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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    The (Less intimidating) Watch Thread

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    • neph93N
      neph93
      見習いボス
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      @Stuart.T:

      This is currently getting me to places on time

      Stuart, what’s the diameter of this watch? I still can’t work out if 42-44mm is going to be too chunky for me.

      «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
      We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

      • Dame Vera Lynn
      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • ChrisC
        Chris
        Raw and Unwashed
        Joined:

        42 would not, 44 might be.  Really depends on your attitude about it.

        Rocket's U1 is 44mm, if you can remember how it looked on his wrist.

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • den1mheadD
          den1mhead
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          @neph93 both of these are 44mm and I have slim wrists and (long monkey) arms

          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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          • neph93N
            neph93
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            That’s very helpful B, thank you for taking the time (Oooh, pun!).

            «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
            We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

            • Dame Vera Lynn
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            • Stuart.TS
              Stuart.T
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              @neph93  it's a 44 I believe (but I'm not completely sure). I've never really checked spec to in-depth. I think watches, like shoes/boots for me are best bought in person generally (availability pending).

              This Seiko was about £295 and it is a work horse. It's one of their kinetic self wonders, I wear it everyday and I have to say it's not lost a minute in 3 years

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • GraemeG
                Graeme
                啓蒙家
                Joined:

                @neph93 I'm pretty certain you'd be fine with a 44mm watch. Provided the lugs don't reach past the edge of your wrist, it'll work.

                The best thing to do would be go down to your local dealership, try on things at a similar size, and see what sort of fit works. I quite like Hodinkee-approved 36mm pieces, but also get on with something huge like the Omega Ploprof. For some reason, 39mm is the diameter I like least. 😛

                If I was going for an everyday piece, I'd be after one that's not too big, and not too thick. Say a 40mm with no more than 12mm thickness. It'll be easier to wear, and not snag on cuffs.

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • ChrisC
                  Chris
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                  @Graeme:

                  If I was going for an everyday piece, I'd be after one that's not too big, and not too thick. Say a 40mm with no more than 12mm thickness. It'll be easier to wear, and not snag on cuffs.

                  This is good advice.  Over the years, I've come to the realization that the watches that annoy me aren't the ones with the largest diameter, but are the ones that are the tallest on the wrist.  Constantly catching on sleeves, banging into doorways and counters, that's what causes me to not wear one.

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • JDelageJ
                    JDelage
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                    The height is less of a problem on watches that present a smooth, rounded profile to the shirt cuff, or a series of steps (as is the case with a box domed crystal). I find that even a reasonable height of 13mm will be a pain in the neck if the watch presents a flat "cliff".

                    Aggressive dive bezels can also be a problem.

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • neph93N
                      neph93
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                      @Graeme apologies mate, I've asked about this before due to my lack of knowledge regarding watch sizes before and you wrote the same considered, sensible response then. This was more of a selfish whine caused by too much internet watch interaction and not enough real world experience. Sorry to have wasted your time.

                      That being said, the discourse about height that it engendered has been useful to me, thank you @JDelage @Chris . Everything I'm interested in is around 10-11mm, with the exception of dressier watches that come in around 8mm and that last Hamilton I posted that goes to 13mm (and isn't really on my list anyway).

                      I'm going to get something around 40-42mm I think. My wrist isn't small but I wear jewellery there so the watch will have company.

                      «Stevie Heighway on the wing!
                      We had dreams, and songs to sing…»

                      • Dame Vera Lynn
                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • DougNgD
                        DougNg
                        Joined:

                        The distance between the top and bottom lugs generally is a better measure if a watch will look "too big" on your wrist.

                        The SKX seems smaller on the wrist than a Seamaster, even though it's 1.5mm larger in diameter side to side.

                        Personally my sweet spot is 40mm for a watch without a diving bezel, 42 with a diving bezel.

                        A 42mm+ without a diving bezel on my wrist starts to look like a pie pan.

