You forgot to mention case shape. For instance, when Seiko undercuts the case shape on the underside from its widest point, it tends to make it melt into the wrist as opposed to sitting like a slab on the wrist. The SARB033 or your Casio Edifice is a perfect example of this. Even a watch like the Seiko Samurai tapers downward from its widest point and makes it fit my 6-1/2” wrist like a dream. I don’t think there are any watchmakers who are more masterful at this technique than Seiko. It kinda defies logic, but it works. I would also add where on the wrist you wear your watch will also have a huge impact, that is, above the bone or below the bone.
In the case of the Omega Ploprof the are almost no lugs, the bracelet goes under the case. The watch is pretty big but still wearable (48 mm lug to lug). Something similar happends with the cushion case design.
I always put my hand on my chest and look how it fits through a mirror. That is more accurate than just looking down at your wrist. Often times when we just look down at our wrist to check the size or how it fits, it is often not the most accurate because that is not how others will see the watch on our wrist.
this video is sooo underated. this is what everyone needs but none knew about. you must have spent tons of time and effort into observing and analyzing these combos. true sage 🧠
True. Alex the Slender is always on point. No thrash talk, no boredom, no pretensious self promotion just one of us (with knowlege, good observations and will to share) but vlogging :)
My personal method to determine the perfect size of watch is 1) measuring the diameter of dorsal side of wrist ( mine is 50mm) 2) so, lug to lug distance of the watch should be 4-6 mm less than the wrist measurement ( lug to lug for me should be 44mm-46mm) What do you think about that Alessandro?
Same here. The watch shouldnt look like a wall clock strapped on the wrist. It should be proportionate and elegant. The only exception for me are GShocks because they look like a rugged instrument. But then again, i only buy the squares, because the other ones are just enormous. Also there's the weight problem, bigger watch on small wrist is just too heavy. Nowadays my biggest mechanical watch is the 39mm Airman 18, and the smallest a Rolex AirKing 34mm.
I can only agree. Every watch below 45mm looks childish. Some manufacturers cheat informing only about a width with a crown. In reality they are smaller even around 2mm. Diameter is the best measure the watch.😃
I have just under 7inch wrist.. but I have 13in forearms and over 16 in arms.. so it's weird bc I wear 39mm divers, and 44mm divers. As long as the lug to lug doesn't overhang you're good. If you have a small wrist and slender arm, you may stick with a smaller face as it WILL draw more attention to your watch (face looks bigger in contrast to your arm). Also lighter colored dials will make the watch look bigger as well!
Awesome video! I think you missed two more factors right under your nose: - Crown: Small recessed crowns make the watch look smaller (see Seiko 5). - Style (most ignored): A 40mm diver is small whereas a 40 mm field watch, dress watch or vintage style watch is HUGE (which is why I never wear my Timex Scout).
I got into watches two-three years ago. Well, first I thought every watch was too big for me, so I opted for smaller sized watches (Seiko SNKL23 with 37mm diameter). However, as I learned more about wristwatches, I became more confident and started wearing 40mm-42mm watches. I just started to believe that I didn't really care what others think, as long as I enjoy the watch I'm wearing. My wristsize is 6 3/4 inches. So I think the mindset is a big factor here. :)
Here's what I am noticing. I like mostly tool watches! That means I mostly have to deal with larger case sizes. I'm willing to do that as long as the watch feels comfortable on my wrist. Though I do keep your above checklist in mind as well.
Great video, Easily the best and most thorough regarding this subject. You really touch on a lot of aspects of watch size and apperence that other reviewers don't always discuss. Very well done. In general Seiko does a great job of making very large watches look and wear small and older Rolex watches seemed to wear larger than their sizes would indicate.
I am an AAVVIIIDD UA-cam Watch Channel fan-you, and with this video, your channel is the best in education and in lack of bias, hands down-thank you. This video completely remedies what surely everyone agrees is by far the single issue one needs to wrap their mind around the most when thinking of a watch that is the right watch for him, i.e. for his or her eye, tastes and finally for his wrist. Very, very well done! Thank you sssoooooo much.
Square vs round dials is something to consider. Square will always look bigger given the same size. Your point about lug to lug is critically important with a bracelet vs. a strap. A case that is slightly too long can sometimes be mitigated with a strap whereas with a bracelet it will be obvious.
Totally agree with you about sizing. I recently purchased a stainless steel mesh bracelet for my Seiko military style solar watch which I think is 39mm. The strap I ordered is 20mm with no tapering with a thickness of 3.7mm with solid links and is polished and brushed steel to match the watch. The watch actually looks far better and wears better on the wrist than the original canvas military strap that came with the watch when I purchased it. Having the bracelet has also increased the weight of the watch which being solid linked is quite heavy on the wrist. It certainly is a better looking watch now than before.
Great video, I always thought I couldn't go bigger than 40mm on my 6.5 inch wrist but you show how it's all relative! I do have a Mako 2 (42) which wears much smaller than my snzf17 (40)!
I have a small wrist size but i have big biceps or upoer arms which make me look big overall... because of this i tend to wear bigger sized watches because it wil match my overall look/size :) but i always keep in mind the lug to lug distance... This is a very good and informative video... make more good contents! Thanks to you! 🤗
This was really informative, thank you! I got my first watch some 3 months ago that I'm happy with. I also have 6 inch wrists, and this is the reason I didn't buy a watch until now, as I assumed I'd had to stick to the kid's section... but I got a men's watch that is 40mm. It was the smallest size that brand had. I went for a dark and sleek style with a leather strap. So I think it works quite well, because of its style, and I really love it!
I have small wrists, and I have watches of all sizes, as long as the lug-to-lug width doesn't extend beyond my wrist when viewed from the front. Another consideration is comfort. Some can be huge but they should be comfortable on the wrist.
