Horological Meandering

I appreciate that this is a purely subjective question, but I am curious as to what specific size the members of the forum believe is optimum for their wrist. No right. No wrong. Just an opinion. I have a view that I favour watches between 35mm and 40mm, ...  

and I love my GO Sixties (39mm x 9mm) - could be optimal size for me. Really, really sensitive to anything thicker than 12mm. ...  

From my side, I wear watches between 35mm (Corum 20 dollar... but sold some months ago) and 42mm which is my maximum (GO panoinverse XL). My preferred size is 38 to 40mm. Kind regards Alkiro

Favor 35-42mm, but optimum is probably 39mm for thinner/dressier watches and 42mm for sport models.

Due to my small wrist, my favourite sizes are between 34mm and 38mm. Saying that a lot would depend on the lugs of the watch. On lovely curved lugs, a larger size may be wearable (I had noticed that a Patek 5270 which is 41mm is wearable) whereas if the l... 

I have a 8" wrist (20 cm) and I feel that a watch diameter of 40 mm is more or less perfect. But as others have mentioned case thickness plays a big role too. As do lugs. But in general I would state 40 mm is perfect. ...  

37-41 is perfectly okay. And nothing ever bigger than 42mm. That, unfortunately, eliminates a lot of great looking sports watches as options for me. But they look too, too big on my wrist.

42-44 mm but it really depends on the design which determines how it wears on the wrist. I have watches >45 mm and IMO wear ok. There are watches which are smaller than 40 mm but look odd on my wrist because of the lug design.

I dont buy anything that is smaller than 40mm. Those are for kids.

It depends on when and what you are wearing it for: Seiko Sumo 45mm - weekend watch Omega Titanium Seamaster 41.5mm - weekend and sometime work Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date - 34mm - grandfathers 1964 - work and dress Panerai (PAM535) - 42mm - weekend watch...  

....yet, even given there are varying occasions, do you feel there is one size that you "like" most?

If I had to choose, not too small and not too big, just right as they say.

.....i have watrches between 35mm and 44mm..... i can wear them all and there are times when a 44mm is right and times when a 35mm is right....but if push comes to shove, where would i be.....38mm. For me, there is an optimum size

But I would say that optimal size is not only diameter. It also involves the ratio of how thick a watch is. A 33 mm watch may feel too big if thickness is too big and a 44m watch may feel small if too thin... 38.5 x 11.5 mm is a good ratio. But that is no... 

....there are many things to take account of....yes depth....lug shape...ands also whether a watch is time only...a 35mm time only watch can wear quite large. So I agree that there are many things to consider...yet, I am still pushing for a single choice ... 

But then a magic piece comes along and 45mm becomes acceptable. Still 38-40mm, excepting magic influences..

I suppose this is largely dependent on what you are wearing. When wearing a properly fitting suit there isn\'t much tolerance for anything larger than 40/11mm. For me though I really like having the weight and presence of a larger watch. 6.5" wrist And ha... 

I think a lot depends on the case design and the "dress code" one is wearing, I can easily imagine a dress watch 38-41 mm without issue my GO chronometer seems sometimes even small, while sports watches are hardly less than 40mm with the exception of the ... 

But I can go as far as 46mm for my IWC Top Gun Doppelchrono. And, as odd as may seems, the AP ROO 44mm is too big for my wrist.

On this great debate. Examples: Lugs format - A 42mm Longines LLD feels huge in my wrist. Thickness, as mentioned by Blooman - A 42mm PO feels bad but a 44mm feels nice, because they maintain the thickness. Target - A formal watch should be smaller, a spo... 

Lug format plays a big role, as does thickness. Plain watches look bigger, dark dials look small. And Lug to lug distance is also important. For example, the lug-to-lug of my TTR 1931 is more than my 42mm PAM338 (which has short wire lugs), making the Pam...  

my Zenith Type 20! But daily watches... lots smaller... normally my Hublot King Power at 48mm. Cheers Andrew ...  

