Large Watches vs. Rolex

[leopardprey]

Seems more and more of the watches I am seeing people wear are getting bigger and bigger. See a lot of guys I work with wearing these massive plastic Casio or Sunato watches. Almost look like Dive Computers on their wrist!

I think the Rolex 40mm are the perfect size and the 36 mm as well. Not too large and not to small.

Funny been wearing the Rolex Sub for couple of months now, and went back to wearing the Omega SMP. The Omega, at 42mm, felt way too large!!

[nko51]

Big watches are now a growing trend, especially for woman. A few female hollywood stars are sporting big watches over 40mm. I, though am in love with my 40mm Rolex's.

[mike]

I think for a lot of people spotr watches in the 40 to 42 mm range represent an ideal size. Certainly one's wrist size and the shape of the watch have a lot to do with comfort and how a watch "looks" on your wrist.

While I tend to favor 40 to 42mm watches, I tried a 44 mm Panerai and found the watch "fit" much better than I thought it would. By the same token I tried a 45mm Planet Ocean and thought it look silly on my wrist while the 42mm was much better.

Some of those Casios and Sunatos are indeed computers of sorts measuring barometric pressures and compasses and all sorts of tools that fit in a watch!

[A. Jacobs]

When I bought my first Rolex I thought that it would take a lot of getting used to because I had been wearing a 42mm Omega. But I was wrong. the 40mm Sub, or any other Rolex sport model, is a great size-not too big, and not too small. I think the trend of over-sized watches is just that-a trend.

[colemanitis]

Originally Posted by A. Jacobs

I think the trend of over-sized watches is just that-a trend.

Yep, that and the over-sized sunglasses.

[Mr. K]

Not sure if big watches are here to stay, they have been popular for a few years and the trend seems to be going strong.

For me however 40 mm is good. I think the 36mm size of the DJ also suits me well.

But to each his own.

[Blue Bull]

40mm is a good size.For me thats the minimum size.42-44mm would have been better,still.36mm from the DJs are too small and after much deliberation and thought I decided I will stay with the 40mm sport Rolex watches.The Sea-Dweller is starting to take my fancy and I can get it new for $4435 ... Then again,what the hell do I want to do with it if I have the Blue TT Sub ??

[A. Jacobs]

Originally Posted by colemanitis

Yep, that and the over-sized sunglasses.

Jeff,
You're absolutely right about giant sunglasses. I cannot stand the look of them, but my wife loves the damn things

[astcell]

I never figured out why women had those teeny watches, I figured maybe they had better eyesight.

[padi56]

Well although I love the vintage watches and some of these can be quite small.But it still gives me pleasure to see a watch still beating on my wrist and perhaps 80 plus years old.But on the other side of the coin like watches 40-44m and over had a Zeno crono that was 47m.But when you think of past days the first wrist watches,were basically pocket watches converted.

[mikey]

I must admit that I miss having a large Panerai watch on my wrist. I just had a comforting feeling. The 40MM Rolex looks good on me too, but I think its a win win with my 36 mm.

[mrbieler]

I'm not a big watch guy. My Sub's are plenty big for me.

Watches are just man jewelry (and women). Fashion trends shift all the time.

For a while automatics were DOA and quartz ruled and now auto's are hot again. Giant sports watches are hot now. What's next?

I've always dressed the same way. I go in and out of fashion every 7~10 years. :-)

[astcell]

Someone needs to price out owning one of each variation of Rolex and see how much $ we would need to have to get there!

[greenfan]

I thought even ROLEX was big for my wrist, compared to the Cartier Panthere I had. But now Im perfectly OK with 40mm size

[montecristo]

For dress watches, I like the 36mm DJ. For sport models, then it doesn't matter as long as its comfortable on your wrist.

[astcell]

When I was looking at the used Rolexes the dealer told me "Oh, those are only Datejusts" as if they were inferior.

[vcm_dj]

Originally Posted by astcell

When I was looking at the used Rolexes the dealer told me "Oh, those are only Datejusts" as if they were inferior.

I'll have that 'dealer' know that for many of us, the DateJust is THE definitive Rolex... Not to take away from the sport models which followed the introduction of the DJ in '45... In many ways, I think the DJ redefined Rolex and launched the 'modern' era that continues to this day...
-V

[quinson418]

I think 40mm is a really good size, definitely good for the general population, yet I have seen big guys wearing 40mm Rolex watches and seems like they should be wearing something bigger.

It really depends on the size of the person to see.

[Dimitris]

It's realy rediculous from horological aspect to see these giant watches with the normal movements inside looking so small.
If they want to have big watches they also have to built bigger movements that would be also is for that size to improve the precision and the toughness of the movements.