One thing I don't see mentioned is that most importantly we should focus on DIAL SIZE. Note that the dial on the explorer 1 36mm is the same as the sub. Therefore case size is no longer relevant as the display is the same size so you dont get any benefit of extra legibility with a larger watch. Think of it like a TV/phone screen. For the same screen size, iIt is desirable to have thin bezels unless the bezels have a purpose.
Thank you for this information. My Hamilton khaki field automatic at 38 mm looks the same size as my new seiko at 42 mm . I did not think I could wear the new Seiko 5 . I am very surprised .
About light Vs dark dial colours the jury is still out in my book. With my 6"/15 cm wrist dial colours get rather insignificant, because watch cases become chunky very quickly. I need to find a balance between a nice size watch and a good fit. Most important for that are: 1) lug to lug: no overhanging lugs 2) shape of the lugs: they best be short and need to droop downwards on bigger watches. The bulkier they get, the more ungainly they look. 3) placing of the spring bar holes: you can have lugs with a nice curve to it, but the spring bar placed very high on the lugs, making the lugs appear much more straight and beefy then what they are. 4) the overall shape of the watch in comparison to the thickness: a sleeker shaped thicker watch case is better than a thinner saucer shaped one with a lot of flat surface. Best example of a beefy watch that does it all for me is the Addiesdive my-h9. As a diver with a 40mm diameter it is on the big side, but because it is a diver that is okay. The lug to lug is 46mm, but the lugs have a nice downwards curve to them. Same goes for the domed crystal and bezel that hide the fact it has a thickness of 13mm. The shape of the case itself also is very sleek with a lot going on. Although it is bigger than the Seiko SKX013 in every aspect, it sits on wrist way more natural and less chunky.
Swapping watches will confuse you for a couple of days if you’re going from eg 39 to 43. I’m currently trialing my right wrist, felt weird at first (1cm thicker circumference)
Yes, lug width is very important. I checked out a Seiko Turtle this weekend thinking it would be way to big for my 6 1/2” wrist being it has a 45mm case size. However it fit a lot better than I thought because it has a 48mm lug to lug. Even though it was wide along wrist and arm, it was short in height. 👍🏼
Great video, wish I'd watched it before buying my skx 13 which feels too small for my 61/4 wrist. Conversely I recently purchased the Casio edifice you recently reviewed with the black dial which looks perfect even though its a small watch! Great reviews by the way much appreciated.
Thanks for some great advice on watch sizing, for any wrist size, small or large 👍. My two main rules are; I never buy a watch whose lug to lug distance, (or the total distance if it has extended mid-links on a bracelet), that is longer than my wrist is wide. (I have a “flat oval” shaped wrist.) And I prefer a case shape which slopes down toward the wrist at the lugs to the level of the case back, if not lower. (Case in point, my Seiko SARB sits better on my wrist than my Steinhart 39mm do to the shape of the lugs.😉)
I have a 19cm (7.5") wrist cold and it swells up quite a bit so getting the bracelet sized is a pain, quick adjusts are a huge plus. I'll wear any watch size from 38mm to the moon, all depending on every factor mentioned plus. My smallest watch a Zelos and largest an Invicta (54mm) are my favorites pieces but they are made for completely different occasions. I usually err on the smaller end of the spectrum (41.5mm) but the most important factor is how it physically sits nd feels on my wrist. The GS 9S GMT 20th is my favorite watch of all time, nd at 39.5mm is the perfect size. But when I finally put it on, it did not feel right, a bit too disproportionate for my taste with its large case thickness and small dramatic lugs. To me specs aren't everything just a blueprint.
Good video. As you say it's rare that manufacturers give information about the l2l distance. I don't really understand why this is most often excluded. Apart from that the size of the dial is not presented either. It's at least as important to know as the case and bezel size. And in some cases the bezel and case size is the same and in other cases the bezel is smaller than the case. So there are often some important information the manufacturers exclude. By the way: the weight is not always presented either.
Disappointed with the Citizen promaster got a 7.3 inch wrist and it wears really small, couldn't believe it actually has a 44mm case even pulled out the caliper to check, it wears like a 40/41mm to me maybe because of the smaller lug size and strap? don't want an oversized watch but this just doesn't feels like a perfect fit, guess that's the downside of buying online without trying, thx for the video 👍
I just made the same mistake by buying an Orient Mako III Kamasu with a 42 mm case size. It looks like a toy watch on my wrist (7,5 inch). According to your comment the 44 mm Mako II Kano won't fit either.
Im a guy with 5.9" wrist size. My smallest one Watch i got is Seiko SRP843 ladies watch with 34mm, and it looks great on my wrist :D My only watch size guide are as long as its got lug to lug tower than 47.5mm(my left hand wrist widest point) i bought it without too much consideration with other aspect. Now i saw GShock GA2100 with 48.5mm lug to lug. Really need to try it on my local AD 1st before buying it...
I have both types on my 6.3inch wrist from chunky 43mm and thick Seiko solar chronograph diver, nighthawk, ciga design z to Seiko 5 37mm, citizen stiletto, Seamaster 36mm and Armida A11 (a sub homage) at 35mm. Just need to make sure that the overall design sits well on top of wrist with no lugs hanging out
Hi Alessandro, I'm a student at a technical university, where also industrial design is taught, and I must say design has a lot of rules indeed, therefore your idea for a video like this was excellent 👌🏻 I was quite surprised by your observations about lug width because your last video on the Kamasu persuaded me larger bracelets make the cases look smaller when seen from afar 😅
You make many interesting points. It's all really about proportions. Case, lugs, strap, dial, bezel, markers, hands, etc. Maybe too many things to lay out in a video. It all comes together to give a watch "size." And you really just dont know till you've worn the watch yourself.
