Over the past year or so it has become clear that the trend of downsizing is on the horizon for the world of watches. For most of history, watches that measured under 40mm were always extremely popular, particularly during the 1950s. Then came the 2000s, and the extravagance that came with it. Watches began to get bigger and bolder, as people wanted a timepiece that would make them stand out. Now, we’re reverting back to historical watches as people want vintage and smaller timepieces.
Are smaller watches better?
It’s not a case of smaller watches being ‘better’ than larger watches, it’s all down to personal preference. There is no ‘one size fits all’ case when it comes to buying a watch that will work for you.
You might find that for your upcoming climbing adventure you’d prefer a larger watch so you can see it easily. Then again, you could prefer a smaller watch to wear with your favourite dress suit. Rest assured that there will be a watch size out there for you.
Is a 34mm case size too small for a men’s watch?
It all depends on the size of your wrist, for a smaller wrist a 34mm watch may work perfectly fine. However, if you have got a larger wrist this case size may be a little too small. There are a lot of misconceptions about what is the ‘correct’ size of a men’s watch.
Size isn’t just about measuring your wrist in millimetres, in fact, for men the ‘usual’ size of a watch is from 35-45mm. Although there are a lot of great quality watches which may fall outside of that size bracket. You might want to take into consideration other factors such as the thickness of the watch case, and the case shape. One of the easiest ways to buy a new watch is to purchase it online, however, it doesn’t compare to going into a physical store and trying a watch on your own wrist to gauge the correct size.
What size of luxury watch is best?
If your wrist is between 14-18cm, then select a watch with a diameter from around 36-40mm so the watch won’t completely overpower your wrist. If your wrist measures 18cm or above, then a larger watch may be better, such as one which is 44-46mm. This is how you know what size luxury watch will suit you best.
You should also consider the case thickness, the case depth is usually proportional to the case diameter, so if the case increases in size, then most of the time the thickness will too. Watches with a case between 38-42mm usually have a thickness of 7mm, and cases larger than that may have a thickness of 9mm or more.
The comeback of smaller watches
Huge sports watches might have been on-trend in the early 2000s, however, it seems like we’re moving away from this, and we’re going in the direction of smaller watches that are easy to read. Below are reasons why this could be the case.
The increased use of mobile devices has led to the shrinking size of watches
The creation of mobile phones affected most industries, and the watch industry definitely felt the repercussions of the introduction of the iPhone too. Since we now always have a phone on us, the need to wear a watch to solely tell the time has nearly completely vanished. It’s very rare that we don’t have our phones on us now, and when we want to know the time, we just look at our phones. So, what’s the point of owning a watch now?
Most people tend to buy watches not just for its purpose, but for its craftsmanship and design. Wearing a watch is more than just an accessory, it’s a piece of art too. Although people still wear watches, the need of having a huge embellished luxury watch to establish status is no longer there. Plus, we don’t need a huge watch face to read the time or date on it, because most of the time, we probably already know it.
Watches are becoming more and more high-tech, which means that they need less space on the face
Smartwatches introduced a new way of looking at watches, and smartwatches tend to be a lot smaller than classic 40mm watches. Traditional watch brands have had to keep up with the trend. A smartwatch often has more capabilities than a traditional watch and is often smaller. So, watch brands had to change some of their styles to accommodate this change in fashion.
Consumers have been demanding sleeker designs in recent years
The pace of the modern lifestyle has meant that people don’t want bulky watches sitting on their wrists for the entire day. The primary function of a watch is to tell the time, so sometimes buyers don’t want the added embellishments which can sometimes come along with buying a new watch. Sometimes simple really is better, and you just want a watch which tells the time. After all, you’ve got a phone to do everything else for you. A classic timepiece can add elegance to a day or evening look, in a way that a smartwatch potentially can’t.
People are just wearing what fits on their wrist, as opposed to what is on trend
If you’re looking to invest in a new luxury watch, then don’t think about the current trends. The thing about trends is that they can change, and quickly too. One minute large watches are in, the next smaller watches. Instead of focusing on the size of a timepiece, instead, think about what you’re looking for in your new purchase, and whether it properly fits the size of your wrist.
Do good things really come in small packages?
If you’re looking to invest in a watch made by the likes of Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin etc, you’re guaranteed to be purchasing a quality timepiece. Good things do come in small packages, but they also come in large packages too.
