What makes a watch too small?

[SeaGuy]

I want to start by saying, in my opinion, everything is personal preference and people should wear what they like however they like. But I believe the common metric for determining that a watch is too large is if the lugs overhang the wrist.

What I have never seen is a similar metric in regards to a watch being "too small." I have seen the term "wrist presence" brought up, but I am not sure what that means exactly.

When do you feel a watch is too small?

[WatchTimes]

When it looks too small on my wrist, it is all personal choice.
You wanna wear a small watch go for it!
No one should tell you what you like or how to spend your money.

[DG123]

Originally Posted by SeaGuy

I want to start by saying, in my opinion, everything is personal preference and people should wear what they like however they like. But I believe the common metric for determining that a watch is too large is if the lugs overhang the wrist.

What I have never seen is a similar metric in regards to a watch being "too small." I have seen the term "wrist presence" brought up, but I am not sure what that means exactly.

When do you feel a watch is too small?

For a man, below 34MM case size would be considered "too small".
"Wrist presence" is about having an oversize (38MM or larger) watch that is easily noticed by others.

[subtona]

Often when changing sizes from whatever you have been wearing will lead to the perception of the new watch feeling large or small… commonly we can wear more than one size and have a very good fit.

More importantly for me is the balance of the watch, some are made larger while the old dial, hands or movement is used, this throws off the balance and is a clear deal breaker for me.


My collection has 36 to 42mm. I find they all fit to my liking.

[Calatrava r]

When the wearer thinks it is too small. That is about it.

[Harry-57]

If I can't easily read the complications (sub dials, date, day, second time zone, etc.) it's too small. Lugs, wrist, overhang and all that means nothing to me. If I think it fits, it fits.

[destrodan]

I once had a 34mm JLC MUT (red gold, black dial). It was beautiful but too small for my wrist so I didn't wear it and eventually sold it. I've seen similar watches on others' smaller wrists and they look perfect.

My dad left me a 35mm 1953 Omega Seamaster Calendar that he picked up while serving with the 2nd Armored Division ("Hell on Wheels") in Germany. I love how it looks on my wrist.

I also loved an old Omega 33mm. Looked fine on my wrist (the white dial helped a bit).

So I learned that I need to bump up the millimeter diameter relative to the slimness of a watch for that watch to look right on my wrist. Thicker watches wear larger. Having a larger diameter dial in which the dial (and crystal) goes almost to the edge of the case wears larger. With the presence and dynamism of acrylic (versus sapphire) vintage watches often wear larger to me. And white dial watches wear larger than black dial watches.

Not much help I know, but it really does depend on the watch in question. At least in my view.

[Pop Art Suzy]

For me personally, I like my watches to be 36mm or larger. I just recently sold my 34mm vintage OD, and it just bugged me so I never wore it. I wish I had smaller wrists, but unfortunately I don't, so I prefer a larger sized watch. That's more my personal preference.

[ELLimon]

7 1/5 inch wrist here.

I’m comfortable with 34mm and up all the way to 32mm.

Smaller watches for me must be on a bracelet; that makes them take more wrist area and they do look larger.

34mm :

[AzPaul]

If there's pointing and laughing, it's too small.

[ELLimon]

36mm

[Chewbacca]

When you can’t tell time with a quick glance.

[330ci]

I don't think it really matters.

As long as you like it.


This thing is only 30mm and wears fine Imo

[vitalsigns]

I don't exactly know, but all these dudes wearing tiny Cartiers on hairy wrists are wearing too-small watches.

They do have tremendous wrist presence, but only because they look so out of place.

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by vitalsigns

I don't exactly know, but all these dudes wearing tiny Cartiers on hairy wrists are wearing too-small watches.

They do have tremendous wrist presence, but only because they look so out of place.

How dare you!!!! Hair is power!!!!! REPORTED!!!!!

[vitalsigns]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

How dare you!!!! Hair is power!!!!! REPORTED!!!!!

In that case, I'm dialed up to 10!

[Knappo 1307]

Shoe size.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by 330ci

I don't think it really matters.

As long as you like it.


This thing is only 30mm and wears fine Imo

For my personal taste that would be too small, but as you say as long as you like it

As to the OP, it’s a good question actually. Lug overhang does appear to be one commonly mentioned metric for watches being too large. There doesn’t appear to be a similar one for a watch being too small (other than personal taste).

Maybe for me it would be something like if the case of the watch covers less than 2/3 of the wrist.

[330ci]

Originally Posted by brandrea

For my personal taste that would be too small, but as you say as long as you like it

As to the OP, it’s a good question actually. Lug overhang does appear to be one commonly mentioned metric for watches being too large. There doesn’t appear to be a similar one for a watch being too small (other than personal taste).

