Horological Meandering

But considering all the aspects of the watch itself, does it really make a difference? For me if a movement demonstrates appropriate accuracy with reasonable power reserve and outstanding finish Does it really make a difference ? I look forward to your co... 

especially when the case back is closed, and not sapphire crystal back.

If it’s a time only or three hands with central seconds, it’s fine. When you start adding date, chrono, calendar complications, the dial balance gets messed up with everything crowded into the center.

One mechanical and one relating to aesthetics. For the first one, a small movement may struggle to move large or long heavy hands for which it wasn't designed, generally not much of a concern with dress watches but dive & pilot watches could be a concern.... 

Just adding, Patek 5970/5070 don’t have full size movements neither does this one: But I couldn’t give a …… ...  

You've named two watches that are, in my view, HEROIC design work on the part of Patek to make a watch with a disproportionately small movement look great. The 5196P and the 5070 do more to demonstrate that this IS a problem than that it isn't, because th... 

Vintage collector from a long past era when I started collecting 35 years ago never gave it any attention. I guess I’m just from a different era 🤣 ...  

(and usually, as I think your examples even show, less egregious) ...  

Big watch trend had a lot to do with it to be fair

You'd get brands upsizing the cases significantly while using the same old movements that had been designed to go in smaller cases. This probably both gave us collector-types a sense that there was a proper proportionality that had been given up (which th... 

1) From the back : If there's a solid caseback, who cares about the size of the movement? If there's a see-through case back, the movement can look a little small if the case is much larger than the movement. 2) From the front : the size of the movement d...  

But so many more prefer that cut six

But at least it allows to clearly see the impact of a small caliber in a larger case.

See for example Girard Perregaux....

But perhaps as watch cases have gotten larger those times when it matters have become more common.

But then it is a no-go for me !!

I am definitely not in the “bigger is always better” camp. A small movement can be exquisitely made, reliable and technically superb. Still, I do believe (movement!!!) size matters. 😁 For me, it mainly comes down to visual HONESTY and mechanical INTENT. V... 

The dial may look more jammed than would be otherwise and the back also looks out of proportion. In case the watch has just 2 hands and closed back - none of these would be seen of course.

As mentioned by others the question is one of use case and balance. Like Arronax I don’t mind the small movement in the Cartier Drive Extra Flat as it is a two hander and has a solid case back. Watches that appear like they are highly myopic due to subdia... 

To me mostly(some exceptions), it ruins the proportions of the dial, a-la 5070 and 5970. It shows luck of effort…

I feel this is a cop out from manufactures using old movements from when cases were smaller (luckily we are swinging back to smaller). Also I find that , in my head, there would be more robust movement if larger plates etc. Also, on an open case back I li...  

I used to think it a bonus if the watch and movement were designed together and sized appropriately but these days reliability is more important to me than novelty. Would rather have a great movement that's been well proven over the years in a slightly ov... 

Tony: Question for me is it represents a certain laziness to design a movement for a watch. If functional is all we want, not sure we need to pay the kind of money that we do pay. So I am ok criticizing small movements (particularly when it impacts the di... 

as others have pointed out, if it impacts dial layout like date windows for example then it becomes an issue.. why Im always on the fence with all iwc pilot after the mark XV. On the flip side, it is nice to see a DNA consistent movement like the Panerai ... 

since it belongs to my idea of haute horlogerie that the movement fits the case and unless it is a two hander you usually do see it, despite design shenanigans, if brands make a larger dial for their established small movements. One repeat offender in thi... 

If it's a watch where the dial is interesting, then I don't mind a smaller movement within reason. It does seem a little half assed sometimes though. Kind of like stamped hands on very expensive watches...