Horological Meandering

Don't groan; this is a discussion that we have not had for a while. The majority of collectors bemoan the creep in watch diameters. I thought it would eventually stop and buyers would go back to more wearable (or should I say 'conservative') watches. Howe... 

...four have been vintage (and one has been a modern 38mm case). This from a guy who was running 42mm cases as standard and who has no problem with the 47mm PAMs. Does that tell you anything? Cheers, pplater.

I like big watches. I tried to look at vintage watches once and they were too small. My ideal watch is 40-42 mm, so I hope this trend stays for a long time. Best SamEE

Few years back, 42mm was my hard upper limit. Even some case designs, like the long lugs of the Longines LLD, were way too much. My comfort zone was located between 38-40 mm. Today, I'm handling bigger sizes (up to 44mm) without any worries. The watches t... 

in the 20s30s, around 30mm Tool watches (Panerai, Weems, "war watches") are apart because of there purpose) in the 50s/60s : 34/36 and more (around 40 for diving watches). In the 70s a lot of creativity, new shapes, very big size (omega Flightmaster for e... 

...at the bottom end of the scale and then to accept a piece this size it really has to be super special! Most comfortable on my wrist for everyday is 46mm, whether that be a Hublot King Power or Sarpaneva, its a nice fit and feels right. Top size... well... 

My first "real" watch about 5 years ago was 46.3mm. I had no shortage of love for that beast -- the more of it the better. And I still love it. The last three additions have been 27.5, 36mm and 37mm. I am starting to sense a personal trend... Best, respo

The ideal size for my sporting watches is 38-40 mm while watches made of a noble metal are most wearable when they are around 36-38 mm. However, watches of sizes between 36 and 40 mm must have a relatively slim movement. I do not know people who would be ... 

. . . I've noticed a trend towards large watches on the wrists of the younger crowd that hangs out at my favorite seaside dive bar 'n pool hall. Not high horology, granted. It wasn't all that long ago when the same crowd dispensed with wrist-wear altogeth... 

It's a trend that has been confirmed lately around me too: the average cutomer asks for bigger. I'm 38-39 for dressy/classic etc ... and 40-42 for sporty, in theory . But most of watches sold today are bigger and if you really like them (interesting compl... 

And for me average sized wrist: 17 cm. No ,what counts is the interest / Beauty / elegance, / Coherence of the watch. The size doesn't really matter. Best, Nicolas

...to allow the trend to die. For example, IWC didn't only increase their case sizes, but designed a new generation of movements with a larger diameter than any time since pocket watches were their only product. It would cost IWC multi-millions to go back... 

I personally like small watches, primarily for reasons of comfort. I have a couple of 42mm watches that I like, but I find them seriously uncomfortable and can wear them for only an hour or two at a time. I don't know how people wear some of the half-poun... 

But I have a few larger watches that I can wear comfortably - mostly ones with curved backs or case shapes that fit into the right places on my wrist. Nothing feels worse than a big watch awkwardly located on the arm! Which you then bash on doorways. As f... 

The Macbook Pro alloy keyboard may be the true reason that I avoid bracelets like the plague. You nail the issue. Cheers, Nilo

I happily wear big diameter dive watches and little 36mm dress watches. Notably, most of the divers are low profile or, as you write, fit into the curve of your wrist. But the factor that kills a watch for me is one that is too thick....and a big diameter... 

so i guess i am really untrendy then best, Horo

Can't think of any others that size...!

Yupe...spot on mate. Best, Horo

... smallish ones. Not purposefully, but from the pre-owned market, simply because I can't find enough line-up with the size of 39 or smaller.... My wrist is smallish, and I am not a big fan of "bigger the better" evolution....

Previously, my max was 42mm (which is a great size for my wrist). But then, I fell for a watch that was 44mm. This was my IWC St Ex UTC. I really loved the watch, and the size was not an issue. Then...... I walked into my AD and saw an opportunity that I ... 

I am on the road and only have my iPad and can't upload.

Always good to bring this topic back on, because we are all fascinating about it... It may be that some buyers are in the how-much-shows business, but do you truly believe that the success of greater than 40mm watches lays on that ego-how-much-shows, I th... 

Hi Andrew, as you can conclude from my headline, I do still regret the increasing size of the watches (mostly in diameter, but partly in height as well). Anatomically we have not changed, but the watches have significantly, but not mine, hehe :-). My uppe... 

. . . shaped cases, like my G O Karrees and Zenith EP, are comfortable aesthetically, but even that exception has its limits.

They only last for a short time. They come, they go. But classic sizes (35 - 38.5) are always there, regardless of what the current fashion and trends are. For me 37mm - 41mm is my range (Excluding my vintage constellation 35/36mm!) I am one of the younge... 

15cm so under 38, even 40 was not exactly what I wear the best. I like that the lugs doesn't go out of the wrist, but it's mostly psychological, most of people fell comfortables with big watches on their wrist, I don't. Last purchase 34mm, and I find it s... 

Those are the diameters of the last three watches I have acquired (within the last 3 years). My wrist is large, and while I embraced larger watches many years ago (44, 45, 47 mm Panerais in large part), I don't anticipate buying anything larger than 40mm ...