Hi all, hopefully, some of you can help me out here. I'm in love with the Seamaster 2531.80 and have been hoping to buy one for a while now. The issue I have is that my wrist is on the smaller side, so I've been considering going for a mid-size which is around 36.5mm instead of the 41mm full-size model. I want to know if any of you guys own a mid-size Seamaster and how it fits on the wrist? Is a mid-size a bad idea because it's just a little too small or do you think I should go for it?

 

Just how small is your wrist? The short answer is yes it is a bad idea, the mid size is not the best choice, not just because of the overall diameter, after all many 36mm watches are wonderful, it is because the dive bezel robs so much real estate leaving a tiny dial area. I have owned both, the full size is much better in every respect.

Someone who hasn't owned one will be along any second to say that if it is good enough for Prince William then it is good enough for you, but do remember that he was only a boy when his was given him.

 

What size is your wrist? Mine is only 6.5" and I really thought I couldn't go over 40mm until I bought a cheap 42mm watch to test, and you know, it fit pretty good. I realize other measurements like thickness and lug to lug matter, too, of course.

Maybe buy a $25-30 watch to try out a bigger watch and see how it works on your wrist?

 

What is this BS about size?

I wear watches from 30mm to around 42mm and choose them as an accessory to my clothing. I am not a big guy. I would feel (and look) like a total doofus wearing a big ass diver with a power suit and cuffs. If I had to use only 1 watch for everything it would probably be a 34mm Seamaster or Constellation. Goes almost anywhere, with anything. Nothing looks stupider to me than a 50mm watch on a guy that's less than 6'6" ( 2 meters) and 275lbs (125kg). Compensating...

Needs a picture:

 

I have the 2551.80, and love it. Before this, I had a 2062.50 (mid-size, black dial/bezel, quartz).
I have a small wrist (6.5 in circumference, 55mm flat-of-wrist), at 5'7", 155 lbs.
I could probably make do with the full-size 2531.80 (never tried one on), specially since it has a relatively low profile at 11.5 mm thick, but I think it would be at the limit, aesthetically.
Keep in mind, mens' watches used to be around 32-38 mm, and weren't considered "too small"...

 

For most of wristwatch history, nearly every man on the planet wore a watch that size or smaller.

I can be done!

I own the midsize, and wore it almost exclusively for years.

8” wrist, 6’2” and 220lb.

Never once in the real world had a person say, “gee, guy, not sure about your wristwatch size choice.” Such thing only happens on watch forums.

 

To speak to @padders point- I don’t own this watch so I can’t speak with authority on how this particular watch wears, but I do own many vintage divers in the 35-37 range and on my 7-1/4” wrist I find them perfect, particularly when wearing long sleeves in the colder months.
That said, in summer when I have my sleeves rolled up, I find they look a touch small to me on my bare arms and tend to wear my 38-42mm bezeled watches...it really is all about context and taste- no right or wrong.

 

^^^This. I own 2 of the midsize and I bought them specifically for wearing with long sleeves. I do wear larger watches in the summer with short sleeves. I find the mid-size a great value, the difference on the market is around $650 USD.


Mid-size

 

Hey! Forstner looks great on it! Gonna’ have to try it...

 

BS? I will stress the point again since some seem have to missed it that my issue above is not with the watch external diameter being 36mm, it’s with the tiny ~24mm dial. To show that I am not sizeist, here is a 35mm Seamaster I love:

 

I agree with you. The mid-size Seamaster looked very small at my wrist because the dial is very small. A lot of vintage Omegas have better dial proportions compared to the case. Here a 36.5mm that fits me perfectly due to the bigger dial. I wear mostly 34-37mm Watches and the Seamaster Mid-size looked bad.

 

You and I think alike. Before I started collecting Omegas, back when funds were rather more limited I had a 2 watch setup for about 5 years: a mid size SMP and a Dynamic Gen 3. I too much preferred the Dynamic for its larger dial. When the mid size SMP was stolen, I moved onto the full size and haven’t looked back. Finding the perfect SMP has involved some churn, but I am mostly there now.

 

I disagree, sorry - though I won't start calling your alternative view BS...

I wear a number of 33-36mm watches, but the mid-sized SMP looks off and the one I tried didn't feel right. I owned a Seiko SKX013 once which shared the same issue of, IMO, poor proportions and got rid of that. I have pretty small wrists and don't like the newer SMP, as it has grown out of the sweet spot for me.

The older SMPs like the OP is asking about are slim too, so wears light and appears well-proportioned.

FWIW, if I should own only one watch, it would probably end up being a 36mm Certina DS

 

I only have one Omega, the mid size 300M and while it is smaller than all my other modern watches, it's not a problem.
Only notice it when it first goes on my (smaller) wrist for a session but because it has such a legible face (black) it's certainly not a problem with visibility.
Love mine, it's my best watch!

Alan

 

Beautiful watch, and a good fit.

 

Just buy the 2531.80 and love it, I wear tiny watches on my 8 1/4 inch wrist and love them. So you can wear a 2531.80. My my wife says a 16610 looks small to me it's just beautiful.

 

To be honest why ask anyone. How does it feel/look to you? After all you are going to wear it. Too small for some, is just right for others, and too big for some.

 

I had the same question, here is the thread:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/seamaster-300m-midsize-thought.107756/

I since tried the 42mm, lug to log is not that big...

 

the older you get the more you'll shrink. when you're 75 the 36mm will look like a 41mm

 

Actually, 70 will do! The Certina is the big guy at 36 width whilst the other two are 42 lug to lug (I think).