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But it wears larger ...

janice&fred
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S.H. S.H.
Proportions, bezel or no bezel, dial size, bracelet width, everything is important

Good points. What I noticed on 34 mm watches like the Rolex 6694 manual wind along with similar sized Tudors is the dial color also makes a big difference, as well as crystal profile. Pictures can't really show this as the watch has to be on the wrist. Rolexes and Tudors in the 34-36mm range will "wear larger" with silver or light colored dials, while dark or black smaller. The lower the crystal profile the larger the watch will wear as well. Same with sharp edged vs rounded acrylic crystals. Rounded will make the watch appear larger as tall sharp edged crystals' diameter catches the eye and doesn't blend into the case as well.
 
Muttley
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I bought a Seiko Black Monster when they were a 'thing' some years ago. 43mm case, but believe it or not, I ended up selling it because it was 'too small' on my wrist. Which sounds weird when I know that 40-42mm is the 'sweet spot' for what I think looks good on my wrist. If you think I've been smoking something a bit sketchy by saying a 43mm watch was too small, google an image of the original Seiko monster, and hopefully you'll see why I thought the way I did. Clue - the bezel is so darn big it makes the dial look way too small - sort of like a porthole in the side of a ship. A bit of an exaggeration I know, but every time I looked at it on my wrist I couldn't get past the mismatch of bezel/dial.
Interestingly enough, I see that the later model has a much smaller bezel, more in proportion to the dial, and makes the dial the centre of attention, as it should be.
And the point of the above is that the size on paper doesn't mean small/large/just right until you actually see it on your wrist.
 
RadiumWatches
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The only thing I notice never fails is watches with white dials wear bigger. And PVD/DLC black watches always look smaller.
 
Stripey
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Muttley Muttley
I bought a Seiko Black Monster when they were a 'thing' some years ago. 43mm case, but believe it or not, I ended up selling it because it was 'too small' on my wrist. Which sounds weird when I know that 40-42mm is the 'sweet spot' for what I think looks good on my wrist. If you think I've been smoking something a bit sketchy by saying a 43mm watch was too small, google an image of the original Seiko monster, and hopefully you'll see why I thought the way I did. Clue - the bezel is so darn big it makes the dial look way too small - sort of like a porthole in the side of a ship. A bit of an exaggeration I know, but every time I looked at it on my wrist I couldn't get past the mismatch of bezel/dial.
Interestingly enough, I see that the later model has a much smaller bezel, more in proportion to the dial, and makes the dial the centre of attention, as it should be.
And the point of the above is that the size on paper doesn't mean small/large/just right until you actually see it on your wrist.
I know exactly what you mean. I think a lot of G-shocks suffer from this.
 
Dan S
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STANDY STANDY
This watch always wears larger due to the longer lugs

D4C50F80-BF5E-4817-B57B-DCC4117FBA72.jpeg 92A896A0-CC76-414F-A713-12D8478A21AA.jpeg

That's a real beauty that I haven't seen before.
 
Dan S
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Muttley Muttley
I bought a Seiko Black Monster when they were a 'thing' some years ago. 43mm case, but believe it or not, I ended up selling it because it was 'too small' on my wrist. Which sounds weird when I know that 40-42mm is the 'sweet spot' for what I think looks good on my wrist. If you think I've been smoking something a bit sketchy by saying a 43mm watch was too small, google an image of the original Seiko monster, and hopefully you'll see why I thought the way I did. Clue - the bezel is so darn big it makes the dial look way too small - sort of like a porthole in the side of a ship. A bit of an exaggeration I know, but every time I looked at it on my wrist I couldn't get past the mismatch of bezel/dial.
Interestingly enough, I see that the later model has a much smaller bezel, more in proportion to the dial, and makes the dial the centre of attention, as it should be.
And the point of the above is that the size on paper doesn't mean small/large/just right until you actually see it on your wrist.

I feel somewhat the same about vintage Blancpain Fifty Fathoms. Obviously these are highly desirable vintage divers, but the proportions don't appeal to me very much, at least in photos. I've never had the opportunity to have one on my wrist.

https://thespringbar.com/blogs/guides/blancpain-fifty-fathoms-mil-spec-watches/

1953_Blancpain_Fifty_Fathom_wtih_non-numeric_dial.png
 
Larry S
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I’m good between 34mm and 42mm. “Wears Larger“ is really about design and wrist presence.
 
janice&fred
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RadiumWatches RadiumWatches
And PVD/DLC black watches always look smaller.

I never thought of that and you're right the PVD Sinn I had always struck me as smaller than it measured.
 
STANDY
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Dan S Dan S
That's a real beauty that I haven't seen before.

Well wait to you see what’s inside.
EB8EAAF1-280C-4BDC-A99B-B37E3693FBBA.jpeg


Movement looks brand spanking new
DF31734C-8507-41B3-8646-4929033A8196.jpeg
Edited:
 
JwRosenthal
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Well wait to you see what’s inside.
EB8EAAF1-280C-4BDC-A99B-B37E3693FBBA.jpeg


Movement looks brand spanking new
DF31734C-8507-41B3-8646-4929033A8196.jpeg
If it hasn’t been called- dibs
 
abrod520
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It's all about the thickness of the bezel / crystal wall. I've had small watches wear larger because the dial goes all the way out to the edge; I've had larger watches wear smaller because the bezel is a bit wider. For watches with external bezels, I find that the proportion of the bezel width to the dial diameter has a lot more effect on the "perceived size" than the actual dimensions.

Here are three watches, similar sizes (though not exact). Which one is the largest?

49DF5F2B-8517-428E-8EFF-83485903738A.jpeg


And another three, again similar dimensions but not quite exact. Which one is the largest?

86660A9C-66A1-48D2-85E4-F8CA8F35FDFE.jpeg


Ultimately, as with case thickness, it really comes down to the design of the watch, rather than the on-paper dimensions.
 
Redwes25
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queriver queriver
NOMOS watches fall into this camp. I'd love to have one but the larger dials 41-42mm look too large on me, whereas I can get away with that size with other brands, and their 35-36mm are a bit small for my taste.

I have a Tangente 38 and like it. Wears pretty large given dial and the long lugs but it is a good fit and a great modern reasonably priced dress watch.
 
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