"That's not a size for men!"
Today I had a few hours off and decided to stroll through Munich and visit some of the ADs here. I wanted to try on a couple of watches (specifically a 36mm Explorer I and a Black Bay 54). I prefer smaller watches, because I really enjoy the lightness and comfort of the smaller form factor. Also I don't wear watches to flex or show-off, so I feel a smaller watch makes it a bit less obvious to others that I'm wearing something special.
In one of the ADs, I was told that the Black Bay 54 was a woman's watch and the other AD couldn't think of any other 36mm or 37mm men's watches.
I feel like here watches around 36mm still seem to be either vintage watches or watches for people with tiny wrists, not really more common than in the last couple of years. i'm not really a small guy (even though my wrists muscles have declined a bit in the last months), and people seemed to have been shocked when I said a Black Bay 36 would be for me 😂
Looking around forums, and the internet in general, there seems to be a "trend" towards more compact watches, however, it seems like this "trend" hasn't reached Munich at all. I guess people like to show off more here, so bigger watches suit that purpose better.
What experience have you had with smaller watch diameters IRL? Is it just a thing in the watch nerd spheres?
I am not familiar with AD but in pretty much every watch shop I go I know more (sometimes a lot) about watches, news and trends in horology than they do.
For the most of those I met they are not watch enthousiast, just watch workers. So yes, I'm not that surprised if they told you 36mm was a women's size. Don't bother, wear what you want proudly, nobody cares of your watch anyway (except when you see another cruncher, and he won't judge you !)
Watch size preference is all subjective. I have about 6.5in wrist but I tend to gravitate towards 38mm-40mm watches simply because I enjoy having the watch have wrist presence. As for it being for "watch nerds", I think it all comes down to what you simply enjoy spending your money on. Specs and all that only matters to those who care too much about numbers. Wear what you like and rock it however you want, brotha.
I have a
38mm CW Dune
36mm Explorer
36mm Smiths Everest Expedition
36mm CWC Mellor ‘72
37mm Yacht Master
They are all gorgeous watches and I love their diminutive size. All are understated and not particularly well recognised.
Haha, no idea whether small watch diameters are a thing IRL...not that surprised though that Munich ADs feel they need to sell you 'manly sizes' of 39mm and up... But I do know of several brands that offer smaller sizes as well for men's or unisex watches (eg. the Nomos Ludwig and Orion start at 33mm, CW offers the C63 Sealander at 36mm). Largest watch i have is 42mm, which wears fine - but I am very glad I also have a 34 and a 35mm watch (yep, both vintage) which wear so much better under cuffs. Next time I visit some ADs in the Netherlands, I'll do a quick market research 🙂 In the meantime, happily wearing my 35mm today!
Sounds like your ADs are being a tad sexist! 😂 Watches that are identical apart from size variations like the Explorer, can't, and shouldn't be categorised like that.
I'm somewhat biased being a big fan of Cartier as their watches are small compared to most brands.
Wear what you feel comfortable with. I was into bigger watches, but since getting an Explorer in 36mm I rarely look at anything over 40mm.
Have fun whatever size you end up with! 👍
It's fashion, there are no objectively right answers, just trends.
I haven’t been to too many watch shops/boutiques, but I’ve had a couple of experiences where store reps “provided” unsolicited opinions. Talking about watches and styles is something I find to be quite fun, and I’ve fortunately had more experiences like that than not, but it seems like some reps have half-baked opinions/preferences that they are unfortunately inclined to “push” instead of “share.”
Had the same happen to me several times when trying on watches. I know what looks best on me now and that's smaller watches.
PRX 35mm
PRX 40mm
Explorer 40mm
Explorer 36mm
I am not familiar with AD but in pretty much every watch shop I go I know more (sometimes a lot) about watches, news and trends in horology than they do.
For the most of those I met they are not watch enthousiast, just watch workers. So yes, I'm not that surprised if they told you 36mm was a women's size. Don't bother, wear what you want proudly, nobody cares of your watch anyway (except when you see another cruncher, and he won't judge you !)
Yeah, definitely not going to base my money spending on what some watch seller says 😂 but still interesting to hear that they have such strong and final opinions on this topic.
Btw: AD is short for Authorized Dealer, so the shops that are official dealers for a brand.
Watch size preference is all subjective. I have about 6.5in wrist but I tend to gravitate towards 38mm-40mm watches simply because I enjoy having the watch have wrist presence. As for it being for "watch nerds", I think it all comes down to what you simply enjoy spending your money on. Specs and all that only matters to those who care too much about numbers. Wear what you like and rock it however you want, brotha.
Definitely! My taste is 36-38mm, that's currently my sweet spot 👌🏼 surprising to see someone who doesn't know anything about me tell me what I should be buying 😂
I have a
38mm CW Dune
36mm Explorer
36mm Smiths Everest Expedition
36mm CWC Mellor ‘72
37mm Yacht Master
They are all gorgeous watches and I love their diminutive size. All are understated and not particularly well recognised.
Very nice collection! Hope to join the Explorer Club at some point in the future 😉
Haha, no idea whether small watch diameters are a thing IRL...not that surprised though that Munich ADs feel they need to sell you 'manly sizes' of 39mm and up... But I do know of several brands that offer smaller sizes as well for men's or unisex watches (eg. the Nomos Ludwig and Orion start at 33mm, CW offers the C63 Sealander at 36mm). Largest watch i have is 42mm, which wears fine - but I am very glad I also have a 34 and a 35mm watch (yep, both vintage) which wear so much better under cuffs. Next time I visit some ADs in the Netherlands, I'll do a quick market research 🙂 In the meantime, happily wearing my 35mm today!
