Horological Meandering

I've been pondering this question for a long time now. With the release of 60mm Egiziano, I can't help but wondering where would that leave pencil wrist guy like myself...

Long ago, I used to go with the simple criteria that:

When I look at the watch straight on, all parts of the head would need to lie within my wrist.

Unfortunately that didn't last very long with the release of AP Offshores, IWC's Big Pilot as well as Panerai's 47mm Luminor/Radiomir.

So I tried to come up with a more relaxed guideline and here's what I'm going with at the moment:

I would look at the angle between the strap and the caseback. The minimum of that angle would need to be 90 degree:



Big pilot on my puny wrist



47mm Luminor



47mm Radiomir

That served me well, sort off until the T3/Offshore Shaq:

I remembered wearing the T3 to the movie preview and someone literally pointed at me laughing... (Well I sort of knew that guy! Worse, this humiliation was quickly forgotten when my dealer called me for the Offshore Shaq. I have to admit it was a handsome watch and I decided to give myself a few months to 'get used' to the watch...



Needless to say the watch still looks like a joke on my pencil wrist!

Now I can't even begin to think how I can possibly pull off that 60mm Egiziano

So anybody got some bright idea for me?

This message has been edited by Jester on 2009-01-25 09:02:52

I am sure...its all in the eyes of the beholder...

but yes..the trend is not toward larger watches...all the major watch makers have something above 42MM...

I have seen numerous small wrist and big watch shots...and yours aren't out of the norm or joke-like

its really up to you...I was recently considering a 45MM Artic Diver from Kobold (all big watches) on my 7-inch wrist...and I just could not get over it...so...I got a Sub instead...

however...the 60MM is really OUT there...

u gotta lay off them big watches but if you can't resist and have to wear those luvly big pieces than you gotta train with the best!



hope alls well wif u dude the panerai 60mm watch is a clock. anyone who says it can be worn on the wrist has to be built like ahhhhnold or... uhm cartman.

cheers
raph

But obviously it didn't work out as planned! 

 

 

not for your wrist

- AT

The Egiziano is to be worn on a big leather Jacket.

ROFLMAO.

When it's too big, it is too big, my friend.

I have no problems with 47 mm Luminors or Rads, but I have with ROO... ( ??? ).

The Montoya I owned didn't fit my wrist, so I sold it.

For the Egiziano, this is another problem:

90 % of us won't be able to wear it, and the 10% of us, who are true monsters ( LOLOLOL ) will be lucky monsters!

BUT, is this watch made to be worn?

Don't think so, and this is quite the only exception I found to the golden rule: Never buy a watch you can't wear.

Best.

Nicolas

with the intention of spending lots of wrist time.

Although it is not a cheap watch to be bought and just stay in the safe, as most of my pams are 47mms, i would like to have it in my collection and what ever comes out from panerai and it is 47mm+.

I will give it a try and hope that i will be able to wear it often.

 

alepos

Jester,

In a post a few threads down, I speculated on possible issues surrounding watches that are obviously ill-fitting.  A point I did not make there, but which your post elicits, is that as long as people keep buying oversized watches that don't fit them, the manufacturers will have no incentive to make equally attractive models on a human scale.

Would you like these large watches more or less if they were scaled down to a size that fit you well?

Park

 

Between the choice of hommage to the original design AND wearability, for the case of Panerai, I probably would go with the former as it's the essence of the brand.   (Or at least that's how I justify paying up for all these time-only pieces w/ not-so-impressive movements!)     Moreover, I'm defnitely no stranger to safe queen given my habit.

However, there's a very IMPORTANT distinction:  Do I buy a watch WITH the intention of her being a safe queen?   I can say almost all of my 'safe queens' were NOT purchased with that intention.  It's just that for one reason or the other, they ended up staying in the safe...

and wrap that 60mm beast around the plaster !!

 

not so comfy helas  , but hey you have to do some offering huh !!

 

 

 

nt

It's not a watch to be worn in today's age.  Those who will buy it will probably use it as a desk clock or it will turn into a safe queen. 

I'd use it as a desk clock if I were buying one.

- AT

This one !





Fr.Xavier

The Panerai Black Seal Compass is 61mm and got some attention when it first came out.  Hardly anyone bought them and those who did, I have yet to see one on someone's wrist :P

They're just meant to be safe queens and not for everyday wear.

Cheers,
Anthony

... is that compared to other dive equipment, it's not that bad. Modern depth guages and tank pressure guages are similar in proportion. (What's the WR on that, by the way)

The issue with the 60mm watch is that it's huge compared to other watches fulfilling the same function.

