Subexplorer
[Moderator - WristScan]
33303
WS for Friday 28th: Big or Small. Does Size really matter? Open Now!
Hello dear friends!
As announced last Wednesday the Theme asks our participants to share their feelings and preferences about case sizes.
In the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s men’s watches were generally offered with cases ranging around 34 to 36 mm maximum.
I can well remember the faces of my work companions and their jokes in September 1966 when I arrived to the office one morning proudly wearing for first time my 40 mm 5513 Submariner which my parents had presented me for my 18th birthday.
They had never seen such a big and thick watch, much less with that “funny” rotating bezel which every one wanted to know how it was used for.
Things changed a lot during following decades and as clothing and customs changed the trend for all Watch Brands was to keep offering larger and larger cases which made the 40 mm case of my Sub look small.
Brands like Panerai or IWC have big cases of 47 or 45 mm as part of their DNA but most traditional brands presently offer cases ranging from 42 through 45 mm.
I personally feel comfortable with watches in the 40 mm to 42 mm range (except for Panerai which I love to wear in spite their 47mm size) but I also enjoy wearing vintage watches like my old Omegas or Bubblebacks which sport cases of 34 to 36 mm.
I cordially invite participants to share shots of they bigger and smallest watches and briefly explain their preferences about case sizes.
As usual you may submit photographs for our traditional three Categories:
Best Wrist Shot
Best Static Shot
Best Watch of the Week
You may begin posting in this same thread right now!
Cheers!
Abel
Extremes: The little 33 mm steel case of this charming Ariston chronograph from the 1940’s is dwarfed by the traditional 47 mm case of the Luminor Panerai Marina Militare. I enjoy wearing both in spite of differences in size and purpose of these watches.
More shots to be posted later.
Manufacture
Explore the Officine Panerai 'History And Legend' Exhibition in Singapore, featuring vintage watches and the iconic Slow-Speed Torpedo. Discover Panerai's heritage.
10 replies2387 views
Manufacture
Panerai celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Landmark Prince's boutique in Hong Kong with an exhibition of iconic timepieces, showcasing history, exclusivity, and innovation.
1 replies731 views
Vintage
Explore the Panerai Radiomir 3646, a true piece of history. Amanico shares insights on its Rolex origins, sandwich dial, and unique vintage appeal. Discover why this reference is crucial to Panerai's heritage.
30 replies5219 views
Manufacture
Panerai celebrates a decade of its Hong Kong boutique with an exclusive exhibition of 48 iconic timepieces, blending Italian heritage and Swiss innovation.
11 replies5708 views
Collection
Explore Panerai's iconic dial variations, from Luminor to Radiomir, and discover collector favorites like the PAM 249 California dial. See diverse designs.
22 replies2501 views
| view and vote on the images
Load More Comments >>
WS for Friday 28th: Big or Small. Does Size really matter? Open Now!
Hello dear friends! As announced last Wednesday the Theme asks our participants to share their feelings and preferences about case sizes. In the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s men’s watches were generally offered with cases ranging around 34 to 36 mm maximum. ...
Big but beautiful ! ...
Hello dear Abel ! Loving the theme for Wristscan this weekend. Let’s start with a big one ;-)) ... ...
Thank you so much dear Captain! Glad you like the Theme and thank you for sharing your Big one from your collection. This is a wonderful pilot´s watch and its big size is both part...
... of the DNA of this type as well as giving it that strong character to this awesome piece. I look forward to view some additional shots of Big and Small from your fine collection! Have a nice week end my dear friend. Abel
Now a few shots of some of my favorite Big and Small watches...
... I feel that Size really matters as it adds to the charm or interesting character of a watch. Some vintage watches like Rolex Bubblebacks look so charming due to its size among other characteristics. Panerai and Pilot watches have such a strong charact...
My dear Abel, Even though I do not routinely participate in wrist scan I always look forward to your contribution.
You have a marvelous and world-class collection my dear friend. It never ceases to amaze me. Que le vaya bien amigo. Tony
Hello my dear Tony!! You are always so kind
... and generous with your comments to me! Appreciate so much! It is my big pleasure to share my watches here and I’m happy to know you like them so much. I wish we will be able to meet some day soon my friend! Un abrazo muy fuerte y cuídate mucho mi amig...
Hey, dear Abel !.. You did it again : what a nice line-up of Biggies and smalls !.. You‘ve successfully inundated us with attractive shots and tic-tacs !
