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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
shayanhooshmand said:
I just turned 14 and still have pretty small wrists. I was trying to justify buying the 42mm on my wrists which are 150mm in circumference and 50mm in width so that I could get a leather loop. The combo down here is what I pre-ordered with a June delivery date, the 42mm black sport with a separate bright blue leather loop.

ImageImage

After looking at the real size photos again on the Apple Store app though, I decided to go for another try-on to make sure I made the right decision. The lady helping was super nice, but gave me the wrong advice and said the 42mm looked fine on me. :eek: I believed her and kept it.

Then, yesterday, when I was at the mall and a friend wanted to go to the Apple store to see the Watches, I tried them on again and finally decided that the 38mm was the right one for me, which I should have known from the beginning. Sorry I don't have a picture, but I canceled my order and ordered the 38mm SS with the white sport band, which the Apple guy assured me wouldn't get dirty.

One of the other things that was keeping me from the 38mm too was that I was growing and I thought I would grow out of it, but reading this thread makes me realize that the 38mm might even still be the right choice in 2 years, so thank you!

Now I've got a May 21-June 4 delivery date, too, though, so that's good!

To all of you, though, don't let the bigger screen size or access to the leather loop band cloud your judgment. First thing is making it look good on you, size-wise. If you ordered either one and are having doubts, go try them on again at the Apple Store and have pictures taken of your wrists from close and far away. It helps.
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I was in a similar boat as you (except much older). I assumed 42 would be better and my wrist is bigger then yours, 185. So I only planned to try on 42s, but I felt like they were slightly uncomfortable so I tried a 38 on. Instantly more comfortable, sales associate told me 42 was better because I'm a guy and I shouldn't even consider a 38 at all. But after the try on the only thing holding me to the 42 was leather loop band. Eventually I figured comfort is more important then band and hopefully Apple will come out with a 38 leather loops or more "professional" sport band colors.

Of course I could always go cheaper with 3rd party.
 
42 and loving it

My SS ML 42 just arrived today and it looks great on the wrist. The 42 looks smaller in person and even smaller on the wrist. No regrets!
 
I got the 42mm and was afraid it would be too big. It was not, it was smaller than I imagined. Actually, several people that have noticed my watch asked, "Oh, is that the smaller one?" I said no, the 42mm. It seems most thought the larger one would be freakishly large. I have average(?) sized wrists, 170mm.
 
nullman said:
I got the 42mm and was afraid it would be too big. It was not, it was smaller than I imagined. Actually, several people that have noticed my watch asked, "Oh, is that the smaller one?" I said no, the 42mm. It seems most thought the larger one would be freakishly large. I have average(?) sized wrists, 170mm.
Click to expand...

I have 165mm wrists and decided on the 38mm. And the funny thing is, I've had people ask me if it was the larger one. One was an Apple store employee. As you hinted at, they really aren't that different in size. In fact, it's closer to a 3mm difference than 4 if you dont' round.
 
I went with a 38mm Milanese Loop and it is slightly smaller than a fossil watch. Band is definitely thinner and more comfortable. It absolutely does not look like a woman's watch at all on me. The 42mm would look ridiculous I think.
 
Im still not sure with the 38mm. :confused:
I think it is a bit too small on me.
VuTPvTq.jpg
 
Mapple86 said:
Im still not sure with the 38mm. :confused:
I think it is a bit too small on me.
Image
Click to expand...


I definitely wouldn't get the bigger one, this looks awesome. For me, the 42er for "normal" sized wrists looks like a toy watch, or at least like a pretty nerdy smartwatch. The 38 is much more elegant, which is why I cancelled my 42 order after trying it on and got a 38 SS WSB, waiting for a nice looking 3rd party metal link band.
 
was thinking of cancelling my 42 SG for a 38mm as it doesnt look like ill see it anytime soon, but after measuring my wrist awhile ago (190-195mm) there is no way the 38 will look good on me.
 
I'm a skinny guy and I ended up getting the 38mm one. I guess that the apple watch is also fatter than many watches and some bands such as the sports band make it look bigger than many other watches.

I'm really glad I chose the 38mm Milanese instead of my first choice which was the 42mm Space Grey.
 
That 38mm fits you like a watch should. You don't want it to look like you strapped an iPhone to your wrist.
 
I took the 38mm one. I have not been able to compare with the 42mm model (since there's no ability to try on the Apple Watch here in the Netherlands). But once I had it on my wrist (last Friday), I knew it was the right choice. :)

attachment.php

even on this picture it still looks quite big, in reality it's PERFECT

Like HippieMagic says, "you don't want it to look like you strapped an iPhone to your wrist". I completely agree with this. Sure, the 42mm might look well on my wrist for some people, but it would definitely a little too big. It would look like it eats my wrist, that's just ugly. So I am really happy with my choice for the 38mm Apple Watch. :D
 
38mm for Men

I saw a lot of reviews saying the 38mm wouldn't appeal to men but I don't think that is the case at all. I'm sure the 42mm appeals to and fits a lot of men well but the 38mm looks great if you have smaller wrists.
MglZs1W.jpg
 
312 said:
I saw a lot of reviews saying the 38mm wouldn't appeal to men but I don't think that is the case at all. I'm sure the 42mm appeals to and fits a lot of men well but the 38mm looks great if you have smaller wrists.
Image
Click to expand...

Like other traditional watch makers Apple made a larger size Apple watch for Men and a smaller size for women but refrained from labeling them that way.

The watch is unisex so if you are a man with small wrists or a woman with large wrists there is an Apple watch for you.

The 38mm looks ridiculously small on my wrist so the 42mm was the way to go.
 
Most men have thicker wrists, so all in all a larger watch would fit them better. However, I think that if your wrists are thinner you'd better go with a 38mm. Otherwise it looks like you've got an iPhone strapped to your wrist. The Apple Watch is more of a styling thing than all other Apple products.
 
I personally find 38 too small. Pictures are far too deceiving. It makes 38 look perfect on just about everyone's wrist but in person, the watch is tiny.
 
I think this is largely a matter of taste. I prefer a smaller watch and the 38mm with link bracelet is just what I wanted. I would not want the 42mm. But I recognize that is very personal. And it is also a question of fashion. If one tends toward Brooks Brothers suits, then a 38mm watch may seem more appropriate. If you generally prefer edgier fashion, then the 42mm will probably feel right to you.

Of course, some folks are large or small enough that it will dictate which size they need. But for lots of us in the middle, it seems to me it is just a matter of preference and taste.
 
The 38mm is perfect on my wrist. I've had so many remarks that it 'doesn't stand out as a Smartwatch' - and that's exactly the look I was going for, the subtle, understated look.

It isn't 'too small'. Maybe too small for some, but not for everyone. For me, the 42 looks silly on my wrist.

I'm a male with small - but not tiny - wrists.

It's a matter of taste, not what someone on a forum tells you is 'right or wrong' based on some criteria or justification for their own decisions.
 
I also got the 38mm SS Milanese Loop and it's perfect, I'm glad I gave up on the 42mm Sport Space Grey.
 
Your 38mm looks exactly the same as 42mm on my wrist so it's all relative to wrist and hand size.

If the 42mm looks silly (oversized) on your wrist, it's a strong indication that 38mm is more appropriate. Likewise, the 38mm will look silly (undersized) on some people's wrists.
 
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