Growing Watch Sizes

The most recent release from Rolex, The Deepsea Challenge, Features a 50mm case. Although it is a different concept, The newly launched Apple Watch Ultra model has a 49mm case. Even with just these recent examples, You can see that the size of men's watches is gradually increasing. Does this reflect the fact that the average human body size is also getting bigger?

What do you think is the average size of a men's watch? Only 20 years ago, Most watch brands including Rolex mainly released models that did not exceed 36mm to 40mm. The Submariner, Daytona, And GMT Master, All with long histories, Were also within this range. As a result, Watches over 42mm were often nicknamed "Big Face".

However, Now there are so many lineups over 40mm, Such as the Yacht-Master, Datejust 41mm, And Oyster Perpetual, That big sizes no longer stand out and even look ordinary. When did this trend begin? Let us look back at the process of how watch sizes have gradually increased.

Super (Maxi) Case That Looks Bigger Without Actually Being Bigger

The Super (Maxi) Case is an Oyster case first applied to the GMT Master 2 Ref. 116718 in 2005. In fact, The case itself did not get bigger. While maintaining the 40mm size, The wider bezel, Lugs and crown guard, And the overall thicker profile made the watch appear more substantial and larger. This responded to the trend while keeping the traditional 40mm size. Later, In 2008, The Submariner also adopted this case, And now all GMT Master 2 and Submariner models use this case.

GMT Master 16710BLRO, 12710BLRO

However, Making the watch look bigger was not always the answer. In the case of Ref. 116610LN, Fan reactions were divided. Some said that the harmony created by the simplicity unique to Rolex was disrupted by the larger size, While others praised it as a bold watch that followed the trend. It was a very unique result.

An Inevitable Choice for Technical Achievement

Among Rolex's professional line, The second largest 44mm watches are the Yacht-Master 2 and the Deepsea. The Deepsea Ref. 116660, Launched in 2008 as an advanced commercial mechanical watch, Was designed with a robust thickness and size to withstand water pressure up to 3, 900 meters. This allowed it to naturally follow the trend while also showcasing its functionality.

ⓒ Mamic

The Deepsea, Which boasted both trendiness and technical prowess, Is now available as Ref. 136660. Its sibling, The Sea-Dweller Ref. 126600, Was released in 2017 with a 43mm size to meet the needs of customers looking for a thinner watch than the Deepsea.

Deep Sea 116660

44mm, Black, Oyster

Deep Sea 126660

44mm, Black, Oyster

Although the Deepsea's technical prowess may have coincided with the Big Face trend, The Yacht-Master 2 was born in 2007 as a true Big Face watch. The Yacht-Master 2 is a spectacular Big Face watch that combines luxury and cutting-edge technology. It is equipped with a mechanical memory and a countdown function that can be set from 1 to 10 minutes to record the sequence of regatta boat races. This technology, Which was not present in the original Yacht-Master, Became a major selling point for luxury marine sports enthusiasts. The first models were made only in yellow gold and white gold, Maximizing the appeal of the Big Face and highlighting the splendor suitable for luxury sports.

The Yacht-Master 2 has undergone minor changes to its dial, Hands, And appearance over time, But it remains Rolex's most maximalist professional watch without a model change, Maintaining a solid customer base. Some say it is excessive and dramatic, Breaking away from Rolex's conservative design. The inscription "YACHT-MASTER II" at 6 o'clock on the bezel is uncharacteristic of Rolex, But considering the overall design, Sometimes a direct and bold design is necessary. Its striking presence and the grandeur that comes from its size mean that embracing the attention that comes with such a bold design is the essence of wearing a Big Face watch. The Yacht-Master 2 Ref. 116680 is made of steel and is recommended for those looking for a relatively restrained model.

Yacht-Master 2 116680

44mm, White, Oyster

When Purchasing a Watch

Size is one of the most important factors, So I wanted to introduce the topic of recently released big size watches. In the next article, I will return with stories about classic line watches and the Submariner 41mm.