WSJ notices trend towards smaller watches

The Wall Street Journal ( https://www.wsj.com/articles/mens-watch-small-the-rise-of-tiny-timepieces-11661463251 ) notices in this weekend edition's article that the watch sizes for men seem to be shrinking. 

According to Nick Marino, executive vice president of content for watch site Hodinkee, plenty of other guys have lately been shrinking their wristwear. They’re often trading watches 41mm and above in diameter—long the norm—for versions under 39mm. Many are unisex or women’s models. Some are downright puny, like Mr. Rahma’s Seiko or the 23mm Cartier Crash favored by stylish rapper Tyler, the Creator.

The WSJ attributes that to trend away from flex culture. I'm not sure that it is the case (no pun intended), but simply a trend in watch styles.

What do you think?

Reply
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I have a 7.5 inch wrist and routinely wear everything from a 36mm Explorer to a 45mm Panerai Radiomir. I think variety is the key to a collection. Sometimes I want something small that disappears on the wrist. Sometimes I want something big that makes a statement. Just like I would never want a collection of only black dial watches, I would never want a collection consisting of only 41+ mm. 

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I’ve discovered I can and enjoy wearing a wide range of sizes, even on my small 6.3”/16cm wrist. I have watches from 36mm to 45mm. I try to be aware of the lug to lug, but other than that I wear what I like. 

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TomInJersey

I have a 7.5 inch wrist and routinely wear everything from a 36mm Explorer to a 45mm Panerai Radiomir. I think variety is the key to a collection. Sometimes I want something small that disappears on the wrist. Sometimes I want something big that makes a statement. Just like I would never want a collection of only black dial watches, I would never want a collection consisting of only 41+ mm. 

Agreed. I have a 6.5 inch wrist, and my options have probably been more limited than yours. I usually don't go beyond 40mm cases, and that is for divers only. Dress watches with large dials look really odd on a smaller wrist, and least the way I see it. 

So yes, I'm very much in favor of smaller watch, even if the motivation behind it isn't all that altruistic. 😉

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The watch world has been introducing "vintage" inspired watches and vintage watches were small, so naturally the vintage inspired watches are trending small.

For example, Timex reintroduced the Marlin at the original 34mm and the MK1 at the original Camper-sized 36mm... and all the Q's are also at the original sizes from the 70-80's.

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Watch people might be trending smaller but the average buyer is still throwing 42mm+ watches on all day long. Casio has a few retro squares in smaller sizes but look at their biggest selling lineup and those chunky G-SHOCKS are in every REI and bargain jewelry store across the country. 

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synaptyx

I’ve discovered I can and enjoy wearing a wide range of sizes, even on my small 6.3”/16cm wrist. I have watches from 36mm to 45mm. I try to be aware of the lug to lug, but other than that I wear what I like. 

I agree that lug-to-lug factors in to a large degree, and personal tastes vary. But I don't think I have anything larger than a 42mm case size, with 35mm as the smallest watch.

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Posigniat

Watch people might be trending smaller but the average buyer is still throwing 42mm+ watches on all day long. Casio has a few retro squares in smaller sizes but look at their biggest selling lineup and those chunky G-SHOCKS are in every REI and bargain jewelry store across the country. 

I think G-Shock is a different category altogether, similar to smart watches where a certain size makes sense to stuff all the functionality into the watch. The original FW91 wasn't all that large, as far as I know. It would be interesting to see whether this (retro) trend reaches the regular consumer.

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hbein2022

I think G-Shock is a different category altogether, similar to smart watches where a certain size makes sense to stuff all the functionality into the watch. The original FW91 wasn't all that large, as far as I know. It would be interesting to see whether this (retro) trend reaches the regular consumer.

Oh for sure they'll eventually see smaller sizes but they've got millions of 42mm blank cases to work through first. As long as Invicta is around on the shopping networks people will be wearing 52mm as a fashion statement too. 

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Often gaudy fashion watches are mammoth and look ridiculous imho. 
Also seems to take on the more masculine the bigger something is. 
Such an insecure and unintelligent thought process. 
I don’t care for it even if a high end watch. 

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I have never liked the feeling of a heavy watch on the wrist... Also I always have thought the huge man that plays Tony Soprano with his 34 or 36mm Rollie looks so badass. So this trend is super. I'm not small or have skinny wrists. Still I feel more classy with a smaller watch 

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Posigniat

Oh for sure they'll eventually see smaller sizes but they've got millions of 42mm blank cases to work through first. As long as Invicta is around on the shopping networks people will be wearing 52mm as a fashion statement too. 

Yeah, I'm sure there is a lot of existing inventory. But then again, I have yet to spot one of the 50+ mm watches in the wild. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places, because I'm quite sure they are selling. (Otherwise they wouldn't be offered.)

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mjosamannen

I have never liked the feeling of a heavy watch on the wrist... Also I always have thought the huge man that plays Tony Soprano with his 34 or 36mm Rollie looks so badass. So this trend is super. I'm not small or have skinny wrists. Still I feel more classy with a smaller watch 

I would agree that a smaller dress watch has a certain elegant look. I believe a medium Santos is around 35mm, and it is one of the best looking watches I can think of.

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As long as we're calling 38mm "small" this all has no bearing on my life where I want 32-34mm. 

I'm more interested in that opening paragraph that claims there is a 15mm wide Seiko. Are they just blockheads that got something wrong, or does such a thing exist. I can't find it, not that I actually want it.

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PoorMansRolex

As long as we're calling 38mm "small" this all has no bearing on my life where I want 32-34mm. 

I'm more interested in that opening paragraph that claims there is a 15mm wide Seiko. Are they just blockheads that got something wrong, or does such a thing exist. I can't find it, not that I actually want it.

I haven't seen that, either. I know that Seiko introduced 28mm watches in a dive watch style in their Seiko 5 line. (But that would be too small, even for me.)

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I’d say it’s still flex culture in the case of famous people like JayZ wearing small Cartiers.  The flex is that he can wear anything and others will follow. 

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That’s why I opted for the medium. The large looks like a wrestling champion belt on my wrist. Also, medium has no date, double win for me.

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I tend to agree. Even if GQ also calls it a trend, it seems a little premature, and if you asked me why people would move to smaller watches, I could not give a definitive answer. (Even though more women buying unisex watches sounds awfully plausible.)