Video vs. Real thing

Usually they seem much smaller. Especially, the big ones. Also, the bracelet usually feels different than I would have expected.

Scale. Everything seems big in video because you get very close shots and macro lens views of the finer details. In person, most watches appear much smaller than you imagined.

Depends how well you know the person making the video. If you have a sense they are roughly your size wrist, then scale in the video doesn't matter a jot. How it looks on them, is how it will look on you. And it works in the reverse, too. For example, when I watch an Urban Gentry video, as much as I love TGV, when he starts saying, "Look how well this 34mm watch fills my wrist..." I know it won't look like that on MY wrist, because I know he's a tiny little man. So getting to know your video makers is a must. Once you do know them and have a sense of their size, you can get a pretty good feel for the watches they review.

I think the most important factor in this is the wearer, we are different people, wear what we like, not what they wore. Wear if you like the piece, the movie or picture just give us information that such watch exist if it is real.

Everything looks bigger and better in video reviews, and everything is more disappointing in real life.

Remember, we're talking about tiny little watches here, and most of the details that seem so important when exposed by a macro shot aren't even noticeable to the naked eye.

As for how the watches feel... well, I think that might be a very subjective thing mixed with an unhealthy dollop of "The Emperor's New Clothes" in some cases. I've handled thousands of watches over the years, and aside from weight (and poor finishes on the very cheapest watches), there's very little difference between any of them nowadays. A lot of the so-called "luxury" watches have very sharp edges which I don't think most people expect when they are paying so much money for them. I know I certainly didn't.

There's a massive difference in quality between "expensive" watches and "luxury" watches, and never the twain will meet.

In most cases, watches i see on youtube are under high magnification. A lot of times i get surprised seeing them in person. Often underwhelmed but not enough to stop me from buying.

As an example, the closeup shots of the santos de cartier with the screws that don't align with each other bothers me but in person, they just look like tiny polished rivets and the unaligned slots of the screw heads dont even bother me.

Best advice really, IF YOU CAN, is see the watch in person at least once before making the purchase.

Nothing like physically handling the merchandise! 😎

Hey, since you don't like misaligned screws can I assume you hate Hublot? 😂

Their design is not to my taste and even if it was in my price range, i would not consider them at all. But no hate, just love for all🤗😊

Are we still talking about watches here? 😁

Always try them on. As many times as you can until you know it's right.

Video can show you the features, the colors (to a point), overall look, and lume.

Beyond that, gotta go in person

Agreed, there is a watch that costs $50,000 or so that has some uncomfortably sharp edges on the case and bracelet.

Meanwhile Seiko can make cases that seemingly don't have a sharp edge anywhere for $250

Trick Question: Does the 42, or the 38 fit my wrist better?

-Answer: Both photos are of the same 38mm watch, taken with the same cell phone camera.

Photos distort reality. The perceived difference in size was created by changing the distance the photo was taken. One was up close, the other was farther away with zoom.

"Tiny little man", lol.

Well... he is! :)