[JJ Irani]

I guess it's not the size of the watch that's wrong....it could be the size of the wrist too.

Depending on the size of the wrist, different size watches will look different on the wrist.

For example, if a guy has a super-massive 8½"~9" wrist, even a 40 mm Rolex would look small on that. He'd be looking at something in the 45~47 mm range.

On the other hand, if a guy has a 6½" wrist, a 40 mm would probably look too damn big. He'd be better off with a 34 mm Air King or a DATE model....at best a 36 mm DJ.

JJ

[Rockrolex]

My watches run the gamut for 36 mm to 44 mm. I'm OK with all of them. Obviously, the dress watches are smaller (at 36) but the sport ones range from 40 mm for the GMT-II to 44 for the Glycine Airman 9. Size is not my primary concern as long as the watch itself is good looking.

[miner]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

I guess it's not the size of the watch that's wrong....it could be the size of the wrist too.

Depending on the size of the wrist, different size watches will look different on the wrist.

For example, if a guy has a super-massive 8½"~9" wrist, even a 40 mm Rolex would look small on that. He'd be looking at something in the 45~47 mm range.

On the other hand, if a guy has a 6½" wrist, a 40 mm would probably look too damn big. He'd be better off with a 34 mm Air King or a DATE model....at best a 36 mm DJ.

JJ

I've got stick wrists (6.¾") and I reckon a 44mm Pam looks good and it's very comfy.



And if I ever go out in a DJ, the 36mm Explorer looks good too:



I don't think there's a general rule, its what feels good on me that's most important. And of course what feels good to me ain't necessarily going to feel good on someone else.

[tonelar]

Tell her she's beautiful, Andrew... don't inspire her wrath.

Cheers!

[A. Jacobs]

Originally Posted by tonelar

Tell her she's beautiful, Andrew... don't inspire her wrath.

Cheers!

Thanks for the words of wisdom, Tony

[TAG_TOSSER]

you guys are just jealous. FAD??? dont think so. BIGGER IS BETTER. i like my big watch, big glasses and my big willie.

[Launch Mini]

Large works for me, in watches...


And other things...

[John Ireland]

A contrarian opinion...

The "big" watches of the past...dive watches with large luminous dials for murky waters...the pilot watches for high altitude night flying with cockpit lights out (and worn over heavy warm clothing)...chronographs that were easy to read quickly during sporting events...all these were size based on need/function. At the other end, for daily wear by businessmen/women...the smaller and lighter the watch, the better. 33/34mm was fine for a man...ultra thin all the better.

Over the next three to five years I think a lot of the current big watches will become as hard to sell as a flower power wardrobe from the sixties and disco wardrobe from the seventies. The market may find the big watch look "cool" today, but their function is almost purely fashion and as such will be subject to losing favor. The "normal" form/function of 34/36mm wristwatch (just like the classic 2/3 button mid-lapel size men's suit) will return with a vengence...because it makes good sense.

What makes the Rolex Subs and GMTs so enduring is that from the beginning they were not oversize to the extent of their modern competition. They were only as big as they needed to be to get the job done. I would venture that few if any of the modern "big" watches are that way because of anything but fad/fashion. Big watches from the past that were big because they were based on pocket watch movements could justify the size because of preceived superiority of the bigger movement. But the real skill was in small...triple date w/ moonphase in a 34mm case.

If I was thinking of buying a new Rolex, the only one that attracts me is the new turnograph with the new smaller bezel cuts the overhang and keeps it at the basic DateJust size. A GMT of the same DJ size would be far more attractive and useful than the current model.

The variation on current big date double digit Lange and such, seems like taking the long way around the block in an absurd attempt to avoid acknowledging the simple rightness of the Rolex sysem with the cyclops.
And the power reserve indicator has to be the most unuseful clutter on a watch dial ever created. If the watch is a manual wind, you wind it once a day each morning or evening. If you don't like winding the watch, you get an automatic. Remember all we're talking about is winding a watch, not going to a gas station to refuel a car.

So rant is over. Everyday vintage watches remind us that in good design, form follows function.

[Incurable]

Originally Posted by Launch Mini

And other things...

God certainly does work in mysterious ways...

I'm thinking she needs that tree just to stay vertical.

[ROLEX4EvEr]

LOL John B Great topic!!! My cuz is a big guy 6'5 300+lbs my DJ looks small on him. I guess u need the wrist for it, I hte to see ppl with the huge Breitling and it dosent fit right.

[Dimitris]

Big watches can also injure you easily if you fall or in an accident.