You're right, they're definitely personal. I am disappointed that a brand I respected is losing that respect.
But like you said, its personal. If everybody in the world but me loves gigantic watches, so be it.
But really guys, this isn't mean't to be an insult or anything rude... but do you guys really think a 46mm watch that overwhelms your wrist looks anything but showy and gaudy?
PS: I think you'd be better off strapping a pocket watch to your wrist compared to that 55ml BP!
Well, wristwatches had a caesura at the last decades.
They transformed from tools to fashion.
Sure, no one wanted to wear an oversized tool, but now wristwatches are mostly fashion.
But fashion comes and fashion goes. And if it becomes boring, a new fashion pops up.
Maybe, the beginning of the end of the actual fashion has already started ?!
BTW, a tool watch ist much cheaper than a fashion watch.
Regards
HEBE
It is indeed a fact that many watch manufactures, over the last decade, are increasing the size of their watches. To me, a watch is an elegant and innovative way of bringing together the past and the future. Modern day materials to be used in combination with century old mechanics - think of a traditional perpetual calendar watch in a titanium case, for example.
IWC has a lineup of large watches. The pilot line has been "traditionaly" a large case watch line. The Portuguese line, a classic nautical line, goes up to 45mm with the Yacht Club - wich is fine by me, for the specific watch.
In general, I will never choose to wear a watch over 42mm - 43mm. Even if it's a sport watch like the Yacht Club. I can only imagine that IWC, as well as other wacth manufactures, create 45mm - 50mm wrist watches because people are bying them. Simple as that.
Innovative? Perhaps. Modern? Again...perhaps. Classical? No. Profitable?
Who really cares. "You" buy what you try,let that be an end to it.We are all watch friends,are we not.
Kenneth.
Salemyang,
Thank you for sharing your observations!
Your findings fascinate me because they are exactly opposite to my observations. However, I might not the in the best position to say so, because I am not a industry specialist. It is just something that struck me at SIHH and forums.
IWC has always had (relative to the market) some big watches in the collection, The Portugieser has always been a large watch. Even the Ingenieur of the 1960s was relatively large with its 36mm. When fashion started to meet "simplicity and functionality" watches became bigger and bigger.
Not too long ago IWC seemed to deviate from its "simplicity-functionality" roots by producing bulkier, modern, fancy looking watches. Some believe that had to do with the booming Eastern European market and the needs of the customers. There are not a lot of watch companies who did not jump on the same bandwagon. And frankly, one may like it or not, but that is what keeps businesses profitable.
More recently IWC seems to go back to its roots again with simpler, cleaner looking watches. The Portofino line and the new Ingenieur line are examples. Again, some believe that may have to do with the needs of Asian customers. I do not know if that is true but other vendors do the same thing.
So basically, I observe a different trend in IWC's and other vendor's collections. And I can't blame IWC for monitoring customer needs closely. In fact, it's a smart thing to do. We also can't blame IWC for riding the Limited-Special-OneTimeOnly-Edition wave because that is what we, customers, apparently ask for!
Just my two cents.
Peter
I had the same concerns till I tried them on. Below is a 45 mm Portofino that fits my small wrist just fine because of the 12 mm thickness. If you have issues with 44 mm watch, try the Portuguese hand-wound. With 10 mm height and nicely shaped lugs it will fit even a 6.5 inch wrist just fine.
I agree that the same cannot be said about a 45mm with 15mm thickness. For those thicker watches I prefer 42mm or below and the Portuguese line is then just perfect. If you read the IWC history a more recent success is the introduction of the Portuguese line with 40+mm watches. There are many who will buy those and proudly wear them. I am not personally worried or concerned about the larger sizes, I will leave BPs and other big ones to those with bigger wrists and stick to Portofino and Portuguese lines.
Ray
Yes. 100%.
It's a matter of personal opinion. I like the size and heft of a big watch. I know that 40mm or less probably looks more proportional on my wrist but I find those sizes to look too small. Others may disagree.
I'll buy the big ones. Others can buy the smaller ones. Chocolate or vanilla?
All my straps are XS and worn on the 4th loosest hole, and yet I find my self happy with my 5001 and 3717, what I would hate though is a 38-40mm watch with a height of 18-20mm as shirt cuffs may not fit, that's apart from all the dings that such watches would suffer on my wrist! So watches which have excessively thick cases I find to be annoying. I qualify and exclude that statement for an AT that needs to be thick as its a watch built to withstand excessive external pressure. But it's my opinion so I will live with my watches and if anyone wants to send me an original Portofino fried egg I will be more than delighted to keep it and wear it!
Fear not! that is the reason why they have recently released the new Ingenieur automatic, which have a much small dial size.
I'm with Alan on this one. You have options to chose among. If you don't like bigger diameter watches, don't buy one. I happen to have a preference for +44 mm. Recently I sold my Lange 1 as it simply was too small for me. It was a beautiful watch, but it got little wrist time. My BP's and the VC Portofino, on the other hand, at 46mm get significant time.
I prefer 44 - 46 mm. Portugieser 7 days is also ok, since optically looks bigger than actually is. Im happy that IWC is a dynamic company changing with the times, but also maintaining an element of heritage. If IWC would keep the sizes they had 10 or 20 years ago, I would probably be looking somewhere else. I would not mind wearing a smaller IWC from 20 plus years ago, since its a good representant of its era. RGS
Hmmm, I'm sure you know by now that many forum members here have great self-confidence and have no problems with that image (I know I don't). One of many positive traits of an IWC fan :)
Size does not matter, or it's all about size?
Guys, it's personal - some like their watches small others a larger watch on the wrist. What first attracked me to IWC contempoary watches, was / is their penchant to build bigger watches based on their great pocket watch movements.
I still like IWC watches for that - yet even whilst the BP's are iconic and beatifully handsome timepieces ... I dont own one as I feel it looks big on my wrist. I see them on Alan and Giovanni and others wrists - and I think Wow...that looks good.
@ one small correction, IWC are still manufacturing timepieces under 42mm. Including the 2013 Inge!
just a matter of time mark... it's coming to get you! =P
regards,
thang
Diameter is just part of the issue. Watches look radically different on the wrist depending on lug shape and articulation, size of bezel, case design, etc.
So true.. I have had some large watches that wear as if they are small and others that just cause the wrist to hurt..
I understand that there are models for which the big size is an essential part of their DNA - BPs and Portugiesers, for example. I am, however, somewhat disappointed that there are very few models left for those of us who generally prefer watches to be more discreet and of more classical proportions. And for those of us who would prefer to have a reasonably sized IWC watch with an in-house caliber, going vintage seems to be the only solution nowadays.