Copyright gqindia
If you were born with skinny wrists, you’ve probably faced this very real struggle eternally – the search for the best watches that don't look like you've strapped a dinner plate to your arm. Kevin Cureau, a watch expert and current GPHG Academy Member, knows the feeling well. “If you have smaller, skinny wrists, finding a watch that fits nicely can be challenging, but there are a few things you can look out for," he says. "The main advice I always give is to try on a watch that you like in person. Looking at images and reading specifications is never enough to have a real feel for a timepiece.” Be honest with yourself as well. “If you have a small wrist, chances are that you will never be able to wear a large watch, so start by eliminating watches you know for certain you can’t wear, and narrow down your choices with what will fit your wrist best. A perfect fit will definitely enhance the experience and relationship that a wearer has with a watch.” Generally speaking, the sweet spot sits between 36-38mm, “although sizes under 36mm have become quite trendy in recent years,” add Cureau. “I find that the length of lugs impacts the wearability of a watch quite a bit, so look for watches with short lugs. This allows the strap or bracelet to curve nicely around your wrist.” Watch collector Bill Adler has some thoughts about this particular wristwear dilemma too. “One of the quirks of thin wristedness is that most watches stand out on your wrist. If you’re built like Arnold Schwarzenegger, your watch might be as noticeable as a rowboat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. But not so if you have a small wrist. Half the fun of wearing a watch is people noticing your wristwatch." To round up the best watches for skinny wrists, we DM'ed a bunch of watch pros as well as some collectors who have small wrists thus have made it their speciality. Cartier Santos-Dumont and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 37mm “Two watches that I find quite attractive for collectors with small wrists are the Cartier Santos-Dumont Black Lacquer ref. WSSA0046, and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 37mm ref. 15450ST. It's a good two-watch collection with one sports watch option for day-to-day wear, and the second watch being the dress watch option of your collection.” Cureau Yema Superman Bronze “Dive watches are particularly difficult to match with a thin wrist, but the Yema Superman Bronze melts beautifully on narrow wrists. Good to go to 300 meters, this 39 mm timepiece has a lug-to-lug length of 48 mm, and the lugs fit snugly, making it look great.” Adler Piaget Upstream “If your wrist is around 6.5 in (16.5 cm), but you like the look of a chunkier sports watch, I can't recommend this unsung hero from the Piaget archive enough. This model was made for only a few years in the early 2000s, but it has a uniquely curved case that makes it comfy for a smaller wrist even though it's chunky.” Sarah Stafford Turner, founder of @tinywatches. Patek Philippe yellow gold Nautilus 4700/103 and Berneron Mirage “If I could choose only two watches to wear, they would be my vintage Patek Philippe yellow gold Nautilus 4700/103 set with diamonds and rubies, and my newly acquired Berneron Mirage 34mm with a chrysoprase dial. My Nautilus was love at first sight. I adore its 28mm size on my wrist and the striking shade of yellow gold. It feels more like fine jewelry than a watch. I love how creative and quirky Berneron watches are. Sylvain is truly a genius when it comes to designing a watch. The asymmetric case and matching hands are so intriguing. I get so many compliments from collectors and even from people who know nothing about watches. It’s such a great conversation starter. I also love that both pieces are rare. The chances of bumping into someone wearing the same watch are practically zero, which makes them feel even more personal to me.” Stefanie @tinywrist. Simon Brette Chronometre Artisans “At the heart of Simon Brette's approach is a commitment to collaborative excellence. He builds each timepiece with the help of independent artisans, masters of their craft like engraving, dial making, movement finishing and having an extreme attention to detail. The result is a spectacular and elegant masterpiece with a slim profile and a size of 39mm making it a sweet spot both for elegance and comfort. A dream watch for anyone, also those with smaller sized wrists.” Ron Erling Pedersen, @dr.skinnywrist. Nixon Time Teller “The Time Teller is a classic, wearable watch available in 37mm, 31mm, or 26mm case size. I got one with a funky acetate case for myself, then a brushed stainless one for my dad, and because it's so sleek (9mm thin), it looks perfect on us both." Turner @tinywatches. Guinand Flying Officer 12 Hour Automatic “Small pilot chronographs are also hard to find, but Guinand’s Flying Officer 12 Hour Automatic, logging in at 37.5mm, looks terrific on underfed wrists.” Adler Cartier Tank Americaine “There's no greater one-size-fits-all watch than the Tank. My favourite for smaller wrists is the Tank Americaine, which has a slight curve to the case that makes it fit beautifully and naturally on small wrists.” Turner @tinywatches. Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse “For a classic, timeless, luxe look, the Ellipse flies under the radar in the shadow of the Nautilus. It looks great on smaller wrists, thanks to its ultra-thin profile. Plus, you can get it on either a leather band or the almost mesh-like chain metal bracelet Patek has made famous -- both are comfortable, highly contoured options.” Turner @tinywatches. Vintage Wittnauer from the '50s “When I’m in a serious dress-up mode, I strap on something vintage. The era of Mad Men and before was the time of small wrist paradise. My art deco Wittnauer from the '50s always looks sharp and elegant peeking out from under a dress shirt sleeve. Vintage watches are the ultimate go-to choice for those of us who, because of our narrow wrists, are called upon to retrieve the remote whenever it falls behind the couch.” Adler Piece unique “two hearts” from Ondrej Berkus “Unique watches expressing your style, mood and personality? Go independent. Berkus is self taught, doing everything himself, using traditional tools like lathes and drills rather than CNC machines embracing the old-school artisanal approach. Each watch is entirely unique, made in dialogue with the watchmaker and tailored to your vision and style. The 38 mm size, short lugs and case in titanium is a perfect and a comfortable fit for a smaller wrist. The Mammoth tusk dial with it’s purple-blued meteorite hands and the double balance wheel makes this watch a cool and awesome statement piece.” Pedersen, @dr.skinnywrist. Sinn 556 (38.5mm) “The 38.5mm Sinn 556 with a lug-to-lug length of 45.5mm is a perfect – and gorgeous – match for thin wrist. I love the mother-of-pearl dial variant.” Adler Via gq-magazine.co.uk
