Regarding Size and Perspective

[perezr10]

It's been interesting to read comments on the 38mm watch. Alot of people think it looks ok on someone else, but a lot of guys see it on their own wrist and think it's too small.

My theory is the watch looks smaller when you see it from an angle. If you look down at your wrist, you don't see it head-on. However, other people (and watch "selfies") tend to be seen "head-on". From that perspective, the watch sits in the middle of your wrist and can be judged a little better. It looks larger from this angle.

So in short, the way you see it from above, is different from how other people see it from across the room.

Conversely, the same principle is at work with the larger 42mm on smaller wrists. The user think it looks ok on their wrist but other people from across the room see it as too big.


Here is my attempt to illustrate the different perspective with my 38mm watch on my 165mm wrist.

 

[FuzzyLogic13]

I think guys tend to think its larger than it really is.

 

[Defender2010]

I think guys tend to think its larger than it really is.

Depends on how one measures it I guess

 

[kirkhuffy]

I did a try on appointment yesterday just to make sure the 42mm I ordered wouldn't look huge. I'm 5'8", 160lbs with 168-ish mm wrists. I was so worried the 42 would look huge on me after seeing everyone else's opinions. Boy am I glad I did the try on so I didn't have to worry until the watch comes in July.

Everyone who says these look smaller in person is right. The 42 fit my wrist perfectly. It didn't look big or clunky. The 38mm on my wrist looked way too small and feminine. My girlfriend was with me and she is 5' and petite with tiny wrists. She tried the 38mm on and it looked great on her.

So that's my opinion. Hope everyone enjoys their watches!

 

[texasstar1981]

I did a try on appointment yesterday just to make sure the 42mm I ordered wouldn't look huge. I'm 5'8", 160lbs with 168-ish mm wrists. I was so worried the 42 would look huge on me after seeing everyone else's opinions. Boy am I glad I did the try on so I didn't have to worry until the watch comes in July.

Everyone who says these look smaller in person is right. The 42 fit my wrist perfectly. It didn't look big or clunky. The 38mm on my wrist looked way too small and feminine. My girlfriend was with me and she is 5' and petite with tiny wrists. She tried the 38mm on and it looked great on her.

So that's my opinion. Hope everyone enjoys their watches!

did you do the credit card check?

168ish wrist is definitely 38mm territory as the watch should NOT cover the entire wrist... look at the pictures of the guy with the 38mm and the 165 wrist... it looks good. A 42mm on his wrist would be comically large....

 

[CharlesShaw]

... other people (and watch "selfies") tend to be seen "head-on". From that perspective, the watch sits in the middle of your wrist and can be judged a little better. It looks larger from this angle.

Also, most of the watch selfies we see were taken with a smartphone lens which can distort perspective on close-ups. Try taking a close up of a common object (like an TV remote) on your wrist using your phone and you'll see what I mean.

 

[AbeFrohman]

. . . as the watch should NOT cover the entire wrist...

Says who? If you're talking "conventional fashion", screw that. Big and chunky watches on both sexes is in fashion. Larger screen size appeals to others, aside from fashion.

Get what you want, wear what you want and don't waste even half a second thinking about what anyone else thinks you "should" do.

What happened to "think different"?

 

[whatos]

My 42 was an ideal size. For what it was... I enjoyed it. Had it provided more value for my preferences I might have kept it. But this early on its just getting established and bound to have limited usefulness. I'm continuously watching its progress and public acceptance.

If Apple Watch 2 has the improvements I'm looking for, I'll give that one a try.

 

[kirkhuffy]

did you do the credit card check?

168ish wrist is definitely 38mm territory as the watch should NOT cover the entire wrist... look at the pictures of the guy with the 38mm and the 165 wrist... it looks good. A 42mm on his wrist would be comically large....

The credit card is just about the same size as my wrist, if not a tad smaller. 38 looked feminine on my wrist, the Apple employee and my gf agreed. But to each their own. I thought the 42 was perfect and it doesn't cover my entire wrist at all

 

[perezr10]

Also, most of the watch selfies we see were taken with a smartphone lens which can distort perspective on close-ups. Try taking a close up of a common object (like an TV remote) on your wrist using your phone and you'll see what I mean.

I understand that, however, when you see the watch "head-on" it looks larger. That will be the perspective of someone sitting across from you at a table. My point is that it is not that the watch looks smaller in person, it's also the fact that, in person on your wrist, you look down at the watch at an angle that makes it look smaller. To get a more accurate view, you really need to see it in the mirror the way others would see it.

It's the same principle behind photographers asking models to twist their waist slightly for a photo. You know, the pics where a models upper body is facing the camera but her lower body is twisted a litle. It makes the waist look smaller.