And some exceptions around 44 to 47 mm. I guess it is all about the watch: If coherent with its size and spirit, then it is fine for me. Best, Nicolas

It purely depends on the watch, as some have stated before. A 37 mm 5196 was to me disappointingly big, where a smart, little 5120 looked just right in 35 mm. A 37 mm 6000 RG and 5119 were devine, too! Beyond 38 mm even Patek is difficult to digest. Anyth... 

.....that style of watch, design of watch etc can make a big difference....and I agree. I have a 44mm Panerai....just the one Panerai....and i have a small wrist....yet thsi watch doesn't look crazy at all. Its design is specific for its size. Yet, I thin... 

I feel bigger size than 38 mm not good on my small wrist Now I am more comfortable with vintage size watches....

Really depends on the watch (dress vs. sport), but between 38 and 42 is ideal, with 39/40mm being the best. I have a 7 -7.25" wrist Thickness is very important in wearing comfort. For instance, I could pull off the 45mm Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, but the wa... 

Nothing under 40, unless someone wants to gift me a J.B. Viot. Nothing over 47, and since I already own and am quite happy with my PAM372, the 47mm itch has been scratched and don't yearn for another. Goldilocks size is 42-44mm.

I have watched that range from 36mm all the way up to 45mm. My sweet spot is the 42mm I just always feel it wears the best for my wrist.

This one seems a bit small, at 22mm wide: This one is not too large, at 48mm: This one is fine, at 36mm: But this seems small at 36mm: This one is 48mm, and fits like a glove: This one is fine at 34mm: So, it beats me what is optimal. --Rick ...  

... depending on wrist size and individual tastes. In my case I like and feel more comfortable with watches of 36/38 mm diameter and 40/41 mm diameter for sport/tool/diving watches. Exception to my own rule is the Panerai lines which is the only Big Size ... 

Almost by default....Rolex GMT, Submariner, Yacht Master, soon to be Daytona, Omega Speedy Pro. There are some bigger PAM292 at 45mm and some smaller, but most of mine are 40mm Andy.

With the sweet spot being at 37-38mm. Some of my watches are larger - the Chrono One is 42mm but that is generally the upper limit for me (depending somewhat on the lug design). Am really happy that there is more choice in the under 40mm sphere again

Glad sizes seem to be gravitating back to 37-42mm again

. . . +1.

Good simile - not one I thought I would read here but really made me laugh With a Flak 37 in between

I wish I had bought some 31 to 34mm watches when they were available. I think what makes for a great look is when the watch head sits completely on the wrist so that the band is also accented. I also like thin.

While my sizing window is still pretty big, I think my favorite has to be 39mm. I just got my IWC 3705 back from service and it is by far my most comfortable wearing watch I own. I am a little more lenient on thickness of course since the 3705 is a chrono... 

and it changes with time, the older I get the thicker it its. Current size is between 7 and a quarter and 7 and three quarters. So I decided some time ago that the maximum size of a watch would be 40 millimeters for a tool watch , 39 for a dress watch, bu... 

......what is interesting is that there really does seem to be a general consensus on this forum....a range of 35-42.....with a sweet-spot around 39/40.....again, differeniated by sports v dress.

However, I really prefer smaller watches aesthetically and sometimes wish my wrist was slightly smaller

That is a good way to pose the question: what is the perfect size? Then it is understood that for whatever reason, we may have watches in other sizes.

Simple watches should be no more than 40mm. Simple watch , no complication. My opinion. A pilots watch is huge cause its worn with an aviator jacket and time should be visible at night. So thats my straight forward rule in horology. Glad to share my insig... 

Anything larger than 42mm will be too huge for my wrist, leaving the lugs hanging in mid-air. I don't particularly like that look, so sadly, a lot of sports world time watches (still a sucker for them and mention needed here :P; e.g. IWC pilot WT, JLC Ext...