One factor I look at is case weight and balance. I bought a Seiko skx009 Pepsi and it felt top heavy and dropped down on the top of my hand so, regretfully, I returned it. I miss it but felt that it wouldn’t get much wrist time. Of my large collection, the watch that is my most “go-to” is my g-shock 5610. (Merci beacoup Allesandro!😉)
Lug to lug measurement is important to me. I have a 7.5 inch wrist and once the lug to lug is 50mm and over it's just too big. And if it's under 40mm it looks too small on me.
I usually look at lug to lug mostly, and overall diameter. It's interesting how the dial colour does affect the look (makes me rethink possibly seeking out the lumed dial zelos swordfish v2) If the bracelets midlink (at the end link) protrudes it also effectively increased the lug to lug unless the lugs are very curved.
I've actually found the opposite to be true regarding nato straps in some instances. I took my Seiko Turtle, (44.5mmx47mm) off the supplied rubber strap, and put it on a nato. It decreased the size look for me. I also have a small wrist, and it looked borderline silly on the rubber. Much better on the nato.
Same. If the lugs are hanging off my wrist or if the strap is coming over the top of my wrist then the watch isn’t the right size for me. Case diameter is the second most important, because I don’t want a tiny watch with massive lugs hanging off of them looking like bat ears
Wow thanks very much! I'm very new to the game so this vid was most instructive on what to look for and be referring to it often when going to buy. My trigger is what catches my eye first, style color etc. But now I have more info to work with to make better choices. I have about a 6.5 in wrist but your vid has opened up more options. Thanks again!
Very good video that covers all main aspects of this topic. It was exactly the dial/bezel color combination that I chose to "reduce the size" optically, when I bough Citizen Satellite Wave watch. That is, visual increase or decrease of up to 2mm can be achieved. However, many times not possible. E.g. if I like particular (big) watch with white dial, I won't buy black version just to fit my wrist. On the other side, there's limit how far in size we can fool ourself: if a shoe is too big, then black leather won't help :-)
I wish I knew about lug to lug and all the things you spoke about being so important when I first started collecting watch watches. It would of saved me from buying watches that were too big for my wrist. Good info Allesandro!
I have a tiny 5 inch wrist, if I measure my wrist across with a ruler I get 40mm, so generally anything over that lug to lug will probably look too big, especially since I don't particularly like the oversize look for watches. So if I'm looking for an automatic or mechanical watch I generally eliminate everything above 34mm case, so there's not a huge selection left, especially once I take into account price and style, at least it makes choosing a lot easier... Then if I can I check other parameters and overall how it feels, but when the pool of watches you're interested in and can wear is so restricted, it's difficult to find a store where you can try them, and over the internet it can be difficult to know... By the way if you ever run out of topics for your videos I challenge you to make a nice selection of watches that are under 34 cm !
@@BonDijon I have a tiny oval shaped quartz Timex that was gifted to me when I was younger, I like it but even if I have really thin wrists I still have relatively big hands and long fingers so I feel like it kind of get a bit visually lost in the length of my arm. Also a 31mm One-hand mechanical watch from Luch a brand from Belarus, like a lot of watches made in eastern Europe, it doesn't have the most precise movement ever so I like that they went for a design that is not supposed to be read very precisely from the start, also it's more affordable than a MeisterSinger... It's a fun watch to wear. My first automatic : an Orient Disk (29 mm) it has a disk with a slot instead of an hour hand, I like to see the color change in the slot as hours passes, for me it's a nice everyday watch with an interesting design. Until quite recently I didn't have enough income to reasonably purchase higher priced watches, now I can so my next watch will probably be either the Tissot Luxury powermatic 80 with the cream and brown dial or the Certina DS-1 with the black dial but the Mido Baroncelli jasper dial also caught my eyes, so I'll have to decide between the three, especially since the Tissot and the Mido are 33cm, I want to check how they wear before purchasing if I can.
@@thaaahaaa Certina seems like the most bang for buck. You get the 100WR plus their ds lock system for extra safety. The other two are fine choices as well. Also, it's been a while since I heard of someone owning the Luch watch. Nice! The only other mechanical watches I can suggest is the Certina DS-8 Lady Powermatic 80 (30mm), Hamilton Jazzmaster (34mm), Junghans Max Bill Handwinding (34mm), Nomos Duo Collection (33mm - if pre-owned or 2ndary market it can go for under 1k, just gotta be patient). The latter two are dress watches and a lot more dial which may help with proportions for you. Lastly I know you have 40mm wrist width, but your dominant hand might have a thicker wrist. If it's even 2-3mm bigger width wise and you don't mind wearing a sports watch on your dominant hand, i suggest looking at the Seiko Mini Turtle for a dive watch. This one you have to try in person, bc in pictures it looks really big, but lug to lug is only 42mm, and irl it actually isn't that bad even if you got skinny wrists (for reference, my max lug to lug is 44-45mm ish before it overhangs). Plus, I'm a girl with tiny hands, but you have larger hands so it'll look more in proportion
@@BonDijon Thanks for the suggestions, the DS-8 and the Hamilton are also very nice, Nomos and Junghans has also been on my radar. I also want to get a sports watch at some point (not anytime soon, also have to finance the fountain pen hobby...) but yeah there are not a lot of smaller sizes around (as for chronographs), if I have the occasion to I will try the Seiko mini turtle. What watches do you wear ?
@@thaaahaaa the ones I use are: 1. Cartier tank francaise two tone (passed down to me) 2. Patek philippe calatrava 3520dg (also passed down) 3. Timex Marlin 1960 Reissue 4. Seiko Mini Turtle Black Dial in a Bracelet* *Might switch this out with Tudor bb32 in the future once I save enough money to buy it personally. A lot of people always rec me to just save up for a Rolex but man, servicing the ETA 2824 will be so much less costly. Servicing the handed down Patek already burned a hole in my pocket as it is.