Among your whole series, (with some good acquaintances) my personal favs are - the Radiomir with the waterdrops on the dial - great shot ! - the other Radiomir shot (don‘t know the exact Ref.), in yellow/ orange with the „Fuse“) type pic on the mirror typ...
Hello my dear friend HS! Ha ha ha!! You say well my dear HS: as customary I tend to inundate my fellow members with the flow of shots and tic tacs! Ha ha ha!
The Radiomir shot: it is reference 687 with a degradee brown dial, it looks almost yellow in the center under some sunlight angles. The mirror surface was the roof of a dark color car in a parking lot! Lol! I tried to capture the reflex of some palm trees...
Even if I repeat myself.. Thx so much for your kind & interesting comments to your watches and type of photography !.. it is interesting to share conceptual thinking regarding watches !
I‘m always curious, when I open your posts, what will I be happy to see each time ! Have a great upcoming week, yourself ! Cheers !!
I thank you again for your always so kind comments and compliments to me and my collection my dear friend. It is a big compliment what you tell me and I appreciate that so much.
It is true, I also open your posts like meeting a good old friend and wishing to see what nice surprises you bring with shots and tic tacs. I´m happy to find your entries and I wish some day we will have the pleasure of a real meeting and chatting in pers...
Superb selection as always, Abel!
Especially the contrast shots are great! Wasn’t aware that you had such an extensive Bubbleback collection, though 👏🏻👍🏻
Thank you so much for your kind coments dear KM! I´m happy to know you liked these shots. I started my collecting journey with old and less known brands of chronographs and Bubblebacks...
... and considering my love for the Rolex brand these little watches fascinated me. I feel they are a jewel which still don´t receive the attention they deserve among Rolex collectors. Have a nice Sunday my dear friend! Abel
Thanks a lot my dear friend Nicolas for your kind compliments. Yes, I know the 662 is one of your favorite Pams. Also a favorite of mine.
Abrazos y buena semana amigo mio! Abel
Not forgetting ...
How the size of collars and ties have changed. Health Warning: Smoking can seriously damage your sense of dress. ...
“Wears more like a 40mm, should fit just fine”
In all seriousness though, I tend to prefer watches in the 34-38mm range. More of an issue of comfort than style for me. ...
This Seiko Lord Marvel 5740-8000
Is a good example. 35mm if I remember correctly. I haven’t shown it on the forums because it is almost definitely a redial, and because I cracked the hardlex (and have yet to get it replaced), so it isn’t exactly the nicest piece. Still, it is the first w...
Hello again mhz! Beautiful watch with a very vintage size at 35mm which I feel adds to the charming looks of your "Lord Marvel" High Beat. Hopefully you can get an original...
... dial and the correct glass for it. Agree that it is a very interesting watch being a milestone in Seiko history as their first High Beat movement. I wish you´ll enjoy participating in our WS so much! Hagwe! Abel
The sound is great
It's a loud watch, relatively speaking. Sounds like a little machine gun next to your ear. And it has been very accurate during practical use. Hopefully one day I will find a genuine example!
Usually I wear big watches, up to 50 mm diameter.
But my latest acquisitions become smaller and smaller. 38,3 mm and now 38 mm Nivada Chronomaster and Chrono (Kurono) ...
Right. Now they offer a new edition with old Valjoux 23 movements.
What else they plan to do
Great theme dear Abel . Thanks for hosting this weeks WS
I do like all kind of watches , big , small , rond or any shape tbh . My sweet spot is around 40mm . But i still own my first proper watch that I bought more the 30years ago. Back the this was a normal size This Corum isn’t that big either but still got s...
Hello dear Watchonthewrist! It´s my big pleasure to host this new edition of WS and I´m happy to know that you like the Theme for this week end.
The beautiful watches you share show that you enjoy watches regardless their sizes and confirming that it is not size what matter but the designs and personal tastes what makes for the enjoyment of our timepieces. Your Baume & Mercier may be "small" for t...
Some very cool specimen from both ends of the spectrum, Watchonthewrist!
That Corum is just so cool 👌🏻👍🏻
42.something to 34 ish
Hi All My largest watch Then my smaller ones Then there's my Swatches - all strapping brutes of 34mm of Swiss plastic Cheers JML ...
Hello dear JML! Thank you so much for sharing with us your Big and Small ones. I´m glad to know you enjoy so much watches regardless their size.
