So what really is the PERFECT size?

[Max]

This question is kind of like asking "what is the perfect suit size?" It depends on the size of the person and their preference. A guy with a 6" wrist isn't going to want the same size as someone with 8.5" wrists. People are all different sizes, as are watches.

[nektar]

for me deep sea..43 for spotys molels not less than 40

[ayecarumba]

I think the monster watch trend was a bubble that has begun to deflate after reaching it's peak this past year...

Dunno what the right size is, but you heard it here on TRF first!


--Paul

[miked]

Let me ask my girlfriend............Umm she says she likes the size I have, so 40-42mm for me

[Art 1]

40.

[escudoturbo]

For a watch with sporting pretentions I personally feel less than 40mm lacks the looks and the practicality they deserve, for a 'dressier' watch I think a 36mm is the sweet spot.

[gregdolley]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Though if I was a giant, maybe the thought of wearing a 54mm wall clock on my wrist would somehow seem reasonable

http://www.sonbol.com/

OMG! That watch is way too big!

[Remember2]

Originally Posted by miked

Let me ask my girlfriend............Umm she says she likes the size I have, so 40-42mm for me

Just asked mine...same answer, same size (...40mm, on 6½" wrist)

[MAWhite]

This one is my daily driver work/watch and it would be nice if it were a little bigger;



This one is my latest toy and a lot of fun but obviously way too big to be practical;



But this one is just right...



Best,
Mike

[carlhaluss]

36mm

[chicagowatchman]

I think mine is the perfect size!

[snow_rocks]

The size that allows you to read the dial without a magnifying glass.

Any other reason might have compensation issues attached.

[Bisquitlips]

40mm to me is just right, but I would not be adverse to picking up a 38mm DJ.

I have a 38mm Omega Speedmaster that I love to wear.

[esm]

carl, sounds like you heart is calling out on a Exp I...... But your head is still thinking the black millie.....

[Geoff]

Until I bought my DJ II I would have agreed that 39 mm was a perfect size. Now, I really think that Rolex nailed the DJ redesign at 41 mm, so for me it's the 40-41 mm range.

[Denver Dick]

I believe a 36mm TT DJ is a lovely thing and darn near a perfect sized watch. I will admit that I was looking at a 38mm Omega Seamaster Aqua Tera Chronometer the other day and it looked pretty darn good, but that's about the limit.

So, here's the deal on the 40mm+ crowd. The question is: Do you see your 36mm watch as accenting your masculine arm, or do you see your 41mm+ as an attempt to distract attention from your hairless girlie arm. In the words of Nanny McPhee, "Sad really, but there it is." Sorry girlie guys.

[petespendthrift]

There's so many factors involved in this debate:

Fashion, wanting bling, wanting a big "action hero" watch and then peoples actual wrist/body size and the actual dial size of the watch (rather than case width).

There has been a fashion for big watches for a few years now and many people are more used to the look. For those who have been wearing Panerai a form of body dismorphia seems to develop in which other people see a massive watch but they see a normal sized watch - when they put on a normal sized watch or even a quite large one they see it as tiny.

I wonder if some people are in a kind of childhood fantasy with their big watch subconsciously reminding them of the first sports watches they saw when they were a boy (when a 38 or 40mm watch would have seemed massive). Also (for the under 40 year olds) growing up with actors like Arnie and Sly Stalone wearing action hero watches in films.

Ironically, when I see someone wearing a disproportionately big watch I always think it makes them look a bit weedy and if they have fairly hairless arms they do actually look like a little boy wearing daddies watch. For me it's also often quite a clichéd/cheesey/trying too hard look.

For Rolex the 40mm sports and 36mm dress models are just right. When considering the Explorer 1 I would imagine the actual dial diameter is about the same as the 40mm models as it has no bezel.

The reason Rolex have always remained so timeless is that they have previously stayed clear of short lived fashions and fads and concentrated on delivering classics that are sized and designed according to what's most wearable, tasteful and practical. They seem to have lost the steady guiding hand a bit of late - lets hope they do not damage the brand name too much over the next few years (making a quick profit now at the expense of long term gains).

[kzm40]

34 B.. I think is perfect..LOL.. Oh watch size.. erm.. I think 39 to 40 is about right, sub fits a dream, but i tried on a midsize YM and the sel part of the bracelet was way to long didn't fit at all well, tried on a sea dweller and that felt to high, and top heavy, looks great on a bigger wrist thou. GMT and Dattona both fit great to.