The NATO strap with the gold edges and silver centre has a thinning effect. Your eye thinks the strap is the silver centre width. It’s an optical illusion. Great video, thx.
T.S.W., I really, really appreciate your videos. They are full of wisdom knowlege, and common sense examples. With this video in particular, I'll say without doubt that it is the All Time most important video for new watch enthusiasts, and LOL-yes, even for many, many long time Lost Down The Rabbit Hole watch fanatics this video for at least the majority of people, is a priceless compass to the dizzying twists, and turns of the Rabbit Hole World that is the the world of watches...to say that there is more to the eye than there appears to be when even a watch fan is looking at watches, without question is vastly understated. Thank you for all the help you give to us all around the globe with this, and all your excellent done and wonderful videos!:]
I have a 7.5 inch wrist am still not sure if this Seiko Presage Japanese Garden Watch SSA411J1 would be the right fit i want something that appears big can you comment on this.
Cool video but also the watch without looking at it is an important factor. Not how it appears but how it feels. Many of these are good points but blindly wearing one that looks bigger will always still feel smaller if it is by it's dimensions really smaller.
I am regretting my purchase of skx013 I got two weeks ago . I should have gone for the 007 . My timex expedition scout 40 has a lug to lug of distance of almost 50mm which still sits barely but just right on my scrawny 6 inch wrist without overhangs.
It depends on the profile of your wrist not so much the size. A fat person can have a large wrist but the profile is round and a large watch doesn't sit right. You have a smaller wrist with a flat profile on the top of your wrist and a large watch sits just fine.
Can you confirm if the ceramic bezel insert for the Steinhardt GMT 39 black ceramic has been improved with engraved numerals? It looks much less washed out than the old steinhart GMT 39 black ceramic bezel, very beautiful.
I noticed that when my watch strap is slightly looser, my watch feels slightly larger, because not only do I feel the heft of the case moving about, but the strap flares out beyond my wrist more, which makes my wrist appear skinnier. When I pull my strap tighter, the watch feels more “glued” to my wrist, and I feel that watches heft less, and the strap is more tailored to my wrist, making my wrist appear larger. Question, have you looked at the Omega Globemaster? It’s 39mm, and I especially like the white dial. What do you think about that model for a 6 inch wrist?
In order of importance, I say it's... 1. Lug to lug length 2. Diameter of the dial 3. Case sickness 4. Llug width... preferably one that has an even number, when it comes to mm size, just for the convenience of strap options.
You forgot to mention case shape. For instance, when Seiko undercuts the case shape on the underside from its widest point, it tends to make it melt into the wrist as opposed to sitting like a slab on the wrist. The SARB033 or your Casio Edifice is a perfect example of this. Even a watch like the Seiko Samurai tapers downward from its widest point and makes it fit my 6-1/2” wrist like a dream. I don’t think there are any watchmakers who are more masterful at this technique than Seiko. It kinda defies logic, but it works. I would also add where on the wrist you wear your watch will also have a huge impact, that is, above the bone or below the bone.
This is very true! Thanks for pointing it out!
Steven Wymor Great comment and observations, I share the same experience. Your comment should be pinned.
In the case of the Omega Ploprof the are almost no lugs, the bracelet goes under the case. The watch is pretty big but still wearable (48 mm lug to lug). Something similar happends with the cushion case design.
JAPD yeah, I have a Seiko SRPC11 without lugs. It’s 44mm in diameter but wears perfectly.
Steven thanks! I like Seiko's so I'll be looking for those subtle things not only on Seiko's but others too.
The struggle is real. Only small wrist gents (myself included) will understand this video. Great job!
Struggling to find a smartwatch for me (as an Android user) :(
@@Marco.massa91 yup. i want garmin fenix 6x pro solar (51mm) on my wrist. but the only suite me is 38 and 42mm watch.
I understand u bro 🙂🙂
Big wrists is also a struggle. Its hard to find watch bracelets that fit with 8+ inch wrists :( and most watches look comically small on my wrist.
I want the heuer formula one so bad but am too skinny for that dial size lol.
I always put my hand on my chest and look how it fits through a mirror. That is more accurate than just looking down at your wrist. Often times when we just look down at our wrist to check the size or how it fits, it is often not the most accurate because that is not how others will see the watch on our wrist.
Me too. The problem has a name: "perspective projection". Looking at one's wrist is just too close.
Same here. I’ve changed my mind about many watches after looking at me wearing it through a mirror or on a picture.
Good idea. Thank you!
I also checked while looking in mirror it look good but as soon as checked without it feels bulky
this video is sooo underated. this is what everyone needs but none knew about. you must have spent tons of time and effort into observing and analyzing these combos. true sage 🧠
Good summary, probably the best I've ever watched.
I agree, really interesting video. For quite a long time I missed some of the factors and make some mistakes in watch purchases.
True. Alex the Slender is always on point. No thrash talk, no boredom, no pretensious self promotion just one of us (with knowlege, good observations and will to share) but vlogging :)
2:26 I saw that adult movie once and I would say it was the other way around (;
HAHAHAHA :D
I thought about it, but you had the cojones to say it 😂😂😂😂
A video that explains why “size” really matters 😜nicely done Alessandro 😊
Great video, someone finally talks about all of the dimensions when looking for a watch... we'll done!
My personal method to determine the perfect size of watch is
1) measuring the diameter of dorsal side of wrist ( mine is 50mm)
2) so, lug to lug distance of the watch should be 4-6 mm less than the wrist measurement ( lug to lug for me should be 44mm-46mm)
What do you think about that Alessandro?
