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Men: 38mm or 42mm

Men: 38mm or 42mm?

  • 38mm

    Votes: 414 34.8%

  • 42mm

    Votes: 777 65.2%
  • Total voters
    1,191
slicecom said:
Here it is on my 180mm around, 60mm wide wrist. I'm definitely keeping the 38mm and cancelling the 42mm. It fits so much nicer and looks more like a watch than a hulking gadget.

Image

Image

EDIT:
And here's the 38mm SS Link. My favourite one, but way too much for me to spend on a 1st gen product:

Image

Image
Click to expand...

Thank you! I have been scouring everywhere for pictures like these. I have 180mm wrists and I ordered the 38mm SS with black sport band. I was sure when I ordered but I've been losing my mind ever since wondering if I made the right choice. It looks like I did. It looks great on your wrist!!! I know over the years mens watches have been getting bigger and bigger but I like the more discreet look. Like you said, it actually looks like a watch not a gadget. Now I have to stop reading all of the "the 38mm is a tiny little girls watch" posts and wait contently for April 24.........(- May 8)
 
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42mm for me

My wrist is around 175mm and here is a picture for comparison

And no it doesn't pull out my arm hair :D

5bac59ff9de358eb8ceb1363833dbef8.jpg


One more

8a5a72ebf08f6741c544992b3c9e7612.jpg
 
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Some people (aka men :cool:) with big wrist prefer small watch and vice versa

So go with the one you feel comfortable with. As usual, not one size fit all
 
Okay, just came back from my appointment more confused than when I got there.

I ordered the 38mm one, and wasn't sure about whether it was the right option. I'm more inclined to think that the 38mm fits my wrist better, but I do appreciate the advantages of having a bigger screen. Would be good to hear other opinions anyway...

I ordered this one (38MM, Sport, White Band):
38SPWHITE.jpg


This is the same exact watch, but the milanese loop (thinking about getting one):
38SPML.jpg


Then I tried the larger version (42mm, Sport, Black Band):
42SPBLACK.jpg


And then, again the larger one (42mm, SS, Milanese loop):
42SSML.jpg
 
mariotr87 said:
Okay, just came back from my appointment more confused than when I got there.

I ordered the 38mm one, and wasn't sure about whether it was the right option. I'm more inclined to think that the 38mm fits my wrist better, but I do appreciate the advantages of having a bigger screen. Would be good to hear other opinions anyway...
Click to expand...

I like the 42mm Milanese loop on you the best, but I'm biased as I have similar wrists to you and after my try on I determined the 42mm Milanese was right for me.
 
I ordered the 42mm and I'm glad I did, the 38mm felt too small when I had my try-on appointment. I was even surprised at how much smaller the 42mm one was when I tried that on, just seemed bigger from online photos...

Maybe that's just me!
 
virginblue4 said:
These photos show the 38mm Apple Watch on me. I have 147mm wrists.
Click to expand...

I agree the 38 looks right on your arm. I thought I had small wrists at 175mm and originally planned on going with the 38mm but changed my mind when trying the cut outs of the actual sizes and reading all the reviews. I am hoping I made the right choice with the 42mm because I preordered and have not been to the store for a try on. Some pictures I have seen here make the 42mm look so big on wrists like mine but other pictures it doesn't look so bad. Oh well I'll see in 2 weeks.
 
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I visited an Apple Store today and tried on a few different Watch combinations. I had already pre-ordered a 38mm steel watch with black Sports band, so thought I should make sure it was the right decision.

NB: 175mm circumference wrist, probably around 60mm wide (that's almost impossible to measure accurately by the way).

Annoyingly they didn't have the exact strap/ case combination that I wanted.

Well my first impression was surprising – it's true that the they look smaller in person and I initially felt that I had made a mistake ordering a 38mm because the 42 looked about right to me. I took some photos and weirdly the photos show that the 38mm is about right, which is reassuring...but it did look small on my wrist. I put this down to the fact I'm just not used to seeing it. Often with a new watch it looks odd to start with until you get used to it. A bit like with new shoes that always look BIG to start with.

The Apple representative was quite helpful, although she had been drafted in from online sales and wasn't all that knowledgable about the watches. In particular she hadn't seen the peculiar socket/ port in the band connecting area, didn't realise that there was a difference in the material used on the rear of the watches (ceramic or composite) and thought that the Sport band came with two full straps. She also said that I could wear it for up to 14 days and return it if i didn't like it; or return just part of the order - i.e. the strap.

Any way...here are my images

FullSizeRender1.jpg


IMG_2895.JPG


IMG_2896.JPG


IMG_2898.JPG
 
Ordered 38mm, had try-on, sticking with it

After having my try-on today, I'm going to stick with the 38mm. I'm a male with 170mm wrist.

