Thread: What types of watches do you like?

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Originally watches were in the 32-34mm size and were pretty much like that until the 1970s when the sizes started to increase to 38-40mm. It's been pretty much from the 90s that sizes have gotten kind of out of hand. Many younger folks and some not so young like these 48 and 50+mm sizes. Personally I have small wrists so anything bigger than 43mm looks like a clown watch.

Also some watches wear smaller than others. Watches like divers with big bezels and small xtls tend to wear smaller than they are while watches with tiny bezels can look larger than they actually are.

Similarly, the thickness of the watch also can make a smaller watch look huge and be uncomfortable as can the lug design.

I could hug you for this post.

I get so tired of listening so some guys who say anything smaller on their 7.5" wrists looks tiny, or that 36m, is feminine of looks like a girls watch.

Just have to shake my head at the ignorance.

As you so correctly point out, watches, and specifically men's watches, were usually around 32-24mm for decades, 36mm was a step up, and 38-40mm seemed to be where it ended up.

I'm 6'4", 7.5 wrists, and have no problem wearing 36mm and I'll admit, I wouldn't mind an SeaDweller 43, but that would pretty much be my limit in size, anything bigger you get into the "Dinner Plate" on your wrist, which is a trend that I hope is about to hit the pavement with a bullet in it's head.

But you look back to the classic films of the 40's - 70's, you generally wouldn't see, probably couldn't find, anything bigger than 40mm, and in the 40's-50's, mostly 34mm, Bogart, Cooper, all the stars, and now you've got some saying they're "ladies watches".

Great post BS :-)

To me the 40mm is just about the perfect size for an all round watch. It is easy to see when I SCUBA dive and small enough to disappear under the shirt cuff when I'm wearing a suit.
I wouldn't mind a classic (36mm) Day-Date either. My plan is to buy one when I retire.
But to each his (or her) own.

Seiko automatic mechanical watch. Love watches and have this and a Samsung Gear S3 that has a few analog old school looking watch faces installed. The Seiko is riding along with me this week because I missed the simplicity.

Originally Posted by Otto

To me the 40mm is just about the perfect size for an all round watch. It is easy to see when I SCUBA dive and small enough to disappear under the shirt cuff when I'm wearing a suit.
I wouldn't mind a classic (36mm) Day-Date either. My plan is to buy one when I retire.
But to each his (or her) own.

Hilarious - I was staring for days at the 36mm DD and the SD43, I couldn't make up my mind which one to get. I'd decide on the DD, then be wracked by doubts and switch back to the DD.

What settled it for me was I wanted a pristine 5 digit DD, near the end of the run, and I found the perfect one, a "safe queen", and finally I decided it would be easier to source the SD43 at a future time then the DD.

When I was looking for a watch to use for SCUBA diving and other things back in 1999; I asked several divers that were at the time working in the Norwegian North Sea.
The watches they all recommended were the Rolex Submariner and the Rolex SeaDweller.

I had been into watches for about 30 years at that time. Since I got my first one. So I knew the history and reputation of Rolex.

Since the local Rolex AD didn’t have any Submariners in the store at the time, but two SeaDwellers: I ended up walking out of the store with a new SeaDweller on my wrist.

I don't know what to think about the current design of the Air King. On the one hand, I like the colors and changing the dial from what looked more like a dress watch than a sport watch, but the numbering and the spacing between the 55 and the 12 is kind of off. Maybe it will flop and I will be able to pick up a used one a year or so from now at a good discount.

I like simplicity in design. Many have to much bling that distracts from the point which is to tell me the time!

Right, especially for a pilot's watch

Originally Posted by Portsecurity

I don't know what to think about the current design of the Air King. On the one hand, I like the colors and changing the dial from what looked more like a dress watch than a sport watch, but the numbering and the spacing between the 55 and the 12 is kind of off. Maybe it will flop and I will be able to pick up a used one a year or so from now at a good discount.

Har har what are you smoking?

There are no discounts on Rolex. No matter how poorly it sells it will always be at list price.

Not on new ones, but I was able to find a good deal on a vintage Air King and I kind of like the simplicity and 34 mm size better than the new ones anyway. So here's my new watch.