                        I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • DougNgD
                          DougNg
                          Joined:

                          @Chris

                          Internal rotating bezels remind me of that ride in the carnival when it spins around and you stick to the walls. I don't personally care for them either.

                          I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • GraemeG
                            Graeme
                            啓蒙家
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                            No worries @neph93, you're just obsessing. 😛

                            That sort of 40mm sized watch should be fine. Don't be worried about going up or down a size.

                            If I was getting one watch to do it all, it'd probably be one of the Omega Railmasters. They're in that 38 to 40mm size, would dress up reasonably well on a strap for the rare formal occasion, and are slim enough to fit under a cuff. Plus they're a little quirky, have an accurate movement, and are resistant to magnetism.

                            One of the Hamilton field watches would work the same way. Though not as cool, the Baume et Mercier Clifton Baumautic does everything the Railmaster can, but at less than half the price. Or maybe a Tissot Powermatic.

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • AnesthetistA
                              Anesthetist
                              見習いボス
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                              Still one of the best deals in the business.

                              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                              IG: bluehandsslim

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                              • ChrisC
                                Chris
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                                @DougNg:

                                Internal rotating bezels remind me of that ride in the carnival when it spins around and you stick to the walls.

                                Man I used to love those things when I was young!  There was one at the amusement park near my hometown called The Oaken Bucket, because it was wood paneled. I could ride that thing forever.  Probably puke after one go round now…

                                @Graeme:

                                If I was getting one watch to do it all, it'd probably be one of the Omega Railmasters. They're in that 38 to 40mm size, would dress up reasonably well on a strap for the rare formal occasion, and are slim enough to fit under a cuff. Plus they're a little quirky, have an accurate movement, and are resistant to magnetism.

                                One of the Hamilton field watches would work the same way. Though not as cool, the Baume et Mercier Clifton Baumautic does everything the Railmaster can, but at less than half the price. Or maybe a Tissot Powermatic.

                                You're never going to be able to settle on just one watch, are you? 🙂

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • den1mheadD
                                  den1mhead
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                                  @DougNg:

                                  Internal rotating bezels remind me of that ride in the carnival when it spins around and you stick to the walls.

                                  The "Waltzer" ?

                                  or "The Cage" ?

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • AnesthetistA
                                    Anesthetist
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                                    I think he means…

                                    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                                    IG: bluehandsslim

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                                    • DougNgD
                                      DougNg
                                      Joined:

                                      What Anesthetist said. It was called the Gravitron over by me.

                                      Funny I was looking at the MKII's the other day. Unfortunately they're not taking orders for that model right now.

                                      I like the Railmaster too, unfortunately no date=no go for me.

                                      I know violence is not the answer, I got it wrong on purpose

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • GraemeG
                                        Graeme
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                                        @Chris:

                                        You're never going to be able to settle on just one watch, are you? 🙂

                                        I'm way too indecisive to ever settle on one, so I probably won't own any. 🙂

                                        Personally, I like the purity of a "one watch collection". I don't see the point of owning half a dozen similar pieces, I've seen people with a number of Speedmasters or Rolexes.

                                        The one exception would be to own an everyday watch (such as a Railmaster), and a dress piece (probably something like a Vacheron 1972, Patek Golden Ellipse, or LUC XP Skeletec).But I don't wear a suit very often, and I haven't been to a formal event in years, so spending a fortune on one doesn't strike me as sensible.

                                        @DougNg embrace the lack of a date. That's what your mobile phone's for. 😛

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                                        • JDelageJ
                                          JDelage
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                                          There's something to be said for collections that have a theme though. They're more interesting than collections that are "whatever I saw first that I liked".

                                          I'm toying with the idea of a bronze watch collection…

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • GraemeG
                                            Graeme
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                                            Nigel Cabourn x Timex field watch. It's got fixed bars, which is a quirk of military timepieces, and comes with a Ventile strap. It launches on Friday, and will probably be rather expensive.

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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