Same here. The watch shouldnt look like a wall clock strapped on the wrist. It should be proportionate and elegant. The only exception for me are GShocks because they look like a rugged instrument. But then again, i only buy the squares, because the other ones are just enormous.
Also there's the weight problem, bigger watch on small wrist is just too heavy. Nowadays my biggest mechanical watch is the 39mm Airman 18, and the smallest a Rolex AirKing 34mm.
@@DerpEye that tuna can look.
I can only agree. Every watch below 45mm looks childish. Some manufacturers cheat informing only about a width with a crown. In reality they are smaller even around 2mm. Diameter is the best measure the watch.😃
@@krzysztofhadala9126 What a silly comment. You must love those ridiculously huge Invicta watches that look like chucky cheese prizes.
I have just under 7inch wrist.. but I have 13in forearms and over 16 in arms.. so it's weird bc I wear 39mm divers, and 44mm divers. As long as the lug to lug doesn't overhang you're good. If you have a small wrist and slender arm, you may stick with a smaller face as it WILL draw more attention to your watch (face looks bigger in contrast to your arm). Also lighter colored dials will make the watch look bigger as well!
Awesome video! I think you missed two more factors right under your nose:
- Crown: Small recessed crowns make the watch look smaller (see Seiko 5).
- Style (most ignored): A 40mm diver is small whereas a 40 mm field watch, dress watch or vintage style watch is HUGE (which is why I never wear my Timex Scout).
I got into watches two-three years ago. Well, first I thought every watch was too big for me, so I opted for smaller sized watches (Seiko SNKL23 with 37mm diameter). However, as I learned more about wristwatches, I became more confident and started wearing 40mm-42mm watches. I just started to believe that I didn't really care what others think, as long as I enjoy the watch I'm wearing. My wristsize is 6 3/4 inches. So I think the mindset is a big factor here. :)
i'm same size as you.
and i'm still looking for my first serious watch.
what do you recommend?
i have 350 dollars max
@@mayank1252 orient mako 2
I'll consider all the things you said here when I shop for my next watch. Thank you so much.
Here's what I am noticing. I like mostly tool watches! That means I mostly have to deal with larger case sizes. I'm willing to do that as long as the watch feels comfortable on my wrist. Though I do keep your above checklist in mind as well.
Unbelievably thorough analysis! Well done.
Great video, Easily the best and most thorough regarding this subject. You really touch on a lot of aspects of watch size and apperence that other reviewers don't always discuss. Very well done. In general Seiko does a great job of making very large watches look and wear small and older Rolex watches seemed to wear larger than their sizes would indicate.
I am an AAVVIIIDD UA-cam Watch Channel fan-you, and with this video, your channel is the best in education and in lack of bias, hands down-thank you. This video completely remedies what surely everyone agrees is by far the single issue one needs to wrap their mind around the most when thinking of a watch that is the right watch for him, i.e. for his or her eye, tastes and finally for his wrist. Very, very well done! Thank you sssoooooo much.
Good video, much interesting and useful information, especially for people like me with small wrists, I have learnt a lot from this video, thank you.
Square vs round dials is something to consider. Square will always look bigger given the same size. Your point about lug to lug is critically important with a bracelet vs. a strap. A case that is slightly too long can sometimes be mitigated with a strap whereas with a bracelet it will be obvious.
This is probably the best video regarding this topic !! great work sir!
Totally agree with you about sizing. I recently purchased a stainless steel mesh bracelet for my Seiko military style solar watch which I think is 39mm. The strap I ordered is 20mm with no tapering with a thickness of 3.7mm with solid links and is polished and brushed steel to match the watch. The watch actually looks far better and wears better on the wrist than the original canvas military strap that came with the watch when I purchased it. Having the bracelet has also increased the weight of the watch which being solid linked is quite heavy on the wrist. It certainly is a better looking watch now than before.
Great video, I always thought I couldn't go bigger than 40mm on my 6.5 inch wrist but you show how it's all relative! I do have a Mako 2 (42) which wears much smaller than my snzf17 (40)!
Thank you for the info! I'm wondering if i should buy a ray 2 but i'm scared It would be ti big but this comment helped me (I have a 6.5in wrist too)
I have a small wrist size but i have big biceps or upoer arms which make me look big overall... because of this i tend to wear bigger sized watches because it wil match my overall look/size :) but i always keep in mind the lug to lug distance...
This is a very good and informative video... make more good contents! Thanks to you! 🤗
what watch is on 10:45 ? its so clean
This was really informative, thank you! I got my first watch some 3 months ago that I'm happy with. I also have 6 inch wrists, and this is the reason I didn't buy a watch until now, as I assumed I'd had to stick to the kid's section... but I got a men's watch that is 40mm. It was the smallest size that brand had. I went for a dark and sleek style with a leather strap. So I think it works quite well, because of its style, and I really love it!
I have small wrists, and I have watches of all sizes, as long as the lug-to-lug width doesn't extend beyond my wrist when viewed from the front. Another consideration is comfort. Some can be huge but they should be comfortable on the wrist.
spot on
Excellent video with great points made! I only considered case size and lug to lug dimension. Now I know better.
One thing I don't see mentioned is that most importantly we should focus on DIAL SIZE. Note that the dial on the explorer 1 36mm is the same as the sub. Therefore case size is no longer relevant as the display is the same size so you dont get any benefit of extra legibility with a larger watch. Think of it like a TV/phone screen. For the same screen size, iIt is desirable to have thin bezels unless the bezels have a purpose.
Thank you for this information. My Hamilton khaki field automatic at 38 mm looks the same size as my new seiko at 42 mm . I did not think I could wear the new Seiko 5 . I am very surprised .
