New Speedmasters: Is 44,25mm to big for daily wear?

Posts
270
Likes
970
Agree - it fits you perfectly.
However the Rolex Explorer is an iconic piece. The Speedmaster Racing is after all just a Racing Speedy, i.e. non Professional, non Moonwatch, more fashion and trend related.
If your sympathy is rather evenly distributed, I would go for the rolex 😒.
If you like the Speedy better, get it and don't worry about the size.
 
Posts
94
Likes
1,389
I recently had the opportunity to try on the new racing speedy at an Omega event. They did not feel as being 'too large' (but I guess that depends on your wrist size, even though I consider my wrists as being smallish). I am used to wearing PO XL and a Tag Carrera 43mm and these did not feel bigger on the wrist than the Tag for example. These speedies were certainly thinner then the aforementioned watches.

I was with a friend who was very excited about the black dial with the orange hands before we tried them on, but when he put on the white dial he immediately fell in love with that one.

Here are some pics of the dials taken at the event (sorry for the poor quality):

 
Posts
6,832
Likes
13,797
Not too big to wear. And you can certainly pull it off. It is not an elegant watch at that size though. To me the proportions of the speedy are better off on smaller sizes. 42 is quite nice but every time I see a 39mm it automatically catches my eye. I have a little over 7.5 wrists and don't mind larger watches (Have a few) . But as an ONLY watch or a main watch I would not get one at that size.

I find proportion wise for watches 38 to 42 is the sweet spot for me.
 
Posts
2,152
Likes
3,810
I recently had the opportunity to try on the new racing speedy at an Omega event. They did not feel as being 'too large' (but I guess that depends on your wrist size, even though I consider my wrists as being smallish). I am used to wearing PO XL and a Tag Carrera 43mm and these did not feel bigger on the wrist than the Tag for example. These speedies were certainly thinner then the aforementioned watches.

I was with a friend who was very excited about the black dial with the orange hands before we tried them on, but when he put on the white dial he immediately fell in love with that one.

Here are some pics of the dials taken at the event (sorry for the poor quality):

Thanks for posting the photos. Which one did you prefer? Was the grey dial version also available?
 
Posts
2,152
Likes
3,810
I really can't see the OP settling just for one watch...we all know that once you buy your first luxury watch, you will inevitably feel the urge to buy a second one down the road...he is about to take red pill.😁

He could have a great two watch collection with a Speedy 44.25mm first and a more dressy but versatile watch later on, perhaps a Globemaster.
 
Posts
94
Likes
1,389
Thanks for posting the photos. Which one did you prefer? Was the grey dial version also available?
Yes, the grey dial was also available, but I didn't try it on. I find the orange accents a bit too much... (also on the black version btw)

I personally preferred the white dial version also. The two tone steel/senda gold version was also nice.

Overall really liked the racing dial versions and prefer them over the standard 9300 speedmaster (which is a bit thicker).

However, I have recently also (re-)discovered the Fois and I am starting very much to lean towards that one. :-/
 
Posts
2,152
Likes
3,810
Yes, the grey dial was also available, but I didn't try it on. I find the orange accents a bit too much... (also on the black version btw)

I personally preferred the white dial version also. The two tone steel/senda gold version was also nice.

Overall really liked the racing dial versions and prefer them over the standard 9300 speedmaster (which is a bit thicker).

However, I have recently also (re-)discovered the Fois and I am starting very much to lean towards that one. :-/

Perhaps red accents would have been more classy on the black dial...something similar to the Speedy MK2?



The two tone steel does look very nice in some of the photos I've seen.
 
Posts
1,802
Likes
10,156
Thanks for posting the photos. Which one did you prefer? Was the grey dial version also available?
I was browsing WatchRecon for a 42mm Moonwatch when I stumbled upon a Co-Axial model with a dented bezel. The gray dial version had been announced but was not yet in stores. I bought in the gray market and got an $8000 watch for 1/3 the price. $185 got me a new bezel, replaced by Omega with the warranty covering everything but the parts. This is the one I truly wanted. Closest in style to the basic Moonwatch 42mm but with automatic movement and bigger case.
 
