The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Confession: I've been lurking--and am very impressed by the knowledge and helpfulness on this form.

Have quite selection of watches, and am about to get my first Breitling. Was ready to buy a TT Chono Evo on croc strap, but my assistant (who was with me at my AD in San Francisco), said it looked too big--and too bling. I'm worried that if I buy it, my wife will have the same reaction.

I have a 6.5" wrist. Anyone else out there with a small-ish wrist and a Chronomat? My second choice is the Cockpit (41mm vs. 43.7), also TT. My everyday watch is a Rolex Explorer II, which seems about the right size for my wrist. Maybe I'm just old school, but not sure a big watch is the right choice for someone mid-50s--on the other hand, don't want a wimpy watch, and I like the chronometer function.

Opinions??? (Thanks for helping out a newbie).

I have a 42.7 TT Crosswind (Chronomat predecessor) and there are days/outfits where it might be perceived as "blingy". Thing is though, it's not large enough to be gaudy. There's a fine line there. Gold is timeless, but in moderation. Accents like riders and pushers are just that--accents, and aren't designed to dominate the design.

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Avenger Skyland
If I said I was good, you'd think I was bragging.
If I told you I wasn't, you'd know I was lying.

Hi Theprof. Welcome to the site.
I have a 6.5'' wrist and a Chronomat and approaching my early 50's.
I've never thought it looked or felt too large. My wife, who is a bit younger and is quite the fashion police, thinks it looks great on me.
Just one opinion in favor of the Chronomat.

Sorry for such a cop-out answer, but my reply would be that it's entirely down to what you feel comfortable with. If you can stand there in the shop with any watch on your wrist and KNOW that you can carry it off (not THINK you can, but KNOW that you can), then that's all that matters.

To me it's like wearing a multi-coloured shirt or something - some people can carry it off in such a way that it doesn't look odd, but if someone is self-conscious about it (i.e. they aren't sure if they can carry it off), that will show through and then it can look daft.

My advice would be to try both models on again (perhaps on your own without your "assistant"?) and wear them in the shop for a few mins. It's amazing what a few minutes can do when it comes to perception of size on the larger models. To be honest, the Chronomat is not a huge watch by Breitling's standards (or indeed by any number of manufacturers nowadays) but I can appreciate the dilemma if you are used to Rolies!

At the end of the day, if YOU think it looks good, then it DOES look good. That's all that matters.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

No sure if leather straps are your thing, but I tried on an Avenger Seawolf a fews days ago. Its ~45mm diameter which I thought would be too large for my small wrist. The leather strap seemed to 'shrink' the watch somewhat compared to the metal bracelet. It looked superb IMO and in proportion

Also drasticly reduces the overall weight

Just an idea

i agree thats a good idea they seem to tone down the watch a bit. which is why i dont have any watches on straps but still a good idea

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SA-Baton White Dial/ProII
Tissot Le Locle

Rollies are usually tiny by todays standards, so a chronomat would seem huge to you even if you had a much larger wrist. You have to do what D8 said and try them on for a little while. Pick it out on your own--everybody else will get used to it anyways...

...and the chronomat certainly isnt a huge watch by todays standards.

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-RJ

I look fabulous in pretty much anything.

Sorry, I'm just bored at work.

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Follow me through my Journalism degree

What RJ said.

For what it's worth, I've got a 6.5 inch wrist too, and I wouldn't be the slightest bit worried about the size of the Chronomat. It's not huge by today's standards. I wore a 44mm Steelfish for a while and, if anything, after a while I wished it was bigger. But then, I have a 46mm B&R which completely covers my wrist, and I think it looks ok, so what would I know?

I guess it comes down to taste, as others have said. Frankly, TT would be more of an issue for me (in terms of self-consciousness) than size.