Size does matter…What is your perfect dial size?

Proportions matter as well!

My ideal is 36 x 44 (The Explorer ratio)

D: Yes

39-42 I have one 38mm watch and it feels and looks too small to my eyes and I really don’t wear it much.

My perfect watch size would be diameter 40mm, L2L 47mm and under 13mm thick.

L2L 45-49mm. Anything larger just feels too big

40-41

Yep 38mm is one of those transition sizes as some cases are 38.5mm. I was surprised how good a Nomos 38 felt on.

Only 57 votes, I’ll check later. Surprised since, from reading many post here and elsewhere, and YouTubers I’d think that sub 38mm would be 80%. I guess the small wristers are just more vocal.

36-38mm

40-46

For me, my favorite watch is a 38mm 1963 Seagull. It’s the most comfortable on wrist. Second is my PRX. I kind of think sub 40 is the way to go for me. I might even venture to say all the way down to 34mm.

36-38 is my ideal range. Not too small, not so large it takes up most of my wrist or looks silly. Just right. I'll sometimes wear a 34mm, and I'll, on rare occasions, go above 41mm, but prefer that sweet spot in the middle.

I don’t have one. My watches range from 34mm to 43mm. I find the obsession with size very strange.

I have small wrists of about 6.25 inches (or possibly less). Anything less than 40mm makes me and and watch look like a hairy little kid. I have a few 39mm but it helps when the dial has a bit more presence about it, in terms of thickness

My smallest watch 28mm

My largest watch 45mm

Variety is the spice of life.

34-38 is ideal for me, but I can go a couple of mm in either direction. I’d be happier with a 25mm tank than a 42mm diver

It’s all about preportion and even weight=perceived value to me , I do own a titanium watch but if i got another one it would be big in titanium!

This is a very good question, which I think many people have misunderstood. The dial size is not the case size.

You are probably referring to case size, aren’t you ?

Exactly, the post is refering to dial size, not case size. Very important difference. I just got a Bulova jet star in gold for its 70's aesthetic and the dial is actually a little in the small size for a 40mm diameter case. Still love it though

I have many watches in all sizes, from 34mm to 47mm and I wear them all!

No buddy, I mean diameter. Nothing about me says "elegant discretion", so why would my watch. Joining this platform has let me appreciate various styles and tastes in watches. It has also let me helped me to realize what works for me personally.

I love your posts and will continue to comment in a positive a appreciative manner. It's just not stuff I would wear. 😁👍🏾

I mean depending on case design I like 35-42mm. Tend to like Rolex and Tudor sub-39mm, while due to case shapes and lyre lugs I like my Omegas up to 42mm. My Captain Willard is an outlier at 43mm, as is my King Turtle at 44mm due their unique case designs.

40-42mm best for me

I have a hard time with almost anything less than 40mm. My wrist is north of 8.5 inches, though I can wear 8.5 as a tight fit. I own watches that I love that look stupid on my wrist.

Too many responses on case size to the question on dial size.

A friend's new Sub41mm only has a dial fractionally larger than my Exp36mm although there is a 5mm difference (naming convention.. I know that the true case diameters are different).

To that end, any dial over 38mm generally appears large, but the visual impression is influenced by bezel width/shape/material, lug width and lug-to-lug, watch thickness, bracelet vs. Strap, etc.

So many contributing factors to a design .... there is no right or wrong, only subjective preference. That said, the classic designs are still classic because they got the balance of design elements right in the eyes of a lot of people.

Just depends the watch. I personally can pull off case sizes between 36 to 44, but my ideal is between 38 and 42. Around 38 for dress, 40 for daily, 42 for divers/chronos

All in all 38mm is my sweet spot dial wise ig

Dial size or do you actually mean bezel diameter???

Ok this will be a longer answer and depends on the watch design. I was more looking at the face size but from the comments I think many voters have assumed case size. Yes a bezel width varies between watch models. Vintage dress watch generally has a lot smaller bezel width than a GMT or dive bezel. E.g. compressor dive watch has a bigger dial so gives me the feeling of looking bigger, so I think you can wear a larger case size if the dial size is smaller from a larger bezel. Correctly some of the comments above highlight lugs which definitely has an influence (try a Nomos on). Anyway, the new Christopher Ward GMT has a fixed bezel making this a small dial GMT.