The Breitling Watch Source Forums

you need to try a load on and keep an open mind.

a friend of mine has very thin wrists he is a very skinny guy, slim build and he was after a montbrillant, fitted him perfectly at 38mm he tried on a navi and thought i was too big but i disagreed and said it was just due tot he small tag he had worn for 10 years.

simply solution i lent him a navi for a couple of days and guess what he bought!!!! a navi and its suits him perfectly, while he would still like a montbrillant he is no longer limited in his mind to sub 40mm watches

if u cant borrow something bigger buy a $10 bigger watch in a size similar to models you like and see how you feel after a day or so

I do agree with you guys, the forearm size does matter alot, as does the shape of the wrist and that you wear your watch with confidence.

Although, if the case exceeds your wrist width signicantly, then all the forearm size, wrist shape and condidence in the world, will not make it look right. It will look like you taped a wall clock on your wrist.

Look at Flava Flav. His got all the confidence he needs, but those wall clocks around his neck... well... need I say more?

I'm just at or slightly under 6 1/2 inches, but am skinny and have small forearms. 42mm is about my limit. The Breitling Aerospace fits well and actually seems a bit smaller because it is so thin. I recently tried on the 46mm Superocean Heritage and it looked ridiculously large, however the Emergency seemed to look ok.

I think you just need to visit an AD and try them on.

I always think it's comical when these wrist size threads come up, and you end up with a bunch of guys pulling out the ole tape measure.

Anyway, Alex hit the nail on the head. It all depends on how YOU feel about the watch on YOUR wrist. There's no formula that tells you that x watch size belongs on y wrist size. It's all personal preference. 10 different people will give you 10 different opinions on size. It's not there opinion that counts. It's yours.

My first Breiling was a Colt GMT (40.5mm). I thought all the others were WAY too big, and even thought the Colt looked HUGE on my wrist. 14 months later, I was buying a 46mm Navi World. I very quickly got over my initial shock over the 46mm, and I think it looks great on my wrist. The once-huge Colt? Looks too small now on me.

Go to AD's, and try on watches. Try on the biggest one that you like, and leave it on your wrist while you browse other watches and see if your perception of the size changes. I will add that if you do this, you should ask the salesperson if they can properly adjust the size of the bracelet or strap, so you can get a true feel for the watch.

Good luck with your search!

_________________
Breitling Colt GMT
Breitling Navitimer World
IWC Portuguese Automatic
Breitling Transocean Chronograph LE

I'm in that same 6 & 1/2, plus skinny forearm group and being 6'1" doesn't change much. But with the passage of time I've opened to some larger models that fit and look just fine.

My first Ling was a Skyland and took it back in 2 weeks because I felt it was too big. Got some SOCs and now they seem to small. I think the shrinks call this "Goldilocks Syndrome."

Today, I wear a Skyland and wonder what I was thinking returning the first one. I'm of a mind that 42MM is smallish, though I have 2 Omegas in that size.

Size matters (dang!) but it isn't everything. Like others have said, shape of the wrist matters a lot - especially the shape and size of that boney protuberance on the outer wrist.

I bought a couple Chronomat style watches but the height on the wrist and relative flat shape of the case made them an odd fit no matter how may ways I played with the bracelet. Off they went.

43-45MM is my preferred size. Shallow/flatter casebacks with a somewhat curved case is my preferred style for good fit.

One thing I learned is I had to wear different watches for a while to find what worked FOR ME. And so I have. It was a costly learning curve but I know immediatley what watches to rule out without trying them on. And which to rule in to try on.

These Breitlings work well for my 6 & 1/2" Olive Oil arms (why didn't I listen to my mother and eat that friggin' spinach?!) and my size preference - Skyland, Steelfish, Heritage46(shallow caseback, dramatically sloping lugs), SOHC, Skyracer, Navitimer (it's 41 but wears large), and a few others.

Also there are some watches that seem too large on steel that work perfectly fine on leather.

I'd say that's "my 2 cents" but it cost a heck of a lot more than that to reach this consensus with my "inner child."

_________________
SHARKMAN

Sharkman, you may very well be my doppleganger. We are the same height and have prety much the same size wrist. Maybe you can send me a few of your time pieces to check out and see if they work on me hahaha.

I have a very narrow forearm. My arm looks the same size the entire length. So I guess like everyone has said. The best thing to do is to just get to an AD and check sizes. Im really falling for the Steelfish. So I hope this looks okay. I have tried on the standard navitimer and I know its on 41mm, but it also wears alot larger than that. But it looks great on my wrist. So hopefully the SF will look good too.

_________________
"Don't Touch The Watch." - Patrick Bateman

Give the steelfish a chance - it's liable to feel and look HUGE at first. It isn't.

_________________
SHARKMAN

Hope I'm not to late to this party. Been away on vacation for awhile.

I have a 6.5" wrist.

I have owned a Super Avenger(very uncomfortable and fatiguing I'm afraid but loved the syle), A SteelFish XL (fitted very nicely for another larger watch), a Navitimer Olympus (yet again very comfortable despite the size) and my SOHC "Green" (comfortable enough, no problems).

Here's a few piccies to help as well:

Steelfish on rubber


Steelfish on bracelet


Super Avenger (Maybe it was a bit too big for me)




Navitimer Olympus (sorry, only picture I could find at short notice)


My new SOHC "Green"


Hope this helps.

_________________
Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

How do you like the SOHC. I love mine. What number did you get?

_________________
SHARKMAN

Ricardo, very nice wrist shots. What did you think of both the steelfish and the SA? Especially in how they wore.

_________________
"Don't Touch The Watch." - Patrick Bateman

42mm is about the maximum size that feels and looks good on my 6.5" wrist with small forearms.

Ricardo... great collection. I especially love your white Navi Olympus!!! I'm a big fan of the Olympus models.

_________________
"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

Hi Sharkman,

I love the SOHC "Green". I spent some time in the capable hands of Sam at Micheal Andrews. I looked at many of the LEs that he has. I really liked the SA Black but it was too big. The SOHC "Green" sang out to me so I took it and I am very happy with it.

Mine is number 427.

What number is yours?

_________________
Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

Hi there,

As I mentioned in my original post I no longer have the SteelFish or SA now. The SteelFish made way for the SA. I saw this as a natural upgrade. However, when I got the SA it soon became clear that it was too big for my 6.5" wrists. It was quite uncomfortable and fatiguing. I lived with it for about 6 months, trying to convince myself I would get used to it but alas I had to make the difficult decision of selling it.

_________________
Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****

Thank You. I only have the SOHC "Green" now.

I loved the white (silver?) Navitimer Olympus. However, I did find it tricky to read at a glance and also a bugger to set up the four year calendar each time I let the watch run down. I was offered £500 more for it than I originally paid for it and I erroneously had the dollar signs in my eyes and sold it. I do really miss it but my collection has moved on since and I'm happy where it is.

_________________
Forum Representative for Andrew Michaels Jewellers, UK

Please visit my Watch Blog at http://www.AndrewMichaels.co.uk

******Our new Pre-owned watch site www.amjwatches.co.uk is now live*****