About light Vs dark dial colours the jury is still out in my book. With my 6"/15 cm wrist dial colours get rather insignificant, because watch cases become chunky very quickly. I need to find a balance between a nice size watch and a good fit.
Most important for that are:
1) lug to lug: no overhanging lugs
2) shape of the lugs: they best be short and need to droop downwards on bigger watches. The bulkier they get, the more ungainly they look.
3) placing of the spring bar holes: you can have lugs with a nice curve to it, but the spring bar placed very high on the lugs, making the lugs appear much more straight and beefy then what they are.
4) the overall shape of the watch in comparison to the thickness: a sleeker shaped thicker watch case is better than a thinner saucer shaped one with a lot of flat surface.
Best example of a beefy watch that does it all for me is the Addiesdive my-h9. As a diver with a 40mm diameter it is on the big side, but because it is a diver that is okay. The lug to lug is 46mm, but the lugs have a nice downwards curve to them. Same goes for the domed crystal and bezel that hide the fact it has a thickness of 13mm. The shape of the case itself also is very sleek with a lot going on. Although it is bigger than the Seiko SKX013 in every aspect, it sits on wrist way more natural and less chunky.
Swapping watches will confuse you for a couple of days if you’re going from eg 39 to 43.
I’m currently trialing my right wrist, felt weird at first (1cm thicker circumference)
Yes, lug width is very important. I checked out a Seiko Turtle this weekend thinking it would be way to big for my 6 1/2” wrist being it has a 45mm case size. However it fit a lot better than I thought because it has a 48mm lug to lug. Even though it was wide along wrist and arm, it was short in height. 👍🏼
Great video, wish I'd watched it before buying my skx 13 which feels too small for my 61/4 wrist. Conversely I recently purchased the Casio edifice you recently reviewed with the black dial which looks perfect even though its a small watch! Great reviews by the way much appreciated.
Thanks for some great advice on watch sizing, for any wrist size, small or large 👍.
My two main rules are; I never buy a watch whose lug to lug distance, (or the total distance if it has extended mid-links on a bracelet), that is longer than my wrist is wide. (I have a “flat oval” shaped wrist.) And I prefer a case shape which slopes down toward the wrist at the lugs to the level of the case back, if not lower. (Case in point, my Seiko SARB sits better on my wrist than my Steinhart 39mm do to the shape of the lugs.😉)
Still in love with your channel , the honeymoon never ends ….. way to go , brother .
I have a 19cm (7.5") wrist cold and it swells up quite a bit so getting the bracelet sized is a pain, quick adjusts are a huge plus. I'll wear any watch size from 38mm to the moon, all depending on every factor mentioned plus. My smallest watch a Zelos and largest an Invicta (54mm) are my favorites pieces but they are made for completely different occasions. I usually err on the smaller end of the spectrum (41.5mm) but the most important factor is how it physically sits nd feels on my wrist. The GS 9S GMT 20th is my favorite watch of all time, nd at 39.5mm is the perfect size. But when I finally put it on, it did not feel right, a bit too disproportionate for my taste with its large case thickness and small dramatic lugs. To me specs aren't everything just a blueprint.
Good video. As you say it's rare that manufacturers give information about the l2l distance. I don't really understand why this is most often excluded.
Apart from that the size of the dial is not presented either. It's at least as important to know as the case and bezel size. And in some cases the bezel and case size is the same and in other cases the bezel is smaller than the case. So there are often some important information the manufacturers exclude. By the way: the weight is not always presented either.
This is great info., especially since I don't get to try my watches on before I buy them.
Disappointed with the Citizen promaster got a 7.3 inch wrist and it wears really small, couldn't believe it actually has a 44mm case even pulled out the caliper to check, it wears like a 40/41mm to me maybe because of the smaller lug size and strap? don't want an oversized watch but this just doesn't feels like a perfect fit, guess that's the downside of buying online without trying, thx for the video 👍
I just made the same mistake by buying an Orient Mako III Kamasu with a 42 mm case size. It looks like a toy watch on my wrist (7,5 inch). According to your comment the 44 mm Mako II Kano won't fit either.
Very informative top notch videos, shares the less obvious and some unknown in detail.
Im a guy with 5.9" wrist size.
My smallest one Watch i got is Seiko SRP843 ladies watch with 34mm, and it looks great on my wrist :D
My only watch size guide are as long as its got lug to lug tower than 47.5mm(my left hand wrist widest point) i bought it without too much consideration with other aspect.
Now i saw GShock GA2100 with 48.5mm lug to lug. Really need to try it on my local AD 1st before buying it...
I feel the same with you on wearing ladies watches. As long as it fits nicely, ladies or men does not matter.
I have both types on my 6.3inch wrist from chunky 43mm and thick Seiko solar chronograph diver, nighthawk, ciga design z to Seiko 5 37mm, citizen stiletto, Seamaster 36mm and Armida A11 (a sub homage) at 35mm. Just need to make sure that the overall design sits well on top of wrist with no lugs hanging out
Hi Alessandro, I'm a student at a technical university, where also industrial design is taught, and I must say design has a lot of rules indeed, therefore your idea for a video like this was excellent 👌🏻 I was quite surprised by your observations about lug width because your last video on the Kamasu persuaded me larger bracelets make the cases look smaller when seen from afar 😅
Best size for my 17 cm wrist is 34 to 44 mm. Provided lug to lug is less than 48.
You make many interesting points. It's all really about proportions. Case, lugs, strap, dial, bezel, markers, hands, etc. Maybe too many things to lay out in a video. It all comes together to give a watch "size." And you really just dont know till you've worn the watch yourself.
