Could You Wear a 34mm Watch?
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- čas přidán 15. 07. 2024
- We shot this in 2021 but only just got around to editing it. It's a closer look at the new Grand Seiko SBGX347 (white dial) and 349 (blue dial), two watches we never expected Grand Seiko to ever release but are extremely pleased to see. If you like small, vintage pieces such as the Patek 96 or the Grand Seiko First, this could be a very interesting option for you. It's powered by Grand Seiko's superior quartz movement which we also are able to show on camera thanks to an SBGV238 we had handy. The pieces are available at our shop in the Landmark Central, feel free to stop by and see them in the metal.
See more of our products at thearmoury.com - Jak na to + styl
I’m not upset that the industry makes such large watches relative to the past, but I’m upset that the industry barely makes any 36mm watches. 36mm watches should be as common as 42mm watches, especially in dress watches.
Agreed! Classy and low profile watches to are the best. The watch remains an accessory to your style and not just a large "look at me" centerpiece.
I would prefer 38mm due to my wrist size but I agree with your point
This 2 year already have increasing trend for smaller wrist watches. Previously cannot even find a decent different model of 36mm.
36-39mm was perfection. These days there's no consideration for balance and proportion it's all about making it big so owners can feel like everybody is looking at their expensive watch.
I couldn't agree more. I also have a 6" wrist as the gentleman in the video, and I am so tired of seeing beautiful watches that are only in 41mm+ sizes.
I have a 34mm JLC that I absolutely love. Simple, timeless, and elegant.
Which model?
This is why I love learning about and buying only vintage watches. To me these smaller sizes look so much better on most wrists proportionately than the new
You are right. Just got a King Seiko 5626 two months ago in superb condition. Paid only 400$ for it and it might be the best vintage watch i own. Much better than my swiss vintage watches in finishing and accuracy (+1s per day). Getting my hands on a vintage Grand Seiko 45GS soon to complete my vintage Seiko Dresswatch-Collection (Already owning a Seiko Lord Matic, Seiko Marvel and Seiko Lord Marvel beside my King Seiko) Love the grammar by design. Also i found out that buying vintage-watches is much more fun than buying modern pieces that are always on stock. You have to wait for good deals and you need to invest more time in learning what you need to put your eyes on before buying a vintage peice to make sure it's 100% original. You really learn a lot about your favourite watch before buying it. My King Seiko for example has a plastic qickset-rocker. That's the only downside in the 5626-lineup becauso otherwise it might be the best movement ever made. But there actually is a company that produces these part in metal. Purchased one and will give it to my watchmaker so he can replace that part in the next service. Absolutely love these styles.
I am so glad I stumbled upon this video. I've been looking for a dress watch to complete my collection, was eyeing quartz Grand Seiko as well as Swiss made autos that are marketed for women but are basically smaller versions of 40mm dress watches. A 34mm quartz GS splits the difference beautifully, and I think a watch I might only wear once or twice a month makes more sense to be quartz. Might have to bet the farm on that Patek you have instead though, that thing is beautiful.
So glad you highlighted these watches Mark! In the world of sports watch hysteria, it's so refreshing to see 34mm dress watches being discussed and I have to say I am always gobsmacked when I see the finishing in GS watches. Completely mesmerised by that deep blue dial and the contrast of the impossibly shiny hands. GS have outdone themselves with this watch and so have you with the quality of the video and the discussion! Bravo!
Thanks for watching! Yes, the watch world extends far beyond steel sports watches!
To me the most important thing is the proportion, a smaller dial eliminates a lot of the empty space that you often get when the dial is 40mm or higher. The finishing on these is amazing as ever, but I think having a blued seconds hand on the white dial version would have been a nice touch.
Well said!
I agree, the blued second hand would be a nice touch. Given the slightly textured finish on the dial, a gold second hand could be interesting, too. Someone else also brought up that maybe it could do with no second hand at all.
