Confessions of a Stupid Big watch owner...

[euthymic]

These are my first impressions of wearing what I would consider a “stupid big” watch. Now I am aware there may be forum regulars that wear this size or even larger but for me this was a giant leap as the bulk of my collection is between 42 and 45 mm.

With the increase in flavor-flav sized wrist clocks and the ever increasing size of many of the forum favorites, I decided to embark on an experiment. What would it be like to wear what I consider a ridiculously sized watch. Further, could it be worn in a practical manner that didn’t impart either concern of running into every door-frame with my wrist or fear that I would become the joke of all who laid eyes on that wall clock on my wrist? Rather than creep up on ever expanding watch diameters (I’m aware that it’s easy to convince yourself that bigger looks fine when you adding a mere mm or 2 to the watch you have just habituated to) I decided to go for it and choose a watch that was at least 50mm.

Now, what watch? As this was intended to be a fun experiment, and nothing I would regret, I didn’t want to spend real money so I placed a $100 ceiling on my “trip.” Looking around, some of the obvious manhole covers such as U-Boat were clearly too expensive and although I briefly contemplated a “homage” such as a Parnis, I had a second strange idea. How about a quartz? My thinking on this seemed rational. If I deemed the monster watch too large, it would make a great desk clock next to my monitor. Something black might be nice as well I thought since I have never went the PVD route. Thus, the search began.

Surprisingly, the search was rather short lived as I quickly found a watch that met my criteria on Amazon.... the Invicta Russian Diver...53mm with a ridiculous canteen crown cover that stretches another 12mm. What could be better I thought, a watch brand that I have heard almost nothing but bad things about on all of the forums but a watch that so nicely met all of my criteria. Further, If “the terminator” would be willing to be photographed with one of these in esquire magazine, surely I should be able to try to pull it off ;-) The deal was sealed when the very model I was looking at appeared on eBay with a buy it now price of less than $80.


The watch arrived the day after x-mas and my first thoughts were indeed, “that’s a big watch.” Surprisingly, it had a rubber strap with these ugly metal inserts and it was nearly too small for my wrist (last hole). Luckily, I have various 26mm straps from my Panerai Rad so I decided I would just throw the big invicta on a strap. First problem I ran into was that the molded rubber strap is held on by 2 springbars per lug. A bit of handiwork and the rubber strap was free. I put it on one of my more “retro” straps and tried the thing on. Hmmmm.... Not so bad I thought (or was i just trying to convince myself).

Now wearing something this big takes both confidence and a good sense of humor. As I looked down at the imposing monolith on my wrist I was filled with delight and nervous anticipation (thinking I would certainly poke fun at anyone wearing such a behemoth) I decided I needed some test runs before actually taking it out in public. The first test would be with my wife... What would she say? (I had previously warned her that I was picking up a cheap monster watch). So I unassumingly placed the watch on my wrist prior to helping feed the kids. Strangely enough, she did not say anything. Had she even noticed? (She almost always seems to bust me for my new purchases which she easily identifies). I asked her and she replied.. “oh is that it... well, it’s not stupid big...”

Success I thought. Now to take it out in public.

Today was my first all day wear of this behemoth and here are some quick thoughts. 1st, I find myself wearing the strap slightly tighter and higher on my arm than normal. The crown digs some (as might be seen on the photo as some redness on my hand) but is not that uncomfortable when worn. I tried my right hand but the combo of my wrist shape and not being used to wearing a watch on this hand made it quite uncomfortable. While never “forgotten”, the watch is certainly wearable all day. No comments from any spectators at this point but most importantly, it has been remarkably fun to wear. I find myself looking down and saying to myself...”this thing is ridiculous” and then nodding my head in approval. I think this is where the good sense of humor comes in. It’s kind of cool in that ugly sort of way. I haven’t ran it into anything yet and it hasn't gotten coaught up when working in the shop or doing yard work so in that way, no worse than my other watches at this early juncture.
The only other comment at this point is the lume. I’ve never heard anything good about invicta lume but this thing absolutely glows. I haven’t looked after several hours but at least on initial exposure to light, this thing is certainly in the ballpark with my ‘real” divers and will take up that glow when walking from outdoors to indoors as well as my Omega seamaster or Stowa Prodiver. Not sure if it is just the large surface area of the lume or what, but the dial is supremely legible. Unfortunately the hands, with their minimal lume are much more difficult to see at night :-(