Maybe for me it would be something like if the case of the watch covers less than 2/3 of the wrist.

Its all subjective. I just like the watch; size be damned. That vintage charm just overtakes modern standards. It has such a beautiful minute track, the bubble radium lume is iconic imo, its a bit of a poor man's California dial at this point.

The warm patina from the radium burned dial definitely gives off a vibe that can't be matched by most. Personally I prefer watches from the 20s-early 70s. I just think that this era really was the golden era of watchmaking as they went from old world to modern production tech. They made leaps and bounds in movement robustness, pushed the mechanical boundaries and complications, and truely encompassed the engineering and mechanical abilities of what the human mind and hands could produce without computer aided machinery.

When I look at this watch I see a piece of artwork, weathered by time and use upon my wrist. The size of the canvas isn't as important as the composition of the work itself. If only this watch could talk, I imagine it would have an amazing story to tell. Pair in the fact that its a piece of Rolex history and its hard not to be proud of the little bugger.

I definitely chuckled when I read the "hairy arm wearing a Cartier" post as an 18kt vintage Santos or oversized Tank are at the top of my wish list.

For daily wear I think 34-36MM Rolexes are where its at. Hard to beat a 4 digit DJ for daily wear.

[Mountain]

Originally Posted by 330ci

I don't think it really matters.

As long as you like it.


This thing is only 30mm and wears fine Imo

Smaller than modern tastes, but I like it and would definitely wear it. I love the vintage charm.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by 330ci

Its all subjective. I just like the watch; size be damned. That vintage charm just overtakes modern standards. It has such a beautiful minute track, the bubble radium lume is iconic imo, its a bit of a poor man's California dial at this point.

The warm patina from the radium burned dial definitely gives off a vibe that can't be matched by most. Personally I prefer watches from the 20s-early 70s. I just think that this era really was the golden era of watchmaking as they went from old world to modern production tech. They made leaps and bounds in movement robustness, pushed the mechanical boundaries and complications, and truely encompassed the engineering and mechanical abilities of what the human mind and hands could produce without computer aided machinery.

When I look at this watch I see a piece of artwork, weathered by time and use upon my wrist. The size of the canvas isn't as important as the composition of the work itself. If only this watch could talk, I imagine it would have an amazing story to tell. Pair in the fact that its a piece of Rolex history and its hard not to be proud of the little bugger.

I definitely chuckled when I read the "hairy arm wearing a Cartier" post as an 18kt vintage Santos or oversized Tank are at the top of my wish list.

For daily wear I think 34-36MM Rolexes are where its at. Hard to beat a 4 digit DJ for daily wear.

I see the beauty in it as well, don't get me wrong, and as I stated, I agree to each their own.

I thought the OP had a good question in light of the size question. I didn't mean to focus specifically on your watch just to say that it would be an example of something I would find too small for my taste based on my own made up metric.

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

[Blansky]

If you can't flex with it, it's too small.

Personal preference has nothing to do with it.

This is the Rolex forum people, get with the program.

[Stan Cooper]

It's Open Discussion. Too small!

[ExplorerI]

All personal taste. I will say I’m glad the trend of wearing massive watches is fading.
For me at around a 7.25-7.5” wrist I think a 40-42 is about right for a sport watch but for dress watches especially precious metals I like a bit smaller 36-38mm.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

It's Open Discussion. Too small!

you win

[dubins930]

Your level of confidence

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by AzPaul

If there's pointing and laughing, it's too small.

You can compensate by driving a sports car.

Whenever a gent flies by in an exotic car I think “small watch”.

[INC]

I think it depends on the watch, the type of bracelet, and about the design on how these parts are getting connected. In fact, nowadays perhaps the width of the case is the least accurate comparisation information.

For example, in just a year I have started to like some watches that I would have felt "too big" only a few years ago. But times and trends change. And as we become younger and more beautiful, our dressing habits must also change. And now, maybe for this reason I'm starting to feel that some of my beloved 36mm watches are starting to feel "too small" on my small wrist. And I'm not very happy about that, because if this continues, I can start rearranging my ""collection"" again.

[stockae92]

"Opinion"

Just wear a watch that you feel comfortable on your wrist.

If you find a wall clock on your wrist to be comfortable, do it.

[JJGreen]

I don't know how to describe it but it's obvious.

We all notice watches on other people. And sometimes we see one and our first thought is 'that's too small'. It's not a millimeter thing, or even lug thing. It's a personal thing. I love a 36mm Rolex, but on a big guy it looks silly.

If people posted wrist shots and asked about the size, I bet the great majority would agree, one way or another.