One factor I look at is case weight and balance. I bought a Seiko skx009 Pepsi and it felt top heavy and dropped down on the top of my hand so, regretfully, I returned it. I miss it but felt that it wouldn’t get much wrist time. Of my large collection, the watch that is my most “go-to” is my g-shock 5610. (Merci beacoup Allesandro!😉)
My pleasure - wearing mine today!
Lug to lug measurement is important to me. I have a 7.5 inch wrist and once the lug to lug is 50mm and over it's just too big. And if it's under 40mm it looks too small on me.
Hello, Is the hand size 16cm suitable for wearing this Orient Ray 2 watch?
I have 6inch wrist and its easy for me to know. For a diver max lug to lug i can take is 46mm and that means my diver should be around 38mm.
One of your best videos. Very well thought out and very well made. Thanks. Wish you well man.
Great and comprehensive way to understand watch sizes for the individual, best version on this guide I’ve seen
loved the video. pretty much sums up everything I've come to learn through flipping so many watches in an attempt to dial in my taste in size haha.
Smart analysis, never thought of this, and never heard anybody talk about this, thanks so much sir
I usually look at lug to lug mostly, and overall diameter. It's interesting how the dial colour does affect the look (makes me rethink possibly seeking out the lumed dial zelos swordfish v2)
If the bracelets midlink (at the end link) protrudes it also effectively increased the lug to lug unless the lugs are very curved.
For example, sadly, one too. many Borealis watches.
Very well thought out and presented. Good job. I learned something.
I've actually found the opposite to be true regarding nato straps in some instances. I took my Seiko Turtle, (44.5mmx47mm) off the supplied rubber strap, and put it on a nato. It decreased the size look for me. I also have a small wrist, and it looked borderline silly on the rubber. Much better on the nato.
best video for watch size. Case v Bezel v Dial v Hour Mark Circle = All factors to consider
Awesome video! Thank you so much! You answered ALL the questions I had...
Great informative video. The most comprehensive I've watched on the subject
Alesandro excellent topic. Very thorough and needed. Appropriately sized watches are critical.
Well shared indeed... Thank you for great advice n helping us to take note of such important yet oft overlooked tips! 😁 👏 🤩 ❤️ 😊
Lug to Lug is the biggest factor to me. Thanks for video.
Same. If the lugs are hanging off my wrist or if the strap is coming over the top of my wrist then the watch isn’t the right size for me. Case diameter is the second most important, because I don’t want a tiny watch with massive lugs hanging off of them looking like bat ears
that's mostly true, a 42mm watch with long lugs might not work for me compared to a 44mm with short lugs
Wow thanks very much! I'm very new to the game so this vid was most instructive on what to look for and be referring to it often when going to buy. My trigger is what catches my eye first, style color etc. But now I have more info to work with to make better choices. I have about a 6.5 in wrist but your vid has opened up more options. Thanks again!
Very good video that covers all main aspects of this topic. It was exactly the dial/bezel color combination that I chose to "reduce the size" optically, when I bough Citizen Satellite Wave watch. That is, visual increase or decrease of up to 2mm can be achieved. However, many times not possible. E.g. if I like particular (big) watch with white dial, I won't buy black version just to fit my wrist. On the other side, there's limit how far in size we can fool ourself: if a shoe is too big, then black leather won't help :-)
I have an 8 1/2 inch wrist , I where a 40 mm Ivicta Diver , it makes me happy and that's what's Important 💪🏻⌚️😎
amazing tutorial, finally nice live comparesent.
Good informative video ! Really good explanation on size differences .
This was really informative and interesting. Thanks.
Well done video. Perfect guide for beginner.
I wish I knew about lug to lug and all the things you spoke about being so important when I first started collecting watch watches. It would of saved me from buying watches that were too big for my wrist. Good info Allesandro!
Fantastic advice, Thanks ! One more point, cushion case makes a difference too
Some video editing would have been awesome: show to watches on your wrist at the same time (picture in picture). Still enjoyed it.
I have a tiny 5 inch wrist, if I measure my wrist across with a ruler I get 40mm, so generally anything over that lug to lug will probably look too big, especially since I don't particularly like the oversize look for watches. So if I'm looking for an automatic or mechanical watch I generally eliminate everything above 34mm case, so there's not a huge selection left, especially once I take into account price and style, at least it makes choosing a lot easier... Then if I can I check other parameters and overall how it feels, but when the pool of watches you're interested in and can wear is so restricted, it's difficult to find a store where you can try them, and over the internet it can be difficult to know... By the way if you ever run out of topics for your videos I challenge you to make a nice selection of watches that are under 34 cm !
genuinely interested, what watches do you wear?
@@BonDijon I have a tiny oval shaped quartz Timex that was gifted to me when I was younger, I like it but even if I have really thin wrists I still have relatively big hands and long fingers so I feel like it kind of get a bit visually lost in the length of my arm.
Also a 31mm One-hand mechanical watch from Luch a brand from Belarus, like a lot of watches made in eastern Europe, it doesn't have the most precise movement ever so I like that they went for a design that is not supposed to be read very precisely from the start, also it's more affordable than a MeisterSinger... It's a fun watch to wear.
My first automatic : an Orient Disk (29 mm) it has a disk with a slot instead of an hour hand, I like to see the color change in the slot as hours passes, for me it's a nice everyday watch with an interesting design.
Until quite recently I didn't have enough income to reasonably purchase higher priced watches, now I can so my next watch will probably be either the Tissot Luxury powermatic 80 with the cream and brown dial or the Certina DS-1 with the black dial but the Mido Baroncelli jasper dial also caught my eyes, so I'll have to decide between the three, especially since the Tissot and the Mido are 33cm, I want to check how they wear before purchasing if I can.
