In Praise of 'Mid-size' modern watches

NT931 · Mar 8, 2014

While browsing the Zenith website, I was struck by how the 38mm EP reissues were categorized as 'For Ladies' ::facepalm1::

Omega also categorizes the 38.5mm AT as 'mid-size'.

I have a skinny wrist but hey, surely 38mm isn't all that small. While there's been lots of debate online about whether watch sizes are too big, or whether the '46mm clock on the wrist' madness is finally dying down, 'mid-size' modern watches still aren't that common. 36-39mm seems the sweet spot for me.

So if we arbitrarily define 'mid-size' as 36-39mm, what mid-size modern watches do you guys have? Wrist shots would be helpful.

My ulterior motive is, of course, to see what other mid-size modern watches there are out there which I am as yet unaware of 😉 .

In decreasing order of size, I'll start with my beloved 38.5mm AT

A 37mm JLC

And finally a 36mm RO.

And if I ever get a chance to buy one, there's a recently announced very slim and very lovely JLC MUT at 38.5mm 🥰

So, wrist shots guys! Show me what I've been missing 😁

Privateday7 · Mar 8, 2014

Omega AT 8500 38.5 mm

Rolex Datejust 36 mm

Omega Deville Chronograph 36 mm

Tag Heuer Link calibre 6 Tiger Wood 39 mm

Omega Connie Double Claw 35.5m

ulackfocus · Mar 8, 2014

NT931
So if we arbitrarily define 'mid-size' as 36-39mm, what mid-size modern watches do you guys have?

My whole group of modern watches practically. 😉

The 38.5 mm Skyfall AT at the ballpark (Citizen's Bank Park, Philadelphia):

The 39 mm Chrono Cockpit at the beach (North Shore, Oahu):

Alpha · Mar 8, 2014

38.5 AT 8500 Opaline

MikiJ · Mar 8, 2014

"On the Way to Going Broke" I had a few safe queens. I'm not sure if these would be considered "Modern" but for sure they're Mid-size.

Really loved this Lange 1815 Up & Down. Hated to see it go ;-(

There's something to be said for an Enamel dialed Patek #5115 ;-)

jwalther · Mar 8, 2014

Great thread! I'm trying the "one watch guy" thing, and I've found this one fits the bill perfectly. At 37mm it's a tad smaller than the regular AT, and wears more comfortably.

Noisy Nova · Mar 8, 2014

At 35.5mm, this was a big watch when it was new.

LouS · Mar 8, 2014

here's one of the notorious Ladies Primeros you mention in your opening post, which I wear very comfortably.

speedbird · Mar 8, 2014

I'm glad sensibility has returned to the watch world

Hijak · Mar 8, 2014

39.5 Speedmaster triple date

36.25 Seamaster Professional 300m

pitpro · Mar 8, 2014

Can't play.
Don't own any 'Modern' watches except this Casio Waveceptor.

NiklasARvid · Mar 8, 2014

One that I use a lot, slightly under your limit at 35mm, just hoping for a blue dial in Basel...

CanberraOmega · Mar 8, 2014

LouS
here's one of the notorious Ladies Primeros you mention in your opening post, which I wear very comfortably.

What is the ref for that? All I can find are diamond encrusted pieces.

ulackfocus · Mar 8, 2014

pitpro
Can't play.
Don't own any 'Modern' watches except this Casio Waveceptor.

Casio is Australian for "beater". 😁

citizenrich · Mar 9, 2014

imho, the rolex oyster case is far and away the best looking and most comfortable design of any watch case ever made. it just looks good on the wrists of 99% of all men.

I'm a big boy or as they say man sized. I was a d1 linebacker and ~25 years later I'm still 6'3 , 250 ish. I'm equally comfortable wearing a mid century 32mm dress watch or a modern 15mm x 45mm tool watch. the comfort of the watch I'm wearing has more to do with the clothes I'm wearing much more than than the actual dimensions of the watch.

I hate it when a guy fronts a watch much in the same way a recently engaged woman will walk around shoving her left hand in everyone's face. Big turn-off and really lame. Of course dudes with Napoleon complexes are always the worst offenders. Always.

Anyway, i've driven the train far off the tracks. I think 36mm is the perfect all-around size for modern, post-modern, pre-modern or...past-modern watch.

NT931 · Mar 9, 2014

Man, you guys are giving me lots of interesting watch ideas that the missus is not going to like 🙄 Really lovely mid-sized watches displayed - thanks!

CanberraOmega
What is the ref for that? All I can find are diamond encrusted pieces.

I couldn't find Lou's watch on the Zenith website either. After some googling, I think this is the model (03.2150.400/21.c706). And Amazon lists it as a Ladies' model ... sigh

ulackfocus · Mar 9, 2014

Zenith isn't the only brand that made that stupid mistake. Roger Dubuis lists a 36 mm dress watch as the lady's version of the 43 mm men's watch. Some of Omega's 39.5 mm Speedmaster Reduced models are listed as lady's watches too, prompting the 42 mm Professional model fan boys to call them ALL woman's watches.

LouS · Mar 9, 2014

NT931
I couldn't find Lou's watch on the Zenith website either. After some googling, I think this is the model (03.2150.400/21.c706). And Amazon lists it as a Ladies' model ... sigh

that's the one. It's the sleeper among the 38mm Primeros. It looks even better on a bracelet, except that the bracelets do tend to be very short on account of the 'ladies watch' business. I've been stalking it ever since seeing it at a pre-release press event - where I expressed some disbelief at the labeling, until I finally got it on ebay about a year ago in a straight auction for less than half of what Amazon is asking. Zenith really shot themselves in the foot with the marketing.

BadBlue · Mar 13, 2014

39mm Tissot / 7 inch wrist

hondaman · Mar 25, 2014

Speedmaster Triple date

In Praise of 'Mid-size' modern watches

NT931

Privateday7

ulackfocus

Alpha

MikiJ

jwalther

Noisy Nova

LouS

speedbird

Hijak

pitpro

NiklasARvid

CanberraOmega

ulackfocus

citizenrich

NT931

ulackfocus

LouS

BadBlue

hondaman

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