Seiko makes some great diving watches and you show a good example. Charming both your Oris and Swatch watches and I´m specially fond for that lovely swimmers dial one! Keep enjoying your collection so much no matter their sizes! Hagwe! Abel
Having worn a Swatch this weekend…
After a long time, I fully understand your liking for the smaller pieces, JML 👌🏻👏🏻
It's A Trick Question
Imho it depends on how the overall design is visually complementary to one's wrist. On one hand I love the Panerari 1118 TRON, yet there are times I love wearing the super-thin Bvlgari Octo FS. Big... Small... The whole point is to enjoy your time ...
Hello Enjoythemusic! Thank you so much for posting your thoughts and great watches in this thread. They deserve to be viewed by all our friends here. Agree with your thoughts about...
... sizes and designs. You show two superb watches with strong but different personalities. You know I love Panerai and the Bulgari Octo is in my wish list. Such a beautiful design! Keep enjoying them so much! Hagwe! Abel
True that…
And often it’s more a question of proportions than of the outright size 👍🏻
Delma and De Bethune
The smallest (35mm) and the biggest (43mm) watches in my collection. 20 years ago, the Delma was my daily wear and it was considered uni-sex. Now it seems too small for me to wear to meet people, although I wear it sometimes at home. The 43mm De Bethune D...
Hi Sfwatchlover! Welcome to our WS event and thanks a lot for sharing with us your Big and Small timepieces. Even if small for todays standards, your charming Delma deserves to have wrist time...
... not only inside home. 35 mm is a very enjoyable size I feel. Your DB is truly breathtaking and with a strong personality. Keep enjoying them so much! Hagwe! Abel
My big pleasure Sfwatchlover. I´m happy to know you liked the theme I choose enough to inspire you to participate for your first time. I wish you will keep participating in future editions as well.
WS hosts always try our best to find a theme each week end to attract as many participants as possible to enjoy sharing their shots and exchanging personal points of view about them. Ultimately it is the members participation what makes for the fun, enjoy...
Size doesn't matter, most of the time
Normally I would not give much thought to buying or owning a 37MM watch, conventionally believing 37MM to be too small. However, I am so thrilled to own this rare Zenith A3818 “ Cover Girl” Revival. She wears perfectly! ...
Welcome to our WS event Rremiker!! Absolutely agree with you. We should be open minded regarding watches. If we adjust our collection to certain size range or style it would mean...
... to reduce our enjoyment of many interesting and beautiful timepieces not fitting our pre set limits. The Cover Revival limited edition is a wonderful watch. 37 mm adds to its charm and vintage looks and I´m sure you are enjoying so much wearing it on ...
I am really impressed that Zenith resisted the urge to supersize these!
And they wear like a charm as a result. Great piece 👌🏻
thanks for the theme, Abel!
here are some of mine in various sizes... my smallest watch at the moment is the 5196R at 37mm my biggest are at 45mm and i don't see them often in this forum. the first one is a Milus Tri-retrograde Seconds. i like the way the seconds are presented like ...
It is my big pleasure to host and bring this theme to our classic WS event my friend Terbaboom! Thank you for sharing your timepieces and feelings about watch sizes here.
You share them in stunning photographs indeed. Very interesting Milus and its original way of displaying seconds! Your 5196 Calatrava is a very elegant dress watch with a nice size at 37 mm for this type of timepieces. I guess 45 mm is a wearable size for...
thanks, Abel!
indeed, although i prefer 40mm, i'll still buy other sizes if i like the other aspects of the watch
My pleasure dear Terbaboom! Agree with you that this is the way to go: we shouldn´t restrict ourselves with a certain size and have the soul open to bigger or smaller ones if we really like a watch.
Keep loving and enjoying your nice collection my friend. Cheers! Abel
Some truly interesting pieces there…
The Milus is definitely very innovative with its triple seconds display - not seen that one before 👌🏻👍🏻
Good theme Abel
My smallest boy size DJ My largest 42mm 5070G In recent years my go to size 36-39mm HAGWE ...
Thank you so much for sharing with us your small and big watches Quan! Glad you liked the Theme. The Rolex would be around 34 mm I guess. A size considered "small" for today...
... standards but which I find very wearable and as a matter of fact I wear from time to time by Bubblebacks in this size. Your superb Patek 5070 is a modern classic and at 42 mm sits very nicely on the wrist. What a beautiful chrono! We share similar tas...
Load More Comments >>