Posts
15
Likes
12
Hi everyone,

thanks for all your your replies, they have been very helpful (even if I didn’t have the time to comment on all of them, I’ve read them all with great interest).

I’ve been to the city today and tried on some watches:
- Explorer (Ref. 214270, 2016 model)
- Speedmaster Moonwatch (Hesalite)
- Speedmaster Co-Axial (Caliber 9300)
- Speedmaster Moonphase (Caliber 9904, Baselworld 2016)

My conclusions:
- The Rolex is a fine watch but I want a Speedy! :-D
- All Speedmasters looked great on my wrist. 44,25mm is certainly the limit, but it does not look ridiculously oversized.
- Now I am going to wait (very impatiently…) until the new Speedmaster Racing models arrive. If this new model is all that I hope for, I will buy it. If not, I will get the original Speedmaster in hesalite - because _if_ I have to make a compromise, at least this one will save me a lot of money. Which I can then use to buy another watch…

Sounds like a plan, eh?
 
Posts
13,698
Likes
53,498
42mm is max for me and I own just one. Any thing bigger is like wearing a garbage can lid on your wrist. Owning a fleet of 35mm-38mm watches has really changed my perspective on what is a practical size for dress and casual wear.
 
Posts
5,071
Likes
15,650
Hi everyone,

thanks for all your your replies, they have been very helpful (even if I didn’t have the time to comment on all of them, I’ve read them all with great interest).

I’ve been to the city today and tried on some watches:
- Explorer (Ref. 214270, 2016 model)
- Speedmaster Moonwatch (Hesalite)
- Speedmaster Co-Axial (Caliber 9300)
- Speedmaster Moonphase (Caliber 9904, Baselworld 2016)

My conclusions:
- The Rolex is a fine watch but I want a Speedy! :-D
- All Speedmasters looked great on my wrist. 44,25mm is certainly the limit, but it does not look ridiculously oversized.
- Now I am going to wait (very impatiently…) until the new Speedmaster Racing models arrive. If this new model is all that I hope for, I will buy it. If not, I will get the original Speedmaster in hesalite - because _if_ I have to make a compromise, at least this one will save me a lot of money. Which I can then use to buy another watch…

Sounds like a plan, eh?

Yup 😀 But I'm guessing 5:1 that you won't stop with just one...😉
 
Posts
2,152
Likes
3,810
42mm is max for me and I own just one. Any thing bigger is like wearing a garbage can lid on my wrist. Owning a fleet of 35mm-38mm watches has really changed my perspective on what is a practical size for dress and casual wear.

FIFY

A rich man's garbage lid can be a poor man's entry to heaven.

I respect your POV but many here on the OF feel happy wearing larger watches at the 44mm range. As you well know sometimes the lug to lug measurement and how sharply the lug tapers the bracelet around your wrist can make a 44mm watch wear smaller than a 42mm.

I have found that the Speedy 57 Co-axial only has a 41.5mm case but the straight, elongated lugs make it wear much larger on the wrist.

I personally do have issues with dressier watches above the 40mm range, which is why I think this Speedy Racing is OK, being a sportier version of the previous 9300 model.
 
Posts
1,059
Likes
2,430
Hi everyone,

thanks for all your your replies, they have been very helpful (even if I didn’t have the time to comment on all of them, I’ve read them all with great interest).

I’ve been to the city today and tried on some watches:
- Explorer (Ref. 214270, 2016 model)
- Speedmaster Moonwatch (Hesalite)
- Speedmaster Co-Axial (Caliber 9300)
- Speedmaster Moonphase (Caliber 9904, Baselworld 2016)

My conclusions:
- The Rolex is a fine watch but I want a Speedy! :-D
- All Speedmasters looked great on my wrist. 44,25mm is certainly the limit, but it does not look ridiculously oversized.
- Now I am going to wait (very impatiently…) until the new Speedmaster Racing models arrive. If this new model is all that I hope for, I will buy it. If not, I will get the original Speedmaster in hesalite - because _if_ I have to make a compromise, at least this one will save me a lot of money. Which I can then use to buy another watch…

Sounds like a plan, eh?

