Opinion: Why Watch Lovers Should Embrace Wearing Small Watches

Even just a couple decades ago, if you bought a men’s wristwatch, it was probably small Really small Like, just-a-smidge-bigger-than-a-Kennedy-half-dollar small.

For nearly as long as men have been wearing watches on their wrists, watches ranged from about 33 to 36 millimeters, and those that were any larger were stylistic outliers and chunky sports watches In fact, some large watch designs from way back were derided for being unnecessarily big Oh, how times have changed Today watches in the 40 to 42mm range are considered “standard,” and if you’re looking at a chronograph or dive watch there’s a good chance it’s a few millimeters bigger still.

This change came recently and quickly, as hulking sports watches from IWC and Panerai became status items in the ’90s and ’00s and as the popularity of sports models from big brands like Rolex lead other makers to creep up case sizes, even if said . Source