Would be interesting to know if it's just a Munich thing, or a Germany thing or if it's the same in the Netherlands... Looking forward to your data 🍻
Very nice Vacheron btw!
Hey Mark, I'll be in Munich this summer and if you have any advice when watch shopping there, I'd appreciate it. 👍
Sounds like your ADs are being a tad sexist! 😂 Watches that are identical apart from size variations like the Explorer, can't, and shouldn't be categorised like that.
I'm somewhat biased being a big fan of Cartier as their watches are small compared to most brands.
Wear what you feel comfortable with. I was into bigger watches, but since getting an Explorer in 36mm I rarely look at anything over 40mm.
Have fun whatever size you end up with! 👍
I've hear the Explorer can do that to people 😄
I'm currently between 36mm and 38mm and that feels most comfortable to wear for me. No idea what it looks like to anyone else though 😂
I haven’t been to too many watch shops/boutiques, but I’ve had a couple of experiences where store reps “provided” unsolicited opinions. Talking about watches and styles is something I find to be quite fun, and I’ve fortunately had more experiences like that than not, but it seems like some reps have half-baked opinions/preferences that they are unfortunately inclined to “push” instead of “share.”
Yeah, especially since the bigger variants sometimes cost more (e.g. the Explorer was nearly 700€ more for the 40mm version of I'm not mistaken)
Yeah, especially since the bigger variants sometimes cost more (e.g. the Explorer was nearly 700€ more for the 40mm version of I'm not mistaken)
It is generally true that bigger watches are more expensive so shops are incentivized to nudge you towards whatever helps them meet the sales quota.
A salesperson might even suggest you buy the big version "so that other people can see the brand." 🤡
I have a
38mm CW Dune
36mm Explorer
36mm Smiths Everest Expedition
36mm CWC Mellor ‘72
37mm Yacht Master
They are all gorgeous watches and I love their diminutive size. All are understated and not particularly well recognised.
The yachmaster 🤯
I have a 6.5 inches and I love how the PRX 40 wears on me.
BUT
I also love my 36 mm exp1 homage.
He probably wanted to sell you a Breitling.
Not very good marketers are they? If a man comes in and asks for a 36mm watch, you do not insult the customer with comments like “oh, that’s a woman’s watch size”. Way too much macho BS.
I suppose they didn’t want to make a sale.
The customer is always right, as the saying goes. 😋
"Times change, fashions change. Stupidity remains a constant." Awesome sentence. And true, you only need to see one of the suits of G. Washington which was pink, or the pink painted destroyers of WWII.
Hey, male babies were wrapped in pink blankets and girls in blue blankets before WWII.
This whole male aversion to pink is a rather new occurrence in light of history.
Not very good marketers are they? If a man comes in and asks for a 36mm watch, you do not insult the customer with comments like “oh, that’s a woman’s watch size”. Way too much macho BS.
I suppose they didn’t want to make a sale.
The customer is always right, as the saying goes. 😋
Haha, funnily enough, I asked to see a BB54 and the woman sales rep at the AD (wearing a 39mm Tag Heuer Carrera) told me that the BB54 is a woman's watch. Showed her the Grad Seiko I was wearing and she felt like she had said too much 😂
In my personal experience, people who have told me that my “small watches” are too small or not manly enough “do they make that in men’s sizes?” … these comments are by people who don’t really know much about watches and/ or elegance. Perhaps even, they like big watches as they might need to compensate for something else.
In any case. I, like you, wear my watches for me, not for others. If I like it and I can afford it, I get it.
On the smaller side I have:
Tissot PRX 35mm
Cartier Santos medium (about 35mm)
Rolex Explorer 36mm
Rolex OP 36mm
Wrist size 16.5cm (6.49 inches)
Like Cantona says I'm not a man,I'm a 36mm watch wearer 🙄🤣
Small wrist, small watch. I try not to go above 36mm if the complications don't justify it.
Watches have gotten so big and so many enthusiasts have been asking for more manageable proportions but brands just carry on, obliviously making wearable parking boots.
And here I am, wearing my „ladies” 1926 in 36mm thinking of a vintage Air King in 34.
And here I am, wearing my „ladies” 1926 in 36mm thinking of a vintage Air King in 34.
Haha yeah, the watch I was wearing yesterday was smaller than my wife's watch.
34mm Air King is pure class!
Haha yeah, the watch I was wearing yesterday was smaller than my wife's watch.
34mm Air King is pure class!
Funny enough that the 36mm 1926 looks on me like a 41mm. Small wrist 🙃
Yes! If your in the city centre, I'd recommend Wempe at Marienplatz or Bucherer in Neuhauser Straße if you're looking for many of the Swiss or German brands. Juwelier Friedrich is also quite big and has some good variety. Christ on Kaufinger Straße (they have 3 locations in the city center), is better knows for lower-priced stuff, but their city centre location has a few hidden jewels on site. Don't expect any Champagne though, you'll be waiting in line at the cashier with your 4000€ watch just like everyone else 😂
Had such great experiences at Wembe! Both locations we went to got treated like royalty. Tried on some jlc, GP, and gl original I have been wanting to try. Got turned down at the bucherer since no appointment. Wife and I weee dressed nicely and certainly have the means to purchase their product but got treated like street scum at the door…..
We should do a AD tour through Munich together 🍻😅