It definitely wasn't an easy decision. Everyone is right when they say that the watches look smaller in person, but that only really seems to be the case when looking at them OFF of the wrist. I actually was a bit concerned when looking at the display models that the 38mm would be too small, but sure enough, on my wrist it looked as expected. I do think that if the watches were thinner, the 42mm would be doable for me, but it's just too big on my wrist to be comfortable.

It definitely screws with your head to look at these things while not on a wrist - they're watches. They're supposed to be small. We're all so used to looking at iPhone screens that off of wrists, the watch is bound to look tiny. Sure, I'd love more screen real estate, but the 38mm just looks and feels better for me.

As a side note, I loved the milanese loop and will definitely consider getting one.
 
Got back from my try-on, and after obsessively reading peoples experience on here about how the 42mm looks deceptively bigger in pictures, I can confirm it is true. I have about 55mm wrist width, and I personally found the 38mm too small. The 42mm was perfect. I brought my sister in law and her son just to get others' opinions and they too favoured the 42mm on me instead of the 38mm.

People on here are being far too harsh to people posting pics saying that it looks "disgusting" or "comical". Go into the store and try it yourself, you will be surprised.
 
It's a pity I'm not able to try the Apple Watch out in my country (the Netherlands). However, I'm definitely going for the 38mm model. After all, I already know my wrists aren't big at all. And IF it's a little smaller, it would still be much better and more convenient than having one which is too big. It would look bulky, and I just want my Apple Watch to look nice. :)

By the way, it's also a matter of the kind of Watch you're going for. I've seen a few photos here and noticed that the Apple Watch Sport is bigger than the stainless steel Apple Watch, all because of that band. And since I'm going for the Apple Watch Sport, 38mm will definitely be the best choice in this case. :p
 
slicecom said:
Here it is on my 180mm around, 60mm wide wrist. I'm definitely keeping the 38mm and cancelling the 42mm. It fits so much nicer and looks more like a watch than a hulking gadget.

Image

Image

EDIT:
And here's the 38mm SS Link. My favourite one, but way too much for me to spend on a 1st gen product:

Image

Image
Click to expand...


Thanks for the pictures you posted. I have a 170mm wrist and was thinking about changing my pre-order to 42mm after visting the apple shop on sunday but I still wasnt sure.. Seeing the picture of the SS 38 link braclet on you has made me stick with my order...

Cheers
 
Curryzz said:
Thanks for the pictures you posted. I have a 170mm wrist and was thinking about changing my pre-order to 42mm after visting the apple shop on sunday but I still wasnt sure.. Seeing the picture of the SS 38 link braclet on you has made me stick with my order...

Cheers
Click to expand...

I would say check them out for yourself. You don't want to be wondering if you made the right choice. I thought the 38mm was the right choice for me but after trying them on, I absolutely loved the 42mm.
 
melman101 said:
I would say check them out for yourself. You don't want to be wondering if you made the right choice. I thought the 38mm was the right choice for me but after trying them on, I absolutely loved the 42mm.
Click to expand...

Yes, iv got an appointment next Monday...

I just viewed them Sunday and the 38mm looks small... hearing alot of people saying it looks better on. I have a Tag 38mm and its spot, which is why my orginal choice was the 38mm, just confused me a bit when I saw them in the display counter looking tiny.
 
Curryzz said:
Yes, iv got an appointment next Monday...

I just viewed them Sunday and the 38mm looks small... hearing alot of people saying it looks better on. I have a Tag 38mm and its spot, which is why my orginal choice was the 38mm, just confused me a bit when I saw them in the display counter looking tiny.
Click to expand...

That is mainly why I tell people to try them on. While the 38mm looks small on display, it looks a lot better on a lot of people.
 
Curryzz said:
Great.. Im confident with the 38mm for now. Untill my brain decides to change its mind again:confused:
Click to expand...

I completely wrote-off the 38mm when I saw them on display, but when I had my appointment to try them on I found the 38mm fit me much better
 

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I don't have any Apple Store anywhere near me, so it wouldn't have helped me, but it sure seems like it would have made more sense to open up the try-on period for a week or so before taking preorders. It would have alleviated a lot of this uncertainty (and disappointment for people who discover they preordered the wrong size).
 
mariotr87 said:
Okay, just came back from my appointment more confused than when I got there.

I ordered the 38mm one, and wasn't sure about whether it was the right option. I'm more inclined to think that the 38mm fits my wrist better, but I do appreciate the advantages of having a bigger screen. Would be good to hear other opinions anyway...

I ordered this one (38MM, Sport, White Band):
Image

This is the same exact watch, but the milanese loop (thinking about getting one):
Image
Click to expand...

With the Milanese loop, did you find you noticed the SS edging of the connectors when paired with the Sport Watch?
 
I have big wrists (205mm around) and I'm used to big watches so I find the apple watch even the 42mm one very small.

I went to my appointment and came away very disappointed.
 
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