What do you consider to be the minimum watch case outside diameter for a Men's watch?

I'd say it depends on the minimum outside diameter of the mans wrist....

 

That Bulova is 36mm, so it is certainly capable of being on a mans wrist. Go back 60 years and you would be hard pressed to find mens watches above 35mm. 36mm was a large watch, 32-33mm were average mens watches. The Rolex Air King of the past was always 34mm and that was a mans watch. I have a very wide wrist so for my even a 36mm looks puny. 39-46 is my range. I have gone as large as 52 and as small as 36.

 

No real minimum. Practically, I think the dial needs to be about 28mm across to come off as a modern, probably 30mm to really be contemporary.
Outside diameter as a minimum is ill-fitting as a bezel or case style is going to drastically affect the perception. A 36mm dive watch is not going to be contemporary man's watch, generally speaking. While a 35mm dress watch is plenty for most men's wrists.

 

Same as “What is the minimum pants size for a man”

The size that fits is the size you need.

If you have a 6” wrist then that’s different than if you have an 8” wrist.

 

Great analogy.

 

I wore a 34mm Skagen for around 10 years during the big watch craze of the 2000s-2010s. Nobody revoked my man card.

Watches don't have gender. If you like it, wear it.

 

It's personal preference, of course. Some guys take things to extremes with hockey puck Invictas at one end and deliberately pretentious "lady watches" at the other. My "funhouse mirror" of a Hammy KFA in 38mm is the smallest I am willing to go on my 7.1"/180mm wrist. I've been tempted by legitimate vintage pieces which are usually/always smaller, but after decades of wearing G-Shocks I doubt that my aging brain can adapt!

 

I am comfortable in my own skin so I don’t really bother about something like a watch’s size. I have worn 36-44 mm watches, slim and bulky watches, boring-looking watches and colourful watches. I don‘t feel diminished in any way as long as I know why I am wearing a watch. Sometimes it is because I feel it suits my attire or an occasion. Sometimes I just feel like ‘Fxxk it who cares, I wear what I want’.

You have to decide what is appropriate for you. As long as your choice does not make life difficult for you, for example, having your co-workers dissing you for being a ‘sissy’ wearing a small watch and where you need their cooperation to have a conducive work environment, you can wear whatever you want.

My 2 cents.

 

I think if one has an appreciation of vintage models, especially from the 20's thru 50's, then one also has an appreciation that size genuinely doesn't matter. This is one of my favorites.

OTOH(W?), I also own this...

 

Totally a personal preference…..

 

Yup.
It's whatever you like to see on your wrist that counts. The smallest watch I wear is a 33.5mm Bulova Commander. One of these years I will find the right 28mm Hamilton Piping Rock.

 

Well, today unisex size is 35mm, you go from there.

 

Depends on how many watches you can wear simultaneously and how big a boy are ya

 

It's just jewellery on your wrist, wear what looks nice - I like a smaller watch because I spend a long time choosing straps and bracelets- if the lug to lug is too long, no-one gets to see the combo properly.

 

I got no problem wearing my Grampa's gold Longines for special occasions. Barely doesn't clock in at 32mm.

Modern watches, 34-40mm depending on style and bezel width. 7" wrist.

 

Well, Clark Gable (who I think we can all agree was a real "man's man") famously wore a Patek Phillipe Reference 1526 Perpetual Calendar in gold....

A beautiful watch, but not one that screamed "MACHO!" from his wrist. Rather, it whispered elegance and sophistication, and at 34mm it was very much in keeping with the fashion of the day (mid-1950s) Personally, I've always reckoned if that was big enough for him, it's big enough for me. Not that I could EVER afford one, but, like Gable: Frankly, I don't give a damn!

 

Small men’s watches, like bell bottom pants and polyester leisure suits, have not aged well. Those who insist on wearing them unironically WILL be singled out and ridiculed. It’s what humans do.

 

Actually, smaller men's watches are the longer-term rule. Large just came in relatively recently, kind of paralleling the seemingly painful need for male display we have seen in the last two decades with things like big pickup trucks, unnecessary tactical gear, etc. All this stuff, including the need for a big watch, will not age well. Generally, excessive male display speaks to a certain fragility of ego, which is why people get so defensive about it.

 

I’m in camp ‘wear what you like’. But, if there is one thing I have learnt, it’s that case size only tells part of the story.

 

The perception of an ideal watch case size has indeed evolved over the years, influenced by changing fashion trends and personal preferences. Traditionally, men's watches were commonly sized between 34mm and 38mm in diameter. However, contemporary styles often favor larger cases, typically ranging from 40mm to 44mm, with some even extending to 50mm or more for a bold statement.
For a 7.5" wrist, you have quite a bit of flexibility in choosing the watch case diameter. I would normally wear a 41mm for that size wrist. Here are some general guidelines:

1. Minimum Case Size: Many watch enthusiasts consider a 36mm case to be the minimum size for a men's watch, offering a classic and timeless look without feeling too small.
2. Versatility: A 38mm to 40mm case is often seen as versatile, balancing a modern aesthetic with traditional sensibilities. Your Bulova Precisionist 98M113, even if listed as a women's watch, fits into this category and can be comfortably worn by either gender.
3. Larger Watches: Sizes 42mm and above are common for contemporary men's watches, especially in sports and dive watch categories. These sizes make a strong statement and can provide excellent readability and wrist presence.

Given your collection's range, it seems you appreciate the diversity in watch sizes. If you find the Bulova Precisionist comfortable and aesthetically pleasing, it underscores the subjective nature of watch sizing—what matters most is how it feels and looks on your wrist.
Ultimately, there's no strict rule; it's about what you enjoy wearing and what suits your personal style.

 

35mm

 

Depends on wrist size. I’m rocking a 33mm at the moment.

 

I go larger for comfort. I've found that below 49mm lug to lug the watch slips around my wrist. This often, but not always, means that I prefer a watch greater than 40mm in diameter. My sweet spot seems to be 44mm.

 

My wrist is a hair under 8" and I'll wear 34mm watches here ahd there. Mainly vintage. I think the smallest modern watch id buy for regular wear would be 37-38m.

 

Depends on the watch face - round, rectangular, square? I can get by with anything between 36 and 43 in a round face, with my preference being 38.

 

Personally I'm unlikely to go below 36mm, but you can wear anything you want.

 

I don't wear below 37. Not that I wouldn't. I don't care what size anybody else wears.