The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I've had a thing against big watches for a while now, given that my last two - an Evo and a CSO - proved too big and clunky for my tastes. I assumed size was the culprit. However, today I was just bumming around wearing a Nike digital watch. It's a fairly chunky watch - nothing like a G-Shock, but at 43mm diameter and 15mm thick, it's pushing the boundaries I would consider "too big" if I were looking at a conventional steel automatic. The thing is, the watch is super light, since it's intended for athletic use. Despite its size, I can barely feel it; it's very comfortable. This got me to thinking, maybe size isn't the problem so much as weight. Maybe there's something to be said for getting a titanium watch to help counteract the weight of a larger size case, such as on a Panerai, or the new Ti Planet Ocean.

Thoughts?

No doubt about it, weight is also in issue for me. I just sold my heaviest watch - at 43mm, diameter wasn't the problem. Thickness and weight have become a major priority for me. 100 grams (head) and 15mm thick have kinda become the maximums for me. I have a Ti Speedmaster X-33 and it is one of the most comfortable pieces I've owned.

Titanium is a good option IMO.

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

What about an Aerospace? Ti so very light and not super thick. I personally never thought I'd like one (quartz and ana/digi) but was given one by a friend and it's definitely my most comfortable watch.

Not sure how to respond to this.

My BlackBird was big and heavy. However, my Panerai is bigger and I'm not sure that it weighs less, but it sits on my wrist more comfortably.

The Rolex DeepSea is as big as my blackbird, but definitely weighs less.

Not sure what any of this means, but I think it has to do more with "balance" than anything.

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PAM359, Omega PO Big Size, 1951 Omega Seamaster, Rolex Sea Dweller

I have a fairly big titanium watch - an Oris TT3. It is exceptionally comfortable to wear to the point that I have been unaware it was on my wrist, though it is a relatively slim case. My SOHC on the other hand (excuse the pun), much as I admire it, the bracelet gets annoying after a few hours. I generally end up taking it off when I am at work. Guess which I wear the most.

I think wearing a strap v bracelet can also help.
My SA on bracelet feels heavy on the wrist, but with the OR deployment it feels so comfy.

Weight is a total non-issue for me. Over recent months I've been wearing my Tungsten Lum Tec M25 quite a lot, and that weighs in at 160g on a leather strap....... and I don't ever notice it's on my wrist. Same with my SA - no weight issues at all.

I think part of it has to do with how you wear your watches : if you wear them loose and flapping around your hand like a ladies bracelet ( ), then I can imagine weight being more of a problem, but if you wear them quite tight there's no issue IMO.

Size, and particularly the height, is a much bigger issue for me as any watch has to comfortably sit under a long sleeve work shirt cuff...... which is where the SA falls down, and why it is going to go.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

It could just be me, but if I wear them tightly, it causes discomfort in the form of a dull ache. (For me, "tight" means the watch will stay in its position on my wrist when my arm is down at my side, as opposed to resting at the top of my hand.) This can happen on lighter watches too, but not as much. The real problem with heavy watches is that if I loosen them enough for them not to hurt, they flop like crazy. The lighter watches don't flop as badly.

It always takes me an age to size a watch just right as I can't stand a watch being loose, but likewise I'm not a fan of having a sore strap/bracelet imprint on my arm at the end of day. Just right for me is being tight enough to stay in position with my arm down by my side, but not so tight as to leave an impression. This makes micro-adjustment absolutely vital for me. But once adjusted correctly it means I quickly forget I have a watch on irrespective of the weight.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

If you wear them at all loose, I think balance becomes really important. I can't stand a tight watch; it feels restrictive, imprints on my wrist if the watch has any heft and ultimately gets warm and sweaty--or could that be living in a desert? Maybe wearing cheap tight Spiedel bracelets as a kid made me averse to tightness. I like to be able to not quite fit the tip of a finger between the bottom of a metal bracelet and the underside of my wrist. For leather bands, I'll go a little tighter.

So, sizing is a big deal, and the only drawback I have found for my Breguet. I'm just a bit too snug in one configuration, and with an extra link, just a little larger than I would like. Still, compared to my Navitimer Heritage on bracelet, the Breguet, even a bit larger, has more balance on the wrist. Even though it's a little loose, it still feels good.

In some circumstances, heft and case design, can make a difference. An old SMP I owned, with the wave swirls on the back of the case, used to bother me occasionally. I could feel the relative roughness of the back of the case. I could wear my old Steelfish for several days, but then my wrist needed a break from the heft.

Which leads my back to my "mini" watch, the biggest I had nine years ago, my GMT. It's now the lightest by far, with pretty good balance though the too-light bracelet takes away some balance. I feel like trying an old SMP again to see if time, and the constant use of heavier watches, has changed anything over the years. I also tried on an eight year old Seadweller recently, which had the beefier and solid bracelet. THAT felt good.

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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

I can't stand the feeling of a watch flopping around on my wrist. I always tend to wear my watches a little tight...sometimes to the point that it leaves a little bit of an imprint on the bottom of my wrist near where the buckle/clasp is.

It's always a bit of a challenge when the weather gets extremely hot (like last week here in Maryland) and my wrist swells a little more. I put an extra link in my JLC NSA on day last week, and a few hours later it was driving me nuts because it was just a little loose and the head was moving on the top of my wrist just a tiny amount. It it were steel instead of titanium I would have probably taken it off until I got home, but it is extremely light considering the size.

My SA 563...in blue on a bracelet ........after wearing it permanantly for two years its wieght / size is not an issue.....the only downside is my other pieces are just too small and insignificant....i do lean to the left though when walking......

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SUPER AVENGER 563 AIRFORCE BLUE
WHITE SUBS, PRO11 BRACELET