The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have a Colt auto 38mm and was wondering what size watches men usually wear. It seems like most men these days wear much bigger watches is this true?

If I had to guess I'd say 40 millimeter watches are the norm. As a Breitling forum, I think a lot of people here would consider that small. I do think most people who are not watch nuts have moved towards larger watches, and some have gone very large, but if you offset those who never change watches or, for example, the Legion of 36mm date just owners, I suspect 40 is also close to the median.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless

45mm is the smallest I wear even with a 7" wrist, I have 2 omega planet oceans at 45.5mm, 2 navitimer worlds at 46mm and 5 super avengers at 48.4mm, I just love the big look

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5 Super Avengers
1 Super Avenger 2
1 Super Avenger limited edition
1 Super avenger night mission
1 Limited edition chronomat Boston Celtics
Navitimer GMT
Transocean Chronograph Unitime
2 Omega planet ocean chronographs
1 Tag heuer Monaco

This comes up fairly regularly and I will never understand it. I have watches in the mid 30s and I have watches over 50, and no one has ever commented about either looking 'wrong' on me. As far as I am concerned as long as the lugs aren't overhanging your arm then wear whatever size you like. Your money, your watch, your wrist - your choice!

I currently prefer 40-44mm. Then again, design plays a big factor. Some 38mm watches appear rather large, while some larger ones appear smaller than their dimensions would suggest.

Id agree with Scott that 40mm is probably pretty typical these days.

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-RJ

44mm is the limit for my 6.75" wrist for my tastes.
Having said that, I have a few 37-38mm watches and I feel just as comfortable wearing them, including the Colt Auto.
I do not get too hung up on the size alone.
After all - "It is not the size that matters..."



Premier at 37mm



And a couple of Chinese also at 37mm

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"It is just a matter of time!"

The reason i'm asking is because i have not seen my colt auto in 8 years since i was 13 and i am getting it back tomorrow. I will always wear it because it holds a lot of sentimental value to me but was not sure if it would look silly on my now 21 year old wrist or not. But i think that Colt Ocean looks good on your wrist so that is making me more hopeful.

38mm will look perfect. Enjoy getting back that watch from your youth.

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Best Regards, Jeff

My wrist is circa 7.75", and personally (and this is just a personal thing), I find that anything under 43mm tends to look too small on my wrist IMO. Likewise anything over 48mm tends to look too big on my wrist... although as Roff said, so much is dependant on the case shape and length of the lugs. My Ploprof for example is 55mm x 48mm, but the case shape (with no traditional lugs) makes it wear much smaller than the nominal size would suggest.

In all this I can't stress the "on my wrist" part enough here. Watch size, like watch design (and pretty much everything else in life), is entirely a personal decision, and as long as you are comfortable with it, then it's right for you.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Any given week will see me wear watches from 36mm- 44mm. Like Roff said, your wrist, your money, your choice.

I'd agree with this. I have a small wrist (read skinny) so this range works best for me. I have worn smaller and that also looks good. The only thing that doesn't look good are big watches with overhanging lugs. In the end it's all personal choice.

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Happines is Good Health and a Bad Memory.
"Ingrid Bergman"

nothing wrong with smaller size dials. i have a number of friends that own a 36mm DJ and it looks pretty good.

Yep. I feel under dressed if I am wearing anything under 44mm. Usually a 46 or 48 is nice.

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Jim

"You have Control".

Last time I checked lots of people love & wear Rolex DateJusts and other 36mm models. OG AP Royal Oak is coveted and I want to buy a King Midas. I guess it comes down to if your being served Dom Perignon or Cristal.

I have had watches of all sizes, from 34mm Rolex Air-King up to 45mm Breitling Seawolf. Different size, depending upon my mood.

Life is way too short to worry about what others think. I never, ever asked anyone what they thought of the size before I got a watch. I will often do a thread on a particular watch, to share with others on the forums. Even if it is not well liked or popular, I will go ahead and get it anyway.

Actually, my Cartier Tank Solo was even less than 34mm. Had a great presence on the wrist, though, as it's rectangular and is the classic Cartier shape and size. Even Cartier is making the Tanks bigger now in a lot of models. One of my buddies told me he thought it looked a bit effeminate. Didn't phase me one bit. That is his opinion. I have found throughout my life, that I tend to go the opposite way of peoples' opinions and reactions anyway. If someone tells me to "hurry up", I will generally slow down even more. That kind of thing.

Many models look way different on the wrist than you would expect. Especially the ones with the big bezels opposed to ones with small bezels. To me, my 41.5mm Omega Aqua Terra was too big, so I sold it. Now I am more than happy with the midsize 38.5mm I have. On the other hand, I didn't like the looks of the Planet Ocean 42mm on my wrist as much as the 45.5mm size. I have a 7.5in wrist. But that is all me, without asking anyone else.

IMHO, it must start to get very confusing and complicated, when so many others' opinions are involved regarding the watch size. Go to an AD or Boutique, try them all on, and take a look in the mirrors they provide. Your own reaction and gut feeling should give you the best clue.

Most of all - have fun! Don't make getting a new watch into a stressful situation, by fretting and worrying about what others think. If you feel that you like a particular watch that is absolutely huge, or microscopically small, then go for it. I have a pair of wonderful Italian shoes with a very pointed toe that I love to wear on occasion. I don't ask peoples' opinion before I go out the door wearing them. I don't do it for peoples' reactions, I just wear them because I feel good in them. We should all do the same with our watches.

Cheers,
Carl

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'63 Omega Seamaster, 2014 Omega Speedmaster MarkII

"Those who possess a sense of entitlement are seldom satisfied"