner, but beyond that it's entirely down to taste.
I wonder if there are millinery forums where nerdy hat enthusiasts sit around pontificating on what the optimum brim size, or crown height, should be for a given head size.
Own it, wear it, love it. Rock the big watches with as much confidence and wearing one that fits.
Aside - I live in a quiet-ish neighborhood with lots of retired neighbors and with my 2 young kids who go to sleep relatively early so I do get annoyed at loud cars and motorcycles, because they wake everyone up. All I ask for is some understanding ✌️
Saying a watch is too big (or too small) is like saying someone's hat is too big (or too small) - there's a definite range where it doesn't physically fit the owner, but beyond that it's entirely down to taste.
I wonder if there are millinery forums where nerdy hat enthusiasts sit around pontificating on what the optimum brim size, or crown height, should be for a given head size.
I mean maybe there are you never know, imagine if the Stetson guy and the Fedora guy get into an argument
All I noticed was the spreadsheet. It is BEAUTIFUL. 😍
I jumped off the too big / too small train a while back.
My main considerations are look & feel on my wrist regardless of size and situational uses. Divers, weekend and pure fun watches can be the size of a house or pimple.
Stuff I want to wear with business attire tend to get smaller (~39 - 42 mm) but I don't have a hard and fast rule.
Hold my beer? I love this Vostok btw
I prefer watches in the 36-42 range but have a few that are larger. I have no problem with larger watches.
I do however dislike garish watches that are made large simply for the sake of having more room to show off fake cables, fake diamonds, and scream LOOK AT ME!! A 52 mm watch powered by a 15mm quartz movement.
What is this, amateur hour? 😂
Case size: 52mm, stainless steel
Thickness: 29.5mm
Lug-to-lug: 65mm
Lug width: 24mm
Overall Weight: 370g (0.8 lbs)
Behold the Invicta Hydromax, the Rolex homage, compared below to their 40mm Pro Diver:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/Pallet_Fork/reviews/invicta-hydromax-model-16964-review-25870
Did I win the booby prize?
I don't even look at watches 38 & below, just not my thing.
I've got a Steel Dive Ploprof too, very cool indeed 😎
I'm over 50 & eyes are rapidly declining so guess that's why I prefer larger watches!
OMG!! I nearly fell out of my chair with laughter!! 🤣🤣 And I would probably find myself on that forum, eventually, saying the same thing there as I do here:
Ya know, there's a dude on Facebook, who is an Invicta collector (he literally has hundreds of them!) who does a daily short reel, and he always signs off the same way:
@Pallet_Fork That's the one Invicta (the HydroMax) that I want more than any of the other Invictas I plan to buy! That watch is DOPE! 😎 1,000m Water Resistance!!
I have nothing against small watches, except that I think that when I wear them, I look like I have a kid's toy strapped to my wrist. But I am trying to change this. I recently acquired what I like to call my "minor grail," i.e., the EXACT model and color of LCD watch that I had (my first watch, ever) when I was 10 years old. It's the Texas Instruments 1978 Edition of the Model 550 LCD watch. And it's small. Really small. But I still love this watch, and I still intend to wear it, ESPECIALLY after all the effort it took to track one of these babies down!! 🤣 So as I wear it, maybe I will become accustomed to the small size, and my opinion will change. 😀 But until then, take a look at this bad boy, 52mm, large and in-charge:
P.S. @Stephme Don't be ashamed of your loud motorcycle; loud pipes save lives. Cheers! 🍻
For a 7 inch wrist, a 43mm is acceptable.
Everything is relative.
Alot of Youtube influencers have small wrists.
(This is not my wrist)
Saying a watch is too big (or too small) is like saying someone's hat is too big (or too small) - there's a definite range where it doesn't physically fit the owner, but beyond that it's entirely down to taste.
I wonder if there are millinery forums where nerdy hat enthusiasts sit around pontificating on what the optimum brim size, or crown height, should be for a given head size.
Yes, The Fedora Lounge. These guys obsess about every detail of a hat. I'm a member there too...
Yes, The Fedora Lounge. These guys obsess about every detail of a hat. I'm a member there too...
I soooo need to join The Fedora Lounge!
For a 7 inch wrist, a 43mm is acceptable.
Everything is relative.
Alot of Youtube influencers have small wrists.
(This is not my wrist)
I love my pre Georges Kern Breitlings: 48mm, 46mm, 44mm, my 44mm Panerai watches( I would buy a few more in the 47mm case size but Pams are pricey). Lately have added a few Grand Seiko models which tend to be larger than the current fashion, thinking about the Omega Ultra deep. I mostly buy what catches my imagination, lost a 48mm Breitling to my son in law because the 48mm Super Avenger was too massive on his wrist, a BB58 to my younger daughter even a 41 mm Tudor ceramic to my petite wife. Trends go in cycles, things will bother you if you let them.