But again, that misses the point. The watch is a re-issue of a diving instrument. So what if it lives in a safe? It's not a serious piece of equipment anymore. Just an interesting object with historical roots.

 

 

Unfortunately my winder won't  work w/ the Egiziano...

This message has been edited by Jester on 2009-01-25 20:31:20

are made to be worn over a dive suit while piloting a missile beneath the seas (see early Panerai lore).  Not many of us will have a knack for that sort of duty.  So, it is to be enjoyed in whatever way one chooses--desk clock, safe queen, etc.  On a wrist it would be out of place.  My 2 cents worth.

tempusfugit

I love the BP and 47mm Luminors, but they do not work on my wrist (I tried several times to buy a BP, but just could not do it).  The 60mm 341 is another story all together.

Craig  

since in tropical sure will not wear leather jacket...so this option is out

not a diver either so again this option is out too

hence left Anthony's suggestion as desk clock

and I would rule out HANG on The Wall

so this become more Wall time instead of Wrist time and also not safe queen ...LOLOL

I heard that Panerai is teaming up with Prada. They are offering a special line of Egiziano shoes.....

where do I place the order?  This message has been edited by Jester on 2009-01-25 20:49:41

(Latin) Who watches the watchers?

 

Jester, my good man – it depends on whether you are watching the watch or expect others to watch you.

Your initial criterium seem reasonable to keep the watch head within the confines of your wrist silhouette or the straps aesthetically at sensible angles to the lugs. Then, the watch was functional and ergonomic (did not catch on clothes and other body parts).

When you exceed the norms of a God-given body, you are taunting Fate and irreverent to You-Know-Whom.  Thus, people laugh at your disharmonious 'watch et wrist' dimensions.

That only matters if you are watching the watchers......

A venerable watch collector, much older and wiser than both of us, told me: "Wearing a too-large watch in public is like buying extra-large condoms when there is a queue of people behind you at the drug-store; the excess just flaps in the wind or 'in your mind'."  

Regards,

MTF

 

Given the status of my collection, I really don't think what other sees/thinks of my watches would be of utmost concern to me.  95% of them couldn't tell my watches from their Rolex.    The remaining 5% are probably all watch geeks like myself...

If anything, I'm hitting my limits set previously and contemplating pushing it in order to possibly enjoy the next stage on horological evolution(!)    It certainly seems that I'm stuck this time nevertheless it'll be interesting to see if this trend of 50mm+ would form a momemtum of any sort.

I do like your analogy of condom purchase though!   

This message has been edited by Jester on 2009-01-26 07:51:48

... To my mind there's one justification: history. Panerais have always been big and the original Egiziano was 60mm, like this year's re-issue.

As a rule, I completely agree with your first criteria (watch head not bigger than wrist width). But when you wear an Egiziano you don't just wear a watch - you carry a monument to horological history around.

So 60mm Egizianos - yes. ROO Shaqs, T3s and other distasteful bling - no.

By the way, watches are meant to be worn. So if you're afraid to wear one in fear of looking like an idiot, I have only one advice: don't buy it but leave it in the care of a more worthy owner, rather than let it wither away in a vault..

All of this imho, of course

Rgds,
Jos.

Regarding your comment on distasteful bling, you're hitting where it really hurts, although I tend to agree with you.   Been trying to 'talk' myself into falling for the Shaq but...

First of all great collection of "big" pieces Jester!
I must play this one against all team :0)
I just love big watches but OK the 60mm Egiziano is
my upper limit also.
If I could by one and I hope I will one day
I'll surely ware it regardless queue behind me in drugstore :0)
I think that maybe not all but most of us have this "look ma no hands"
in us ... and in today world is there besides car and shoes
better way than timepiece to state your persona ... some like bling some like gold and some like it hot
and this PAM is hot hot hot  my love at first site...
So without further ado if and when fellow Purist acquire one I'll gladly come and have little how to wear 341 presentation ;0)
To spice my argument picture of me in guards post on Castel Sant’Angello
55mm piece on my "wrist" …. think that extra 5mm would be just perfect LOL.
and also as you all know there is no better way to start talking about watches with stranger than wearing BIG watch
this one brought me some delightful time talking about watches with complete strangers
Finally to stop my mumbling I will say that 341 is definitely SUMMER piece
and the point that Park made is excellent ….. would we love this big watches if they were smaller?
Best
Damian

 

nt

You want me to get one and bring it to you in Croatia next summer, eeeh?

Best, my friend.

Nicolas

I feel that I'll need lot of "medicine" to withstand meeting you
without nervous breakdown
Best
Damian