Patek Philippe

As always, people try to see how far they can go and what the demand really is. Once, the limit is known, brands make the right correction to get the right balance.

I feel that today, it is quite balance as there are offers for everyone.

It is not because a brand provides 45mm than we should buy it. It is not because we don't like it or it doesn't matches our wrist that we should "forbid" the brand from doing it.

Each of us would like that a brand creates what we like only, that's natural  

Why did they choose Salmon dial, I don't like that... why those hands, I prefer the others... why these lugs, these numerals and so on...

I think it is the same for the size, even though a clear massive orientation can change the image of a brand and that is a limit to monitor.

Today, after a few years, we have I think a good balance between the 37-40mm watches and the 40-42mm for Patek. Each brand of coure has to make its one balance regarding its market target.

2. From our forum's perspective, I think that things are different and not representative enough because of a too small sample.

So getting an opinion of a trend just from the members who are frequent posters here doesn't give a clear image of the overall clients opinion. We are here more on the conservative side for instance.

The more time passes, the more the new generations will come to watches with their tastes, background. This is linked to how their country evolves, their work (today's market propfile is not the one we had 40 years ago), how aesthetical standard evolve etc.

There wil always be a difference in views between generations.

Here, I always saw people liking vintage sizes (let's say <36mm) and younger or mid aged members more on the 37-40mm, +1 or +2 for the complicated models etc...

It's been difficult for a few years to make people understand that 42mm is not nonsense. That the size is not an absolute matter.

A 35mm watch will not look the same on a 16cm wrist and a 20 cm wrist, flat or rounder etc... Same for a 42mm watch.

On the other hand, a 37mm watch on a 16cm wrist would imho look similar to a 41mm watch on a 20cm wrist.

When you add a 2 hander dial or a dial displaying more infos,n sporty or dressy, the thickness etc... it is I think easy to see that many factors depend and not only a rule based on a threshold.

But I see more and more that people are integrating this now.

I remember when getting my De Bethune (44mm+) that it was a paticular watch and that, at that time (2012), the watch was what mattered, not the looking on my wirst. After a while, I changed as the comfort and proportions have gotten more importance for me.

I'm glad Patek has remained quite balanced during this period. They were never really excessive and we have a few watches like the 5905 and 5524 that are 42mm (I leave the Celestial aside because of its purpose, showing a night sky) and now 1 Aquanaut version with the 5168.

This was a little long but it is a subject that is often discussed as we are all different and we'll all have our perception on the size of a watch. I think that what is important is understanding that aside of our own view (on our wrist), it works differently for others (excessive sizes for other purpose put aside of course).

In fact, we could even say that the size could be only a personal matter. We don't have this discussion about for instance Leaf hands (old looking versus charming etc...) thus sizes should maybe be discussed as any other elements: hand's shape, type of movement, dial color etc...

Best, Mark

PS: today I'm more a 38-41mm guy, even if I could get a 42mm 5070 as well in the future

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