I wish watch brands would make divers in 39mm again, that's the sweet spot imo for divers. You have a big and eligible enough dial without being too unnecessarily big. That's why I like the Steinhart divers so much, specially the double red sea dweller one
I think 39mm is the sweet spot for nice watches. A smaller watch is not as noticeable to those around me.
This video has enlightened me to the relationship between not really ever being into watches and thinking the proportions are off with my 6 inch wrist LOL. A 34mm looks great! Mark, curious as to what your shirt cuff measurements are (watch and non-watch) since we have the same wrist size? Thanks Armoury team for the content!
Beautiful pieces and really appreciate the side by sides - cheers !!!
Simple answer, with my 6" wrist yes. Used to be the dress watch size for years. That 31mm watch at the start of the video looked great.
Thanks for showcasing the beautiful SBX347! There are not many videos about it and I think it's a real hidden gem out there. I have a 6,5" wrist and I think the 34mm is the PERFECT dress watch size. You can clearly see that it looks much more elegant and proportionate on your wrist than the SBGW231 whose 37mm is also 'small' considering modern standards. I started to wear more and more smaller watches in the last years. Nowadays 36-38mm is my regular size whilst a 40-41mm watch is clearly a sport model for me and therefore the upper end I am willing to wear.
Love all of your video's, Mark. I think both 34mm GS quartz watches are absolutely stunning. Grand Seiko quartz is a different animal than what most people think of as "quartz." Engineered to hit the second and minute markers perfectly every time with no "backlash" common to lesser quartz movements. Also extremely accurate. Class, elegance and competence never go our of style.
Indeed, well said! Thanks for watching, appreciate your comment.
exactly…GS’s quartz movement is no joke……..same with Bulova’s tuning fork movement…a totally different species altogether…
The GS 34mm models are still overpriced for a 9F quartz movement. Going for over $4000 - seriously? Seiko should have made them automatic or manual wind at that price point.
My vintage 34mm mechanical watch completely changed how choose watches. Having a 5' wrist I find anything over 36mm (and 42mm lug to lug) too big to fit.
The SBGW231 is absolutely gorgeous. No picture or video will do it justice...it's one you need to look at in person to truly appreciate.
That's one thing I've learned about Grand Seiko. While my BB58 or Speedy look better in pictures than in person, the Grand Seikos look better in person than they do in pictures.
The SBGW235 is even better, with the blued seconds hand, and more cream coloured dial.
Finally a video on this watch. It is awesome!
This is ironically a perfectly timed video! I own the SBGV238 and about to execute on the SBGW231. Got me contemplating the SBGX347 instead :)
Ah nice, hello fellow SBGV238 owner. Well, you know how great those quartz movements are, the 347 is a pretty interesting complement. The 231 is pretty awesome, too, though. Hope you can figure it out!
Did a video on this recently as well. When I first started I had 42mm. With a 6.75 wrist I think these 34s are very very well fitted! And cheap in the pre owned market as ppl don’t think they can go below 38!!!!!
I was the same. I've now decided to sell all of my 42mm watches, even a 40.5mm felt too big. All of my collection is now
Great video! I've been using a 34mm Grand Seiko SBGF027 with the 8J movement as my daily for the past year and it's been fantastic. It is a tad small on my 7" wrist, but I'm also hoping to see more 36mm watches hit the market. The Rolex 36mm datejust fits perfectly
Looks lovely on the smaller wrists. Of which there are still a few in the world.
And a great suit, BTW! Lovely cut.
I do and I love it. Seikos dials are clear enough to read at this size, better than some larger watches from other manufacturers
Excellent video!!!!!!
I would recommend Seiko Dolce SACM models for those looking for high accuracy quartz dress watch for the fraction of the price (around 300-400 USD). It has similar sizing (34mm), same accuracy movement as the 9F (+-10 sec/year), and the white dial model has grain finishing and pretty to look at.
You Sir, are one charming gentleman.
