Today at my lunch time I visited the most biggest AD in downtown, and tried these:
- AT 38.5mm gray
- AT 41mm blue
- Rolex Oyster Perpetual gray (39mm)
For the purpose of the rest of my post, I have a 6.25 wrist, thin, but flat, it can handle my Speedy Moon 42mmx48mm, but honestly, I found it limit. I confirm with two different vendors, at two different store and they confirm me that the size is not too big, limit, but still ok, and sport look. So, just to understand, SpeedyMoon is the max I can handle.
First, I tried the AT 38mm gray edition, I fall in love with it immediately. On my wrist it is perfect size, nice presence, simple and mature look, not too dressy, not too sport, great balance. I hate small watch (under 37mm, I'm really out). Bellow you'll find a list of all watches that I tried to understand where I come from.
After testing the AT MidSize, I decide to give a try to the Rolex Oyster Perpetual (39mm). It’s the the gray dial. Through the glass counter my first impression was it look bigger than the AT Mid. I know, 39mm instead of 38.5mm, but, 0.5mm it’s not a lot. So, for the purpose of the exercice, for a moment, forget number; height, dimension, weight, etc. I want to talk about perception & impression. I put it on my wrist and I was impress by clarity of the dial, perfect reading of the dial, and this crystal don’t has any AR. The gray dial pops-out so nicely, so beautifully, the sunburst is awesome, hands, indices. It’s an incredible watch, more dressier than the AT for sure but I prefer the impression and the feel of the AT more. The AT has a sport twist that I prefer. So I came back to the Omega counter and at the same time an another vendor put back a AT blue dial that was out for a wrist test for an another client. I said, [me] "wait a minute, I want to see this one, is it a 38mm too ?”, "no", said the vendor, "it's the 41mm version"… “Well, I was sure it was a 38mm too, let me tried this on my wrist I’m curious".... put it on my wrist, the balance was perfect and curiously the case is the same size of my Speedy that I found little "too big” for me. So “why the AT 41.5mm give me the impression that is less bigger than the speedy?” I asked to vendor!. Well, the vendor explain me that there's more than just the case size factor judge/consider, it’s an overall assembly, bezel, hands, dial, side height, finish, color, etc. Vendor convince and re-assure me, AT 38mm or AT 41mm, both are perfect, there's no winner here, there’s no reject. Just a question of preference and feel. After, I look back again on my dream watch, it is the SpeedMaster MARK II edition, but this one, due to the case design, the height, the bulk look of it, it's a fact, confirm by the vendor first, very not for my wrist, overkill, I need to forget it vendor said...you know, when a watch is your dream watch, and, never you will be able to wear it because the fit is just not right for YOU. So, to make a short story, don't just stop your purchase base on a size criteria, tried it on your wrist, ask vendor and people around you that can evaluate the overall look on you. Never reject a watch just by it’s case diameter. It’s more than just a question of case diameter, but a synergy with your wrist too, the morphology of your wrist, again here, never base your buy base on 7.5-8 wrist, 6.25-6.5 etc. of other people, because it can be a mesure of circumference of a flat wrist, a round, a skinny, etc. It can be a tall person, short person, heavy person, etc. it's a question of balancing, and, the "personality" of this watch give on you...maybe you like the watch, but, on you, it's just look silly....ask, never hesitate to ask other to receive input about perception.
My opinion is there one thing that is more important than the case diameter or any other size, height, weight parameters,etc. the most important, it’s the lug to lug size, if it pass over your wrist width, it’s a “big" no no no. Even if it’s a 38mm diameter. Pilot watch can be pretty long, near 50mm sometime, even if the diameter is 39mm, so be more careful about this mesure than any other one.
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This is all watch I had and current one.
X: CURRENT
O: SOLD
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Gen:
O : Fortis B42 Pilot
O : Invicta (rolex look)
O : Luminox stealth F117
X : Luminox 3100
O : Luminox 3059 colormark Orange
X : Luminox 7051 Colormark 38mm (my current beater watch)
X : Omega SpeedMaster Pro Moon 2008 - Sandwich Sapphire version (My Graal watch, and daily one, but I found it little too big)
O : 2x Seiko Chrono with 7T92 mvt
O : Seiko SKX007
O : Seiko SKX013 (38mm version of the 007)
O : Seiko Monster
O : Seiko for GF
O : Speedbird III PRS-22 Ivoire
O : Sinn 356 (Hesalite crystal, solid case back version )
O : Sinn 142 (LEMANIA 5100 mvt)
O : Traser military watch type 3
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rep:
O : Breitling Navitimer (re-lume by Ziggy & double AR applied by RWG-Chief)
O : Breitling Avenger(wayyyyy too bulky, height was ok, but to heavy/bulky for my skinny wrist, but couldn't resist to try it)
O : Omega PO 42mm Orange (2006 version)
O : Omega PO 42mm Black (2006 version)
O : Omega PO 45mm Black (2006 version)
O : Omega Seamaster Chrono Diver 300 Blue (~ 2005)
O : Rolex - Sea Dweller
O : Rolex - Submariner Ceramic Blue dial
O : Rolex - Submariner Ceramic Black dial
O : Rolex - Submariner GMT
O : Rolex for GF
X : Tag Heuer for GF
O : IWC Aquatimer, Lucky 7 version (re-lume by Ziggy & double AR applied by RWG-Chief)
O : IWC Mark XV (My first rep, a really bad version, pure crap, I learn a lot from here)
O : IWC Mark XV (a better version, double AR applied by RWG-Chief)
O : IWC 3717 (MODed with swiss 7750, re-lume, double AR applied by RWG-Chief)
Take a looooooong rep break, and, watch itching come back again.... sooooo I'm back to watch forum.
