Is 36mm too small??

[K3ndr1c]

After wearing my 36mm date just for a week, I somehow always go back to my 16610? My first watch was 36mm but I’m leaning towards 40mm and 41mm. Now A days but I feel 5 digits are way more comfortable then 6 digits imo. Maybe I’m crazy

[klenboy]

I have big wrists (7 3/4") and sometimes really enjoy wearing 36mm watches. Sometimes I enjoy the transition from my Deepsea or Sky Dweller to go smaller and am glad I have them.

[SeaGuy]

I rotate between a 36mm Explorer and 40mm Sub and GMT.
The circumference of the dials on all three are the same.
I don't consider 36mm too small.

[Guybrush]

This isn't a universalize-able question: it depends on the specific dimensions of the watch and the specific size of your wrist.

What is the lug-to-lug length of the watch? As long as that number is a couple millimeters less than the width of your wrist, you should be just fine. The size of the dial doesn't really matter--aside from the correlated fact that watches with large dials tend to have long lug-to-lug lengths.

That said, 36mm is a pretty good size for most men, since 36mm watches tend to have lug-to-lug lengths that are around 48mm, and most men's wrists are slightly wider than that. But there's so much variability here. A lot of pictures I see on TRF and elsewhere, of people wearing watches 40mm and up, show poorly-fit pieces where the lugs overhang the wrist or come close to doing so. To my eyes, that's super weird-looking, like someone wearing a jacket 5 sizes too big. But, obviously, those people don't notice or don't care, and if that's what works for them, cool. My opinion doesn't matter.

Some people will say that 36mm isn't an appropriate size for men. The history of watchmaking (and the history of Rolex in particular) pretty handily dispenses with that argument---there's no need to engage with it.

So I guess what I'm saying is, there's a logical, empirical way for you to answer this question with respect to you yourself and the specific watch you're wondering about. You can also just decide 'to hell with the math; I like/dislike 36mm,' and no one else has a right to change your mind. But if you're asking whether 36mm is too small in some general sense... obviously not. It's like asking whether size 10 shoes are too small in some abstract sense.

[MikeyV]

No

[dlrolex]

If uou like it wear it

[mini sub]

Ask your partner if its big enough.

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by MikeyV

No

x2.

[VonSomething]

For a watch, no.

[Guybrush]

Originally Posted by VonSomething

For a watch, no.

For a life raft, surely. (And stop calling me Shirley.)

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Guybrush

This isn't a universalize-able question: it depends on the specific dimensions of the watch and the specific size of your wrist.

What is the lug-to-lug length of the watch? As long as that number is a couple millimeters less than the width of your wrist, you should be just fine. The size of the dial doesn't really matter--aside from the correlated fact that watches with large dials tend to have long lug-to-lug lengths.

That said, 36mm is a pretty good size for most men, since 36mm watches tend to have lug-to-lug lengths that are around 48mm, and most men's wrists are slightly wider than that. But there's so much variability here. A lot of pictures I see on TRF and elsewhere, of people wearing watches 40mm and up, show poorly-fit pieces where the lugs overhang the wrist or come close to doing so. To my eyes, that's super weird-looking, like someone wearing a jacket 5 sizes too big. But, obviously, those people don't notice or don't care, and if that's what works for them, cool. My opinion doesn't matter.

Some people will say that 36mm isn't an appropriate size for men. The history of watchmaking (and the history of Rolex in particular) pretty handily dispenses with that argument---there's no need to engage with it.

So I guess what I'm saying is, there's a logical, empirical way for you to answer this question with respect to you yourself and the specific watch you're wondering about. You can also just decide 'to hell with the math; I like/dislike 36mm,' and no one else has a right to change your mind. But if you're asking whether 36mm is too small in some general sense... obviously not. It's like asking whether size 10 shoes are too small in some abstract sense.

This!

Originally Posted by K3ndr1c

After wearing my 36mm date just for a week, I somehow always go back to my 16610? My first watch was 36mm but I’m leaning towards 40mm and 41mm. Now A days but I feel 5 digits are way more comfortable then 6 digits imo. Maybe I’m crazy

OP: I have a 16610:



as well as various 36mm watches (including a Datejust Turnograph) and they are definitely not too small












Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[ronricks]

People overthink this. I have a 7.15 inch wrist and have been wearing 36mm Day Dates almost exclusively the last 3 months. Doesn’t look small at all.

[MHB]

For me, yes it is

[DJ2020]

Depends on wrist size I think. But more often than not as the DJ has a lot of presents, it's perfect. I see much more watches that are to big to OMG than to small. Dress watch should be
a bit smaller to look right on the wearer as opposed to a dive watch.

When dress at all, less is always more.

[nachopc]

I’m wearing 36mm since the new OP were launched, I was lucky enough to get some of them. Once you wear 40mm Rolex it may look small on the wrist but after a few days clearly the watch is not small anymore.

Daytona and new OP’s plus 5 digit the most comfortable watches in my opinion.


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[Pop Art Suzy]

OP, do you by chance have a picture of a 36mm on your wrist that you could post? I think that would be easier than judging without actually seeing it on you.

[S7gpt]

36mm is too small but that’s just my opinion

[goldboy]

Depends on wrist size? How can there be a final answer to this without knowing wrist size makes no sense.

[s46]

I have a 7.5 inch wrist
I have many watches 40mm and up
I have one 36mm
I can tell you the 36mm is by far the most comfortable and understated (I have a day date)
36 used to be the standard
big watches are more common now
however for dressy elegance I think 36 is outstanding

[amh]

36mm is the new ladies size. Fact. Looks great on my wife, tiny on me.

[Tim Plains]

We're all different. 6.75" wrist here. I wouldn't wear anything smaller than a BB58.

[johnorpheus]

All dependent on wrist size, I think. All my watches 40-42, but if I had a wrist size under 7, 36 might work well.

[Watchsprings]

Personal choice. I love my 36mm watches. Best part they are a little easier to acquire at my AD.

[Baiv]

Not at all

[ronricks]

If this guy can wear a 36mm Rolex just about anyone on here can.

[gyang333]

Highly relative to wrist size. I'm ~6.5"/16.5cm (fairly flat wrist) and IMO 36mm is on the cusp of being too small. IMO 38-39mm is the sweet spot for my wrist.

36mm DD


37mm 15450ST


39mm Explorer I

[Nova1]

A 36 YG day date is THE Rolex of all Rolexes so no. It’s actually perfect.

[Ny325]

Not small at all. My 7 1/2 inch wrist, loves it. It gets more wrist time, than my SS Submariner Date.

[JayG]

personal taste. 36 too small. for me 39-40 is the sweet spot. that said , i'll make an exception for the 42 skydweller .

[K3ndr1c]

My wrist is probably 6.5 inches small wrist