Many thanks for sharing this video. Your Patek 96 (?P I guess) with breguet numerals is the reference point and it looks spot-on on your wrist. No need to look for anything else.
This the watch I would buy and wear it everyday! Thanks ...
great video! thank you for making this.
Excellent video
Excellent video, sir!
Thanks for doing this video. I have a 7.5” wrist and feel like 34-37mm are perfect. 37-38mm feels like a true sports watch to me. I appreciate the vintage aesthetic for Men.
PS. That’s amazing! I love the idea of a display back quartz movement. Celebrating the uncelebrated!
I love the idea of display back for this kind of high end quarz
So true. I wish they put a display back on these pieces. It's a nice looking movement.
For those who are into 34mm classic "calatrava" design Seikos like the SBGX347/349 that Mark introduced, there's a budget "version": the JDM Seiko SACM150 (gold) and the SACM151 (silver). At around $200-300, you'll have a 34mm case AND a classic high-beat Quartz 8J41, often used in other GS models.
If Quartz is not your jive, then the 34mm Presage SRP841 ("women's version of the Sky Diving SRPE19), with a 4R35 caliber and a GORGEOUS light blue dial is on sale on Macy's for like $300.
I have both, and the dials on both of the watches bring me so much joy every time I wear them.
Thanks for mentioning the SACM150 and 151. Someone else in comments also mentioned the 171. I was not aware of these models before but they look like great alternatives!
Good shout on the SACM151. I have the SACM171 - I believe the only difference between the two models is that the 171 has "Dolce" on the dial in addition to Seiko? It also has the 8J movement but it isn't high-beat... In any case it's such an elegant watch at just over 5mm thickness.
34mm is absolutely fine. In fact, my dress watch of choice, even with my 7.25 inch wrist is a 32mm Seiko Credor Quartz that is only 5mm thick. It looks just right peeking out from under a dress shirt cuff.
I keep rewatching this video as I contemplate not if I pull the trigger but when
Thanks for making this video Mark!
😂😂 exactly…. The dark blue 1 for me
One of my favorite watches is my 34mm salmon dial oyster perpetual, it wears great and is not obviously smaller than my DJ 36mm.
Mark, I think the reference you’re thinking of is the SBGW259 (blue dialed First re-creation). To my eyes that dial looks matte with a sunburst effect. Very similar hue though. Just gorgeous.
Great video thank you.
I have a Movado king sub 34mm dress watch. I like the smaller size as I think it looks smart. I also where retro style clothing so the watch matches well.
I think its all great dress watches. The looks are elegant and simple. I like it. Thanks for sharing 😊
YES I WOULD !!!! The problem is that, if the manufacturers make them, then they keep them for JDM.
For those of us with smaller wrists, or do not need to massage our ego, there should be more 32 to 36mm watches produced.
Super nice video and the 34mm GS i would like to have.
7.5 mm wrist with wide platform.
36mm I enjoy.
I also love my 34mm (not GS, but 1950s, perfect condition, 20 quid on eBay) but it does look quite dinky on my wrist. Your 34mm wears like my 40mm.
Thanks😊
I think the 31mm is perfect on your wrist, size same as mine. Thanks for championing proportion.
8.75" wrist, collection is 40-45mm.
I feel like the chronos should be bigger, mine are 45mm. It is nice wearing 40mm Subs, as you dont bang it on everything and sleeves slide over easily. The smaller case width is so nice to wear as well. Once you mentally adjust to the smaller size, you'll hardly notice it there.
I bought a Victoronix Ladies Maverick 34mm for my 6.5" wrist. Love it. $150 for a nice grab and go Swiss Quartz watch. Also Glycine ladies Combat Sub 36mm is superb.
Glycine makes very nice watch cases. They are very comfortable on the wrist. But for me, as a tall man with big hands, I need a watch to be at least around 39mm in order for it to look balanced on my wrist.
I love that glossy blue dial, that is going on my shortlist.
