Gender roles and identities with Apple Watch

[JayLenochiniMac]

1) Yes some women are rocking larger watches, but 40mm is hardly "big-ass". Try on a 52mm beast and you'll have some idea what a big-ass watch is, and there are very few ladies rocking those...but there are some.

I wasn't calling 40mm big ass, but one of the larger ladies sizes that's roughly the same size as Apple's 42mm. Apple's 42mm is hardly big ass, but yes, there are some women wearing actual big ass 52mm so that defeats your point that 38mm is for women and 42mm is for men.

2) Historically men's watches ranged from 35-37mm wide, going up to 37-39mm in the 90's and now sitting in the 45-48mm range. The 38mm Apple watch might be 38mm high, but it measures only 32.3mm across which makes it smaller even than the historical average for men's size watches. It is not "akin" to men's watches at any point in time.

Many watch aficionados would argue that Apple's 38mm "wears the same" as some of the smaller Rolex men's watches.

 

[Arran]

Much like beauty, it would seem the gender of a watch is also in the eye of the beholder.

Fine by me.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Much like beauty, it would seem the gender of a watch is also in the eye of the beholder.

Fine by me.

Why is it that clothes can be feminine or masculine but watches are somehow excluded? Watches are fashion items just like any others and can have feminine and masculine characteristics.

In fact, I challenge you to wear the sheer pink Modern Buckle band for a month and I guarantee that you won't last even a day (assuming you're not effeminate).

 

[Arran]

Why is it that clothes can be feminine or masculine but watches are somehow excluded? Watches are fashion items just like any others and can have feminine and masculine characteristics.

Some clothes, but not all clothes. Jeans and T-shirts, for example, work on either sex.

In fact, I challenge you to wear the sheer pink Modern Buckle band for a month and I guarantee that you won't last even a day (assuming you're not effeminate).

You buying?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Some clothes, but not all clothes. Jeans and T-shirts, for example, work on either sex.

I didn't say otherwise. Clothes can be feminine or masculine, but of course they can be gender neutral as well.

You buying?

Nope. A man got a boob job on a $100,000 bet so people will do anything for money. I'm not going to tempt you with a profit so you'll have to cough up the $$$.

 

[Arran]

Nope.

Ok then.

Hold your breath while I run out to buy one.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Ok then.

Hold your breath while I run out to buy one.

Heck, even the biggest male defenders of the Modern Buckle as a gender-neutral band won't run out to buy one either.

 

[iZac]

As many have stated, I think watch face sizes aren't specific to gender roles, more just the physical size of wrist which in many cases corresponds with gender roles. If the 38mm or 42mm proportionally feels more comfortable on someones wrist, then that's right for them.

Having said that, Apple undermine this gender neutrality by putting colours and styles under the glass of Apple Store tables that may correspond with gender stereotypes. In my local Apple Store, the only sport gold / rose gold, pink straps, modern buckles are on display in 38mm. (Not that I'm perpetuating colour stereotypes, but why are Apple only matching those colours with the smaller size watch face?)

Another thing that urks me is that the Hermes 'Double tour' is only available on the 38mm. I have zero knowledge about what Hermes 'design trademarks' are but why not make that available for larger wrists?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Having said that, Apple undermine this gender neutrality by putting colours and styles under the glass of Apple Store tables that may correspond with gender stereotypes. In my local Apple Store, the only sport gold / rose gold, pink straps, modern buckles are on display in 38mm.

Not sure what you mean because the Modern Buckle is only available in 38mm. It's not like they have a 42mm version and chose to perpetuate the gender stereotype by displaying it only in 38mm.

It doesn't matter anyway because Apple clearly intended the feminine Modern Buckle to be worn by females. After all, they have modeled it only on women in all their advertisements. In contrast, Apple has advertised AW models available in both 38mm and 42mm (including the link bracelet) on both sexes.

 

[iZac]

Not sure what you mean because the Modern Buckle is only available in 38mm. It's not like they have a 42mm version and chose to perpetuate the gender stereotype by displaying it only in 38mm.

It doesn't matter anyway because Apple clearly intended the feminine Modern Buckle to be worn by females. After all, they have modeled it only on women in all their advertisements. In contrast, Apple has advertised AW models available in both 38mm and 42mm (including the link bracelet) on both sexes.

