Watch height -- my X factor

[BlueHeron]

I have fallen in love with many a watch (happens at least once a day as I scroll through countless blogs and Flipboard watch pages) only to discover that the case height is unacceptably high (for me, this usually means greater than 13.0 mm).

For example, I really love the dial on the IWC Spitfire, but it's 15.5 mm high and looked pretty fat on my wrist.

Likewise, the Lange Dato Up/Down was my grail watch for awhile, until I tried it on and saw that it rides-high, at 13.1 mm (supposedly -- it felt like 15).

This for me has become the feature that is the "eliminator" of watches I dream about owning.

[BlueHeron]

Photo didn't make it, here it is

[Srhdad]

For that reason, and one other, I pretty much stopped owning chronographs. It's a useless complication (for me) and always adds thickness. I recently added a Breitling SOH in 46mm with a beautiful mesh bracelet. Fits perfectly under a dress shirt and wears smaller perhaps due to it being just barely 13mm thick. The chrono version is much thicker.

[BlueHeron]

Originally Posted by Srhdad

For that reason, and one other, I pretty much stopped owning chronographs. It's a useless complication (for me) and always adds thickness. I recently added a Breitling SOH in 46mm with a beautiful mesh bracelet. Fits perfectly under a dress shirt and wears smaller perhaps due to it being just barely 13mm thick. The chrono version is much thicker.

You are so right -- the Chrono complication is what seems to do it for sure. I want to add a chromo to my collection but haven't decided yet which one.

Also I agree with you on the 46mm point, which is that a large case (across) can look fine if the case height is reasonable. The IWC Portuguese comes to mind.

[GB-man]

For me it's weight. I don't like watches that feel heavy. Preference is 175g and below but some watches are extremely well balanced and get a pass.

[BlueHeron]

Originally Posted by GB-man

For me it's weight. I don't like watches that feel heavy. Preference is 175g and below but some watches are extremely well balanced and get a pass.

That's interesting, I hadn't considered it.

I once tried on a Patek Phillipe world time, which is very modest in dimensions, but felt like a brick in terms of weight. Some people love that though.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by BlueHeron

I once tried on a Patek Phillipe world time, which is very modest in dimensions, but felt like a brick in terms of weight. Some people love that though.

I would be one of them.

[mps354]

Height is a consideration for me, but I kind of like a bit more weight

[HL65]

Love big thick chunky watches with substantial wrist presence...To each his own I guess as I write this with 44 RG AP on the wrist.

[adamlea]

I like a little substance and presence on a watch.

[PJ S]

14mm, maybe 14.5mm, is my cut-off point.

[slcbbrown]

I always pay attention to the watch height.

[jjnd08]

Always good to know what you like in watches. It really helps narrow down options when trying to decide.

[AK797]

I used to like thicker watches, DSSD, Seawolf, etc but prefer 12mm and under now.

[benlee]

I also started to like slim watches and fallen out of favor with thick watches. Can't get over the "drum like" appearance on the wrist.

An obvious exception will be AP ROOs. They just look cooler being thick!

[BlueHeron]

Originally Posted by kilyung

I would be one of them.

Yes, I loved the feel of it -- if you are going to spend $85k, it ought to weigh on your wrist a bit...

[lapince]

Originally Posted by kilyung

I would be one of them.

We know you are Mike

I have 2 things which turn me off and that is the height and weight, about the height I don't have a limit in the sense that some high watches are well proportioned and look ok, for example Panerai models in 44mm look ok, but the same height on a 40mm model and it suddenly looks way too thick, about the weight also it depends on a few factors, mainly how is the weight distributed, if a watch is 150gr on strap it's very different than a 150gr watch on bracelet

[BlueHeron]

How about the flip side: the other day I tried on some Piaget slim models, and I didn't like them at all -- too insubstantial on the wrist!

I realize that this kind of thin is a technical marvel, but I don't like it on my wrist.