A cheaper option is the white/silver dial Seiko Dolce SACM171, it is a 33.5mm quartz with a similar high accuracy movement to what was used in older grand seikos, accuracy is 10s per year.
I’m really considering the dark blue 349. My watch size is 17cm and I have thin wrists. That dark blue is stunning
I have a vintage Omega that is 34 MM, but lug to lug its around 40! It looks very classy.
very beautiful watch
Whaddup Mark! Keep putting the class out there in a world of numskullz! This will fly over the heads of 99 percent of watch collectors.
The navy looks absolutely amazing. I have a 22 cm wrist and I wear 34 mm swatches a lot. Also some vintage dressers. It’s all about feel and attitude.
I have an old 34mm Seiko. I do wear it regularly, but even on my small wrist it feels quite small. Again, with my smallish wrist I've found the sweet spot is 38-39mm, or a 40mm with a short lug-to-lug.
I have a 17cm wrist size and fell in love with a 33mm Tissot watch with 18mm lug width, I think it could work but I was too afraid to buy it, now I see these video I'm more confident to get it.
I can, and I do..I have a a couple of vintage dress watches from the 60s ( Gub Spezimatik and a Rohmer) and 34mm was the standard back then.They look elegant and discreet.
I was not familiar with the Spezimatik so I went to go look it up. Lovely piece and I love the Glashutte origin. Wear in good health!
Awesome timepieces! I’d love to hear your thoughts on the SBGW259 which is the blue Ti version that you mentioned. Thanks!
Really, really nice. Grand Seiko did a great job with the SBGW259.
thx for your video... I have an Omega Seamaster from the 1960's which is 34 mm and I love it... it has been my daily watch for many years, but it's fragile and costly to repair so I'm looking for another watch... I like most of the ones you have shown, but it would have been nice to have a more «affordable» option, since affordable» has a different meaning for everyone...
That 34 looks amazing
Yes. My daily watch is a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date 15000 (34 mm).
I hope they will make a manual version and under 9 or 8mm of thickness.
That Patek. I like that Patek. Any chance you can provide the reference so I can search for one?
I am really jealous of you small wristed guys out there. The proportions on this small dials just look so much better. Unfortunately with my 7.5" wrist everything unter 38mm looks like I strapped a mentos to my wrist...
Great watches.
I only have 2 dress watches, and that's enough for my use, as I don't usually suit up. But both are 36mm. On a daily basis I mostly wear sports watches, around 39-42mm (I would never go bigger than 42/42.something). But a dress watches just feels odd with those sizes. 34-38 are the perfect sizes for those types of watches, definitely.
A dress watch is not about wearing a suit. It could be worn with a jumper in winter or with a short sleeve shirt in summer.
It is supposed to be dressy but not necessarily worn with a suit. It could be worn with a jacket as well (as in casual jacket).
@@bighands69 sure, I wear them with other types of clothes, not only with suits. With jeans and a dress shirt with a sports coat/blazer - sometimes even with jeans, suede monk straps and a simple jumper, whatever.
But it's not my usual choice, with the clothes I wear on a daily basis. But nothing wrong if you wear them, even with jeans and a t-shirt. Depending on the straps I feel they can work casually.
It's just not my favourite/prefered style of watch to wear on a regular basis.
I have a vintage Tudor big rose which looks great at 34mm.
grand beautiful watches
Absolute stunners.
I have an 8" wrist so i can easily wear large watches without my wrist looking silly . I do have a vintage Omega with a 34mm dial which, strangely enough, still looks ok on me
It was common years ago for men to wear 30 to 34mm watches even when they had large wrists.
Such a watch was compact and was not to get in the way.
@@bighands69 It was different back then. Most watches were dress watches, and had slim silhouette. Not to mention that watches were worn underneath a dress shirt. But now, most men dress very casually. And we are used to seeing people wearing large digital watches or manual watches. So it would look a bit weird to see a man wearing such a small watch. Also, if I am going to spend more than $1k on a watch, I want the world to notice it. You can't appreciate a small watch from far away.