I used to love hockey but tired of the fighting stopped watching prefer the millionaire mercenaries in the NFL now. Chris Simon was a rock hard First Nations hockey player who wore his jet black hair in the tradition of his ancestors(long). He was asked if his coaches hassled him over his ponytail. His answer was brilliant: he said that the bald guys were not instructed to get hair transplants so his hair was no problem. Enthusiasts who favour smaller sized watches are more than ok with me, wearing bigger watches remains a personal choice, a preference.
I like big watches as well, no regrets.
It's fine if you have the wrist size to rock a 50mm watch....go for it.
My first automatic watch is a 43mm Aragon Dive Master 4 EVO. Being new to watch collecting I was tempted to get the 48mm but was a bit scared.
Now anything less than 42 seems too small. My automatic definitely be no less than 45mm. I just really like big faces 😁
What is this, amateur hour? 😂
Case size: 52mm, stainless steel
Thickness: 29.5mm
Lug-to-lug: 65mm
Lug width: 24mm
Overall Weight: 370g (0.8 lbs)
Behold the Invicta Hydromax, the Rolex homage, compared below to their 40mm Pro Diver:
https://www.watchcrunch.com/Pallet_Fork/reviews/invicta-hydromax-model-16964-review-25870
Did I win the booby prize?
I hear yas, Eric. You show 'em.
Nice mid range Marathon JDD . . . for scale purpose, of course. Watch to wrist ratio is subjective. Objects may appear larger in the rear view mirror.
I jumped off the too big / too small train a while back.
My main considerations are look & feel on my wrist regardless of size and situational uses. Divers, weekend and pure fun watches can be the size of a house or pimple.
Stuff I want to wear with business attire tend to get smaller (~39 - 42 mm) but I don't have a hard and fast rule.
My only size rule is for ultra formal occasions - weddings, funerals, coronations, the Ambassador's Reception, etc. For this I have the Seiko SUP873P1. 37mm, thin, minimalist. That's the only time size matters.
My first automatic watch is a 43mm Aragon Dive Master 4 EVO. Being new to watch collecting I was tempted to get the 48mm but was a bit scared.
Now anything less than 42 seems too small. My automatic definitely be no less than 45mm. I just really like big faces 😁
I use to think I didn't like big watches. Then I got an Aragon. Everything about it, from the case size to the large logo with the slanted letters, is big. And bold. And really well done. And then I realized that it wasn't the size, it was just the fact that most large watches don't look good. They don't know how to make them look good. But Aragon does.
OMG!! I nearly fell out of my chair with laughter!! 🤣🤣 And I would probably find myself on that forum, eventually, saying the same thing there as I do here:
Ya know, there's a dude on Facebook, who is an Invicta collector (he literally has hundreds of them!) who does a daily short reel, and he always signs off the same way:
@Pallet_Fork That's the one Invicta (the HydroMax) that I want more than any of the other Invictas I plan to buy! That watch is DOPE! 😎 1,000m Water Resistance!!
I have nothing against small watches, except that I think that when I wear them, I look like I have a kid's toy strapped to my wrist. But I am trying to change this. I recently acquired what I like to call my "minor grail," i.e., the EXACT model and color of LCD watch that I had (my first watch, ever) when I was 10 years old. It's the Texas Instruments 1978 Edition of the Model 550 LCD watch. And it's small. Really small. But I still love this watch, and I still intend to wear it, ESPECIALLY after all the effort it took to track one of these babies down!! 🤣 So as I wear it, maybe I will become accustomed to the small size, and my opinion will change. 😀 But until then, take a look at this bad boy, 52mm, large and in-charge:
That is a good looker. I wish Invicta would drop that wing thing logo and just keep their big proud name on the dial, but that's nitpicking. If you like big, great looking watches try the aragonwatches.com website.
I use to think I didn't like big watches. Then I got an Aragon. Everything about it, from the case size to the large logo with the slanted letters, is big. And bold. And really well done. And then I realized that it wasn't the size, it was just the fact that most large watches don't look good. They don't know how to make them look good. But Aragon does.
Exactly. Just because a canvas is large doesn't mean you have to fill it up arbitrarily to fill space. At some point it becomes too busy and crowded.
That is a good looker. I wish Invicta would drop that wing thing logo and just keep their big proud name on the dial, but that's nitpicking. If you like big, great looking watches try the aragonwatches.com website.
I think the whole idea of the wing logo is to emulate the battle standards that the Roman legions used to employ. Personally, I think their logo should be a sword turned sideways. Like a Gladius. And I think if they really wanted to live up to their "invincible" claim, they'd ditch the "Flame Fusion" glass and go with synthetic sapphire.
Do I like large watches? It depends. Which large watch? Do I like small watches? It depends.
My biggest is 44 and my smallest is 32 but I’d wear bigger for sure
Well I love big butts. And I can not lie.
My sweet spot is 40mm
However I do get tempted sometimes as I did with this …..