Wrist watch sizes - my inner cynic needs slapped.

[Hawk404]

After a long absence from anything other than a perfunctory interest in timepieces I, Rip Von Winkle-like, awake to discover that some wristwatches have grown larger and heavier than many pocket watches.

When did this happen?

When last I checked making wrist watches smaller was a a goal. In the 1960s, in the case of women's watches, it may have gotten a bit overboard: they were shriveling up to the point of being unreadable (based on my fallible memory).

A Waltham / Ball railroad pocket watch from the 19th century in size 18 was approximately 45mm in diameter.

Over the weekend I saw an advert for a Swiss assembled wrist watch a full 52mm in diameter, 17mm thick (over 5/8"). It had a crown cover secured by a chain in the manner of a biker wallet. All these things were being presented as features rather than shortcomings and it appeared to be enjoying brisk sales.

When did this happen? Does it happen a lot?

It doesn't take a great deal of imagination on my part to conjecture some legitimate reasons for the thing:
. Ease of readability, legibility: it had an abundance of those attributes.
. Fashion: Inexplicable but understandable.
. Water resistance: possibly superior to a smaller example (?).
. The desire to be noticed.

...and some facetious speculation:
. Use as an impact weapon on aircraft - an equivalent sized guardrail nut duct taped to one's wrist wouldn't make it past security.
. Weight training - strap one on each wrist and go jogging.
. The general 21st century population suffers from morbid obesity more than when Rolex and others settled on ~ 42mm.
. The band / strap can serve double duty as a dog collar.

...and one cynical:
. Does it really require Swiss craftsmanship, or indeed craftsmanship at all, to assemble such gigantic pieces? Is it a method whereby one can claim Swiss craftsmanship yet simultaneously allow for assembly by the ham-fisted?

I'm not bagging on gigantic wrist watches (I actually would admit to wanting to own one) but am I correct in assuming they're much easier and cheaper to put together?

Which actually takes more craftsmanship: a Malaysian 38mm automatic or a Swiss quartz 52mm chrono?

[skypilot]

I sure don't have the answer but I suspect that it is kinda like the width of ties and the height of womens' hems. When I was a kid a boy wouldn't be caught dead without a pocket knife and a pair of pliers in his jeans pockets but now he'd be arrested for it. I was one of the the idiots who bought a Nehru jacket that was stylish for about 2 hours and I still think leisure suits were a good idea though they didn't have to be made of dacron or whatever. What goes around comes around but I won't be caught up in it, I buy nothing over 40mm.

[Valtyr]

Panerai and Invicta make some huge watches. I think people want to be noticed when they wear these type watches. Watches, like anything else are about branding and style. They (watches) are jewelery and say a lot about someone. You might have a beautiful .25ct diamond ring with the most intricate platinum design and someone may mistake it for a Wal*Mart sterling silver .25 cent ring. Not many people are going to think a 9ct ring is from the same machine.

People advertise in everything that they do, people want others to know their status and how much they can afford, or how nice they think their watch is. It goes with the rest of today's questionable fashions.

[GLADIATOR]

Hawk404
It is a very interesting but true fact watches have INCREASED in size EVERY single year since 1930!

I have a very interesting article (will get it out) saying in 2010 would be first year watch sizes would diminish as 40mm was just so big. Wrong, they got bigger!!

Why?
One major reason (apart from fashionable?) is 'people got bigger' especially men!. and BIG men do not look good in a tiny (average sized watch)

As the human generation gets fatter so watches will increase in size!!

It has NOTHING to do with technology, although watches with many complications do need a larger case. But you could fit all the features of a small aircraft in some of these current massive cases

I will try to post more info later

Regards

[CometHunter]

Why?
One major reason (apart from fashionable?) is 'people got bigger' especially men!. and BIG men do not look good in a tiny (average sized watch)

I will have you know, SIR, that I think I look absolutely fantastic in a moderate-sized watch! (Then again, I still listen to Dean Martin and try not to believe The Sands Hotel and Casino has been torn down yet).

[GLADIATOR]

The Sands Hotel and Casino has been torn down yet).

torn or fell?

[CometHunter]

torn or fell?

LOL. Razed, if you want to be technical about it. THE VENITIAN now stands on the hallowed spot where The Rat Pack once reigned.

[kegrace]

Panerai and Invicta make some huge watches. I think people want to be noticed when they wear these type watches. Watches, like anything else are about branding and style. They (watches) are jewelery and say a lot about someone. You might have a beautiful .25ct diamond ring with the most intricate platinum design and someone may mistake it for a Wal*Mart sterling silver .25 cent ring. Not many people are going to think a 9ct ring is from the same machine.

People advertise in everything that they do, people want others to know their status and how much they can afford, or how nice they think their watch is. It goes with the rest of today's questionable fashions.

I know that the majority may be true, but suggesting that people wearing a Panerai or other large nice watch just wants to be seen by others isn't fair to the enthusiast community on this site. I would highly disagree, why can't someone buy what they like, especially a prestige brand watch, just because they like it?

i have small wrists, so by all accounts i probably shouldn't wear watches over 40mm, but i love a big watch and how it feels on my wrist. if i were wearing a big solid gold Audemars, or my vintage Illinois, i don't care who notices it and what they think, unless they are interested in watches and want to talk about it. my watch is for me to enjoy, not for me to show off how much it costs.

Don't be jaded towards new trends just because they are flaunted by the wealthy, there are plenty of normal people who enjoy them as well, and for the right reasons. lots of them post here. :)

[GLADIATOR]

I know that the majority may be true, but suggesting that people wearing a Panerai or other large nice watch just wants to be seen by others isn't fair to the enthusiast community on this site. I would highly disagree, why can't someone buy what they like, especially a prestige brand watch, just because they like it?

i have small wrists, so by all accounts i probably shouldn't wear watches over 40mm, but i love a big watch and how it feels on my wrist. if i were wearing a big solid gold Audemars, or my vintage Illinois, i don't care who notices it and what they think, unless they are interested in watches and want to talk about it. my watch is for me to enjoy, not for me to show off how much it costs.

Don't be jaded towards new trends just because they are flaunted by the wealthy, there are plenty of normal people who enjoy them as well, and for the right reasons. lots of them post here. :)

Great point
I think is is called 'loving what you have and not loving what you want'

[Hawk404]

Excellent observation.

An advantage to gigantic watches becoming common is that a 45mm on my 6-3/4" wrist perhaps looks less goofy than it might have 20 or 30 years ago.

Part of why I never previously developed much of an interest in watches is that my choices were too restricted to be of any interest. Of course there was plenty available - I just didn't know about it.

This thread summed up my misgivings pretty well.
Archimede Pilot S

Note that two forum members who have forgotten more than I'll ever know are talking in terms of 39mm being too large for my wrist. It's human nature that I would thrash about for an exception to that rule - it'd be pretty boring if I had to live by it.

Still, that nagging little cynic in the back of my head says that some minority of makers might be cashing in on the fashion to reduce labor costs. I picture tweezers and magnifying glasses being replaced by needle-nosed pliers and reading glasses. This, of course, wouldn't apply to Audemars, your vintage Illinois or Panerai but it seems to me that the really, really huge watches are being rolled out by makers building to a price point.

I did ask for my inner cynic to get slapped - good job! I can wear my 45mm and be a bit less self-conscious.