I love these watches! That said, I do wish the cases on these were thinner. I'm happily wearing the SACM171 on my 6.75" wrist...
I know what you mean, that is often the case with Grand Seiko, they are a little on the thick side. The SACM171 looks great!
@@markchodotcom The SACM171 is great! One of the sleepers in Seiko’s offerings - 33.5mm/5.3mm, HAQ +/- 10 sec/year, beautiful dial, excellent fit & finish at its price. Change the original band and you have an amazing watch - I call it a baby Grand Seiko. Obviously doesn’t have the fit & finish of the SBGX347 but I prefer the case dimensions and weight of the SACM171 - and I like how understated and clean the aesthetic is.
34mm for the win! I dont mind wearing >36mm watches but for dress watches, 36mm is the max. JLC has the 36mm master ultra thin moon which is nice too.
34mm and quartz sounds perfect to me.
Great video man thanks! These watches make me want to dress more formally :)
In a heartbeat.
how about the color of dial affecting the overall proportion visually?
40mm darker ones
34mm? Yes of course!! I got a Rolex Oysterdate Precision 6694 love it!
Patek 3800 series are perfect!
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!
Hi Mark! Love your video as always, what do you think of Rolex releasing 36 mm Explorer last year?
I like both of them. I know a lot of people disliked the two tone but I thought it was an interesting way to take it. I haven't seen either in the metal, though, but at least from photos and press coverage, they seem like good updates to the classic Explorer.
Yo, I've had a 34 Air King with a blue sunburst 3 - 6 - 9 Explorer dial. Nicest watch I've owned.
Apart from those great watches, how have you done so well with your shirt collar style? To me it looks like the collar has been glued to the shirt itself or something, if you know what I mean. How did you make up that collar style with the tie, please? Very neat and elegant.
34mm is the perfect size. I have collected watches for many years and feel that the 39-42mm watch cases look like a caricature of a watch. I have a 7 1/2" wrist. Many brands have lost business to people like me because so many only produce larger case sizes. Good for Grand Seiko and Junghans and some brands that produce watches in this size.
The problem is, Western men tend to have larger wrists or hands. Asian men tend to be thinner, with smaller wrist sizes. Men with large hands do not look good with small watches. For me 39mm is the ideal size. I am 6'1" and have large hands. I would look silly with a watch that is 36mm
31-34 excellent for you my friend - elegance personified! Larger sizes are too large and showy.
If they had a watch with these dimensions and a spring drive movement that would be a dream
💯💯💯
I would love spring drive in anything smaller than 38mm tbf, last time I checked, they only have 40mm models with spring drive
Excellent video. I have a big wrist, 8"/20cm and I do have a vintage 1960 34mm Avia Swiss watch. Honestly, as someone who is used to wearing bigger watches 42mm to 44.5mm in mechanical and a very big G-Shock Mudmaster, I felt the watch looked too small on me. To be honest even a 36/37mm is a little too small and looks out of place. So, my wife wears it and it looks good on her 13cm wrist. It's a fashion thing to some extent as most men's watches were quite small in the past. 34mm will still suit the average wrist though, but possibly not over 6.5"/17cm.
my wrist is around 17-18cm and 40mm Rolex Daytona looks on me like a girl watch after all it fit perfect on my wife petite wrist, daily 'sports' watch 42-44mm for average man I think is normal in this days.
Same here. I am 6'1" and have large hands. I need at least a 38mm in order to feel comfortable with a watch. Small watches don't match my body type.
Will you restock the Anordain watches any time soon?
A couple of years ago I found my old graduation watch, my parents gave me in 1970, it's a Mido , Ocean Star powerwind, it's a 34mm , a perfect dress watch in gold. This is was added to my collection of 1940s Gruen curvex and Hamilton tank watches which gives me variety of sizes, finishes and shapes; each paired with a different color strap which gives versatility according to the formality scale of clothing being worn day or night.