@@thaaahaaa Certina seems like the most bang for buck. You get the 100WR plus their ds lock system for extra safety. The other two are fine choices as well. Also, it's been a while since I heard of someone owning the Luch watch. Nice!
The only other mechanical watches I can suggest is the Certina DS-8 Lady Powermatic 80 (30mm), Hamilton Jazzmaster (34mm), Junghans Max Bill Handwinding (34mm), Nomos Duo Collection (33mm - if pre-owned or 2ndary market it can go for under 1k, just gotta be patient). The latter two are dress watches and a lot more dial which may help with proportions for you.
Lastly I know you have 40mm wrist width, but your dominant hand might have a thicker wrist. If it's even 2-3mm bigger width wise and you don't mind wearing a sports watch on your dominant hand, i suggest looking at the Seiko Mini Turtle for a dive watch. This one you have to try in person, bc in pictures it looks really big, but lug to lug is only 42mm, and irl it actually isn't that bad even if you got skinny wrists (for reference, my max lug to lug is 44-45mm ish before it overhangs). Plus, I'm a girl with tiny hands, but you have larger hands so it'll look more in proportion
@@BonDijon Thanks for the suggestions, the DS-8 and the Hamilton are also very nice, Nomos and Junghans has also been on my radar.
I also want to get a sports watch at some point (not anytime soon, also have to finance the fountain pen hobby...) but yeah there are not a lot of smaller sizes around (as for chronographs), if I have the occasion to I will try the Seiko mini turtle.
What watches do you wear ?
@@thaaahaaa the ones I use are:
1. Cartier tank francaise two tone (passed down to me)
2. Patek philippe calatrava 3520dg (also passed down)
3. Timex Marlin 1960 Reissue
4. Seiko Mini Turtle Black Dial in a Bracelet*
*Might switch this out with Tudor bb32 in the future once I save enough money to buy it personally. A lot of people always rec me to just save up for a Rolex but man, servicing the ETA 2824 will be so much less costly. Servicing the handed down Patek already burned a hole in my pocket as it is.
About time someone made this video !
Very informative guide. Thank you so much!
The best guide for checking the size od the watch.
The best informative video I saw yet.
The NATO strap with the gold edges and silver centre has a thinning effect. Your eye thinks the strap is the silver centre width. It’s an optical illusion. Great video, thx.
Great presentation!
I have a small pulse. About 44mm. Is it acceptable for me to use a Baby marine master (Ref.SBDC061)? Help me please!!!
Agreed brother. I am sad that my favorite watch is too big for my wrist just because lug to lug is 50mm though the diameter is 42mm
This video is pure gold.
T.S.W., I really, really appreciate your videos. They are full of wisdom knowlege, and common sense examples. With this video in particular, I'll say without doubt that it is the All Time most important video for new watch enthusiasts, and LOL-yes, even for many, many long time Lost Down The Rabbit Hole watch fanatics this video for at least the majority of people, is a priceless compass to the dizzying twists, and turns of the Rabbit Hole World that is the the world of watches...to say that there is more to the eye than there appears to be when even a watch fan is looking at watches, without question is vastly understated. Thank you for all the help you give to us all around the globe with this, and all your excellent done and wonderful videos!:]
A well-thoughtful video!! you do tell it all about sizes!! excellent.
very useful concepts! thank you.
Great video and advice - thanks so much👍🏻
A useful video, well presented.
Can you do ocean one 39 gmt? Thinking of pulling the trigger here. Thank you in advance!!
Is there a Seiko Diver watch with a case 46mm plus excluding crown?
I have a 7.5 inch wrist am still not sure if this Seiko Presage Japanese Garden Watch SSA411J1 would be the right fit i want something that appears big can you comment on this.
Brilliantly done.
Cool video but also the watch without looking at it is an important factor. Not how it appears but how it feels. Many of these are good points but blindly wearing one that looks bigger will always still feel smaller if it is by it's dimensions really smaller.
To me, lug to lug distance is on the top and only consideration. An overhang clearly is too big, curved or not.
I am regretting my purchase of skx013 I got two weeks ago . I should have gone for the 007 . My timex expedition scout 40 has a lug to lug of distance of almost 50mm which still sits barely but just right on my scrawny 6 inch wrist without overhangs.
Can you maybe link me some nice alternative braceletts for the Ray II ?
Most important for me is color comfort and toughness(reliability)
This was a great video. Thank you.
It depends on the profile of your wrist not so much the size. A fat person can have a large wrist but the profile is round and a large watch doesn't sit right. You have a smaller wrist with a flat profile on the top of your wrist and a large watch sits just fine.
Where did you get the engraved insert for the Steinhart? I knew they made it for the regular ocean one but not the GMT, it looks perfect!
Can you confirm if the ceramic bezel insert for the Steinhardt GMT 39 black ceramic has been improved with engraved numerals? It looks much less washed out than the old steinhart GMT 39 black ceramic bezel, very beautiful.
www.steinhartwatches.de/de/accessoires/ersatzteile/inlays/keramikinlay-new-white-index-fuer-gmt-ocean-39-black.html this is where you can get it
I noticed that when my watch strap is slightly looser, my watch feels slightly larger, because not only do I feel the heft of the case moving about, but the strap flares out beyond my wrist more, which makes my wrist appear skinnier. When I pull my strap tighter, the watch feels more “glued” to my wrist, and I feel that watches heft less, and the strap is more tailored to my wrist, making my wrist appear larger.
Question, have you looked at the Omega Globemaster? It’s 39mm, and I especially like the white dial. What do you think about that model for a 6 inch wrist?
In order of importance, I say it's...
1. Lug to lug length
2. Diameter of the dial
3. Case sickness
4. Llug width... preferably one that has an even number, when it comes to mm size, just for the convenience of strap options.
squale 1521 atmos on a 6 inch wrist?