Oh, they don't have it in a 42mm version? Shows how much attention I pay

 

[IphoneIssues]

Red looks suave

Courtesy of @Onimusha370

 

[WarHeadz]

Red looks suave

Courtesy of @Onimusha370

Nice!! Is that OEM or third party?

 

[IphoneIssues]

Nice!! Is that OEM or third party?

He said it's the one from Apple. For some reason, I really want a modern buckle now.

 

[WarHeadz]

He said it's the one from Apple. For some reason, I really want a modern buckle now.

Yeah I've been looking at third party ones, they're only around $25. Might get one.

 

[IphoneIssues]

Yeah I've been looking at third party ones, they're only around $25. Might get one.

My only fear is 3rd party leather bands can be tricky. Especially when we're talking about the modern buckle. Might not really be leather and that would bother me. I don't like feeling like I'm going cheap with certain things.

 

[ladytonya]

Personally, I think the modern buckle is masculine. That buckle is freaking huge! The only people I know who wear huge buckles are cowboys with their ginormous belt buckles. I would never wear that thing regardless of the fact that it's only available for the 38 mm watch.

 

[IphoneIssues]

Personally, I think the modern buckle is masculine. That buckle is freaking huge! The only people I know who wear huge buckles are cowboys with their ginormous belt buckles. I would never wear that thing regardless of the fact that it's only available for the 38 mm watch.

Cowboys and Leprechauns

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Personally, I think the modern buckle is masculine. That buckle is freaking huge! The only people I know who wear huge buckles are cowboys with their ginormous belt buckles. I would never wear that thing regardless of the fact that it's only available for the 38 mm watch.

Yes, big buckles on belts are considered masculine (e.g., cowboy belts), but oversized buckles on belts (as well as big buckles on watches in general) are considered feminine. See below for example (and it's even the same style as the Modern Buckle):

 

[IphoneIssues]

Yes, big buckles on belts are considered masculine (e.g., cowboy belts), but oversized buckles on belts (as well as big buckles on watches in general) are considered feminine. See below for example (and it's even the same style as the Modern Buckle):

Except that's a huge belt...

 

[NeonGreenHermit]

Very interesting thread.

As a dude with small wrists, I went for the 38mm.

My rationale is that on my wrists, the 42mm looks like an Apple Watch, but the 38mm looks like a watch. I want it to look like an understated piece of jewellery, complimenting and in keeping with my smart, office appearance. I don’t want my AW to be screamingly ‘visible’ – though many people might.

If my overall look and appearance was more, ooooh… let’s say… ‘extrovert’… then I may prefer a more visible time piece. Alternatively, if I had bigger wrists, then I’m confident that the 42mm would look complimenting and in-keeping, and the 38mm would not so much.

It’s all about taste and fashion, finding what suits you and not bending to a trend. I have to say I agree that there is a prevailing mindset that dudes must wear big watches.

On this note, aesthetically, though it’s not my ‘look’, I think chunky, over-sized chunky circular watches on small wrists can look good, but chunky over-sized square watches do not as much.

When I see a 42mm AW on small wrists, it reminds me of a first-gen iPhone. I love my first gen iPhone... but not on my wrist.

 

[ladytonya]

Yes, big buckles on belts are considered masculine (e.g., cowboy belts), but oversized buckles on belts (as well as big buckles on watches in general) are considered feminine. See below for example (and it's even the same style as the Modern Buckle):

OMG, that thing is ugly as sin! I know no woman in her right mind that would actually wear that thing. Yuck!

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

OMG, that thing is ugly as sin! I know no woman in her right mind that would actually wear that thing. Yuck!

Oversized belts are actually a pretty common accessory for women (at least the stylish ones).

 

[ladytonya]

Oversized belts are actually a pretty common accessory for women (at least the stylish ones).

Still ugly. Are these real women or size 0 models trying to push clothes that no real woman would ever in a million years actually wear?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Still ugly. Are these real women or size 0 models trying to push clothes that no real woman would ever in a million years actually wear?

Obviously tastes differ, but you're wrong that "plus size" women cannot wear wide belts.

 

[chuyn]

...Are these real women or size 0 models trying to push clothes that no real woman would ever in a million years actually wear?

Come on, seriously... at what size does a woman need to be, to be real?