I think this is an excellent plan! I have the white dial Speedy Racing on order and latest word from my AD is an expected August arrival. I will look forward to swapping excited delivery pics!

Although a foregone conclusion at this point, I will also reaffirm that 44mm is not too big on your wrist as well as not being too big a watch in general. There are plenty of opinions and preferences for watch sizing voiced on the forum. Take them as just that, opinions and preference. Personally, I don't like watches below 40mm and much prefer larger sized cases. It's entirely (well almost entirely) subjective.
 
Posts
2,152
Likes
3,810
I think this is an excellent plan! I have the white dial Speedy Racing on order and latest word from my AD is an expected August arrival. I will look forward to swapping excited delivery pics!

Although a foregone conclusion at this point, I will also reaffirm that 44mm is not too big on your wrist as well as not being too big a watch in general. There are plenty of opinions and preferences for watch sizing voiced on the forum. Take them as just that, opinions and preference. Personally, I don't like watches below 40mm and much prefer larger sized cases. It's entirely (well almost entirely) subjective.

Great news Bushido! Are you satisfying a Daytona LN crave/itch or did you just fall in love with the Speedy white dial version?

Unfortunately after the Olympics here in Rio my OB has slowed down delivery of new watches due to the local recession. I will probably see Basel novelties during some international trip before I see them locally🙁

BTW what did you think of the Racing two tone grey version?
 
Posts
44
Likes
41
My daily is a 45.5mm PO 2500 which for me is the perfect size, my DSOTM at 44.25 is way smaller than those two measurements would suggest it doesn't feel or look like a big watch in fact my colleagues didn't believe me when I said it was 44.25 they guessed at 40mm.

I don't really understand how anyone could say the 44.25mm speedy is a "big" watch myself as Omegas always wear smaller than the size would lead you to believe IMHO but ETTO.

The new racing speedies look wonderful as well.
 
Posts
275
Likes
471
My daily is a 45.5mm PO 2500 which for me is the perfect size, my DSOTM at 44.25 is way smaller than those two measurements would suggest it doesn't feel or look like a big watch in fact my colleagues didn't believe me when I said it was 44.25 they guessed at 40mm.

I don't really understand how anyone could say the 44.25mm speedy is a "big" watch myself as Omegas always wear smaller than the size would lead you to believe IMHO but ETTO.

The new racing speedies look wonderful as well.

Yeah, they wear more like a 42mm watch (and the Moonwatch's bezel is only 40mm,) but I just find anything over 40mm at the bezel too big for me. I also don't like thick watches.

Of course, it has everything to do with body type, style and how one wears the watch (high and tight vs. more loose and down near the wrist.)
 
Posts
2,170
Likes
5,730
Is a Speedmaster too big??? You're 6 feet 3 inches tall mate! A fine figure of a man! You should be able to get away with a 'fakkin' alarm clock strapped on ya wrist!😕
My opinion: It's a beautiful watch and it looks great on you... no need to worry!👍
Edited:
 
Posts
1,059
Likes
2,430
Great news Bushido! Are you satisfying a Daytona LN crave/itch or did you just fall in love with the Speedy white dial version?

Unfortunately after the Olympics here in Rio my OB has slowed down delivery of new watches due to the local recession. I will probably see Basel novelties during some international trip before I see them locally🙁

BTW what did you think of the Racing two tone grey version?

Honestly, I'm totally digging the white dial Speedy, absolutely love it, and prefer it to the Daytona C. I had the fun opportunity while on a trip last month to try on pretty much any current production Daytona I wanted other than the new rubber strap versions just released. I played with the Daytona C, white gold, yellow gold, two tone, platinum, bracelet and strap versions along with a bunch of other configurations. My take away was that while I like their looks, they're too small for me and do not offer the "wrist presence" I enjoy in my personal watch ownership. The strap versions I had trouble fitting over my hand to even try on. Ergo, happy to have tried them all out and happy to know once and for all that they're not for me.

Unfortunately, I missed seeing the grey racing Speedy to offer a report. Hopefully, I can provide some pics of it when I pick up the white dial in a couple months for you!
 
Posts
676
Likes
1,056
Black dial racing is definitely the way I would go. Sadly they really are too big for my tiny boy wrists