I’ll certainly wear this thing again so it hasn’t been forced to the desktop yet. Again, it’s all about having fun with it and wearing it in those situations. Overall, day one of the experiment was a success. Oh, and before anyone asks, I have the benefit of a 8 1/4 inch wrist so the outcome of this may have been very different had I been less well endowed.
-Euthymic

[Rambam]

With a wrist like that, It doesen`t look bad. No worse than me wearing a 42mm on my scrawny 6,5" wrist. I was sorta hoping to see a guy trying to pull that Invicta off with a 6" wrist I would have paid to watch someone walk around in public with that

[Seth]

I'm looking forward to seeing my first 50mm, 20mm thick watch in the wild. As it stands right now, the only MONSTER watches I encounter are the cheapy mall kiosk watches that the gang bangers like. Inevitably those guys are wearing them loose and banging them into everything.

[demer03]

I was really concerned that my AD was going to be too much at 46mm, but I have happily convinced myself it's fine....



Please don't burst my bubble

[Tragic]

Thanks for sharing the results of your experiment with us!
As far as Invicta's go though, that's just mid-size...
It really does look ok on your bigass wrist

[SCM64]

Great post.

You make a great point that it's about whether you find it fun or not. I think maybe we lose site of that at times.

[mattcantwin]

Well written post and great pictures!


However, with an 8 1/4" wrist, nothing stupid about that watch on your wrist.



(great lume shot! )

[ezcheese]

That monster looks right at home on your wrist!

[euthymic]

Great post.

You make a great point that it's about whether you find it fun or not. I think maybe we lose site of that at times.

Steve, that was one of the important things I realized with this little experiment. It's kind of like going out wearing that goofy hat or funny sunglasses. As long as you don't take yourself too seriously, it's all good. I definitely felt a bit like a clown but that feeling soon passed. Of course, it is easier to be light hearted when the watch is cheap compared to someone who threw down $1k's.

The second observation was how quickly we habituate to increased size, particularly when taking small steps. When I got into WIS'dom a few years back I had only one goto watch, a 42mm quartz Seiko diver that I had owned for about 20 years. My first WIS watch was a Stowa Antea KS and I thought at the time anything larger than 36mm for a dress watch was ridiculous. I finally let that one go after being unworn for nearly a year as I gravitated up the size ladder. Now my smallest is a Damasko 56 (around 40) and my largest prior to this hulk was my Panerai Rad. Regardless, I can now look at the 53mm on my wrist and it almost seems reasonable.

It would be fun to make a proportion chart to see what sized watch on a 6 inch wrist would be proportionally the same as a 7 or 8 inch wrist.

[Jamie]

Great post and something fun to do in the holidays. I have been looking for the right monolithic lefty canteen diver for some time.

[polaco23]

great post and write up. i honestly thought you bought a 38mm womens version of the watch (if they have one) when i saw the wrist shot. seriously. it looks like a 40mm watch at most on your monster arm. Looks like its meant to be there.

As for the watch, i love it. Nothing wrong with invicta either, ive got a few and think theyre all great. The PVD with the strap really works. hope you were able to use the pvd invicta buckle.

Love it!

[1watchaholic]

You wear that 52mm beauty well! I owned one and I could not do it! With my wrist size I had to unload mine on the bay. Later I thought, I'd try it again and again it was too big and I returned it back to SHOP. It looks very appropriate for your wrist size. Congrats!!

[Pallet Spoon]

A fun read . You got some huge meats there dude ... a 50mm watch looks "normal" sized on you.

I think mostly because of your "It’s kind of cool in that ugly sort of way" comment, your next experiment should involve wearing a bulldog on your wrist that barks the time .