I really love the SBGW231 and almost bought it but I got the SBGA211.
I am still looking at the former and the only downside for me is the thickness of the watch - around 10 mm. If it were 8 mm, it would be a perfect dress watch, in the Calatrava style (dial) and those wonderful, sharp and detailed hands and indices.
What do you make of the Lord Marvel which Seiko did in the 60s? The ones with the clean dial.
I know what you mean, the 231 can feel a little thick. An 8mm 231 would be a-mazing. Sadly I'm not all that familiar with the Lord Marvel pieces. I like them but I never dug into them to know more.
I wore a cartier tank louis for the longest time. Yes, I can wear a 34 mm watch .
unrelated to the watches -- which are lovely (36mm is my preferred size) -- but does your shirt have single cuffs?
I have and love my Grand Seiko 9F quartz. Grab and go, just so spot on accurate, need not set the time or wind it, and boy the finishing is just as good.
You're right. I do love the no-fuss aspect of Grand Seiko 9F quartz combined with the as-always great finishing.
Yes. I do it quite frequently. Next.
I collect vintage watches, and love 33-34mm watches on my 7" wrist. I tolerate 35-36mm watches but anything above that is too big. Vintage Cartier Tank watches with a 23" or 25" case are classy and incredible stylish.
I couldn't find these watches in the Armoury site, are they all gone already?
we have a few left at our HK store, please reach out to us at info@thearmoury.com if you are interested!
I have an 8inch wrist and 36mm is the largest I own. I love 33mm to 36mm sizes
It all depends in the dial size.
My 38mm Grand Seiko SBGF021 seems much smaller than watches I've had a few years back, now I need to research smaller sizes
Me, with less-than-5-inch wrists: 'No; it'd probably be too big."
I recently watched a video of Grand Seikos latest release the pink dialed 36.5mm watch & nearly everybody complained it was too small & was a girl's watch. Watch buyers in the west have become used to dominating the market & fail too appreciate that the japanese primarily design for themselves (& rightly so) & are of smaller stature,
It stands to reason that the watches they design will not be 45mm! Dress watches have no reason to be above 38mm & i myself wear a King Seiko special a 1971 5246-6000 at 35mm as an everyday wear & i believe Seiko should limit themselves to 40mm Maximum unless in dive watches. Thank you for your great content..
I agree with all you said, except........
Even dive watches should not exceed 41 mm. Id even like 40 mm for my diver. I have a orient star diver since we are on the topic of japanese watches well, its 43 mm!. I love the watch. Everything is perfect but its alittle large at 43. Even if they made it 41 perfect!. Id even take dress watches at 39. An stop with the date in most watches. Id love a watch that only had time. An go back to closed case backs. Or even/balance everything.
Marc,
Which of the two would you says wears 'bigger'--the blue or the silver dial? I suppose the silver considering light dials tend to appear broader on the wrist.
The white arguably wears a little bit bigger though I wouldn't say there's a big difference. The gloss of the blue dial makes it a bit more eye catching than the white.
My daily dress watch is a 33mm Credor and I have a 6.5 inch wrist. Wear whatever you want as long as it makes YOU happy, who cares. I personally love smaller watches.
Actually the only thing that had me worried were the 34mm, I love GS quartz and there are pros and cons to all the different drives / technologies. Thank you for this very interesting video.
No problem, thanks for watching. If you are a big guy, you might find 34mm a bit small but for a lot of folks, the 34mm might actually wear better than they might expect.
I find the SBGZ 347 an outstanding watch. In my ideal utopian world it would be made in Grand Seikos Ever-Brillant Steel and without a second hand.
Easy question for me. I personally dislike over 40mm watches. Biggest watch I own is 38mm dive watch. I hate it especially when movement is smaller sized one. For instance when I wanted to buy Seiko coctail time I bought the 32mm one.