Small watches for men, in my (correct) opinion, are a necessary backlash to the large-faced watches of the 90s/00s. A time when the Jay Zs and Sylvester Stallones of this world swaggered with large lumps of metal strapped to their small wrists, making a flimsy statement about masculinity. A sort of caveman logic of big equals manly. Often, they’re gaudy, flashy, and tasteless. That’s because the large watch is not a practical choice, and society has moved on. So… with large-faced watches in the bin, let’s get onto the best small watches for men, shall we?
Why shave a few millimeters of diameter off your masculinity? Well, the small watch is low-key and retains a presence. The best small watches for men don’t need to shout to get respect. A small watch face has to be economical in the information it can transmit. That means less space for timers, depth readings, all timezones of the world, and phases of the moon. It has to be sleek and uncomplicated, and that makes it easier on the eye.
This streamlined aesthetic is a trait of vintage watches. In the 1970s, anything above 37mm was considered humungous because the movements were smaller. With the vintage watch market exploding in recent years, this led to small watches for men becoming not only acceptable again but highly sought after. Many microbrands are focussing on smaller diameter neo-vintage styles to satiate the market’s demand.
And finally, we end up back at Jay Z (ever the relatable social barometer). At the 2022 Super Bowl, he wore a 37mm Patek Philippe. Admittedly, it is diamond encrusted, but back in the 90s/00s, this would have been at least 5mm larger. Trends are prone to corrections, and the new smaller watch partially reflects new ideals of masculinity. It turns out the big equals good equation contained a large logical fallacy.
P.S. If you’re 6′ 4″ and built like a mountain, then a small watch for men might not suit you. But if you’re average or average-adjacent, a huge watch won’t tend to sit right.
Key Takeaways
Good-looking, not intimidatingly small, hard-wearing, and manufactured by a super respected brand. All reasons why Seiko’s Prospex Alpinist SPB121 won the best overall spot. At 39.5mm diameter, the watch tests the categorization of small watches but it’s within 40mm definition. If you’re one to consider the vast difference between 39.5mm and 33mm, meaning how that affects volume, weight, and comfort, look to NOMOS Glashütte. The Club 701 is an incredible manual watch with a svelte 8.2mm thickness.
Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB121 at Hodinkee
V03D-BR at Void Watches
Nixon Re-Run at Amazon
Club 701 at NOMOS Glashütte
Casio F91W-1 at Amazon
Timex Weekender 38mm at Amazon
LA Californienne Daybreak 24mm at Mr Porter
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 at Jomashop
Chopard Alpine Eagle 36 at Farfetch
Best Overall: Seiko Prospex Alpinist SPB121
For the sports watch addict trying to cut down the diameter diet one millimeter at a time. At 39.5mm, this timepiece sits right at the top of the small watches for men category. Perhaps it will represent a time portal to present-day watch trends for its purchaser. As well as its larger diameter, it retains the tropes of a traditional masculine sports watch. The black dial, magnified date, stainless steel bracelet, and shark-tooth dials.
Not to mention its name, the Alpinist. It was originally designed in the 90s for Japanese mountaineers and so its sports performance is hardly an accident. This Seiko watch isn’t pushing any gender boundaries. But with its impressive Automatic 6R35 movement, general robustness, and fair price, this makes it one of the best small watches for men.
Case Size: 39.5mm | Movement: Automatic 6R35 | Thickness: 13.2mm | Water Resistant: 200m
Best Everyday: Void Watches v03d-br
The ideal everyday watch has to be adaptable to all outfits, all occasions, and all moods. That’s why simplicity, elegance, and neutral tones are best. The silver brushed finish on this Void Watch combined with the black leather strap achieves these things and more.
All the information on the dial is legible and it comes in a finely-tuned modern font. The dial itself is deep-set, creating an exaggerated 3-D appearance. Plus, it’s powered by a thin, highly accurate, and long-lasting Japanese Quartz battery. But for stylistic versatility alone, this is one of the best small watches for men currently available.
Case Size: 38mm | Movement: Japanese Quartz | Thickness: 10mm | Water Resistant: 50m
Best Digital: Nixon Re-Run
A smattering of overused “watch” words: modern, retro, classic, vintage. All of these could be used to describe this Nixon Re-Run, but what they don’t tell you is just how sophisticated and stylish the watch is. It has an almost oxymoronic appeal. It has a square case softened by way of more angles. It’s vintage and modern. It’s classic and relevant. Its quartz movement means reliability, accuracy, and a thin case. It’ll sit flush on your wrist, giving a more natural approach to your daily rhythms. Plus, it has an alarm, countdown timer, and calendar.
Case Size: 38.5mm | Movement: Quartz | Thickness: 12.5mm | Water Resistant: 30m
Best Manual: NOMOS Glashütte Club 701
A manual movement requires a physical winding of the mechanism to keep time. This becomes a much-cherished part of the morning routine. As if by winding up your watch, you’re winding up yourself too. Poetic, isn’t it? Owning a manual watch is poetic. In an age of quartz and automatics, the old-school mechanics of manual are refreshing. The manual Alpha caliber in this Club 701 has a power reserve of 43 hours. All that extra “effort” affords you extra long-term reliability, low maintenance costs, and a thin movement, which also makes it comfortable to wear.
Styling-wise, the brown leather and red-stitching combination on this NOMOS Glashütte give a sporting elegance. Meanwhile, the dial is encased in a voluptuous stainless steel shell. No doubt, this is a modern classic in the manual small watches for men category.
Case Size: 36mm | Movement: Manual | Thickness: 8.2mm | Water Resistant: 100m
Best Budget: Casio F91W-1
The Casio F91W-1 doesn’t discriminate in its appeal. It happens to be a favorite of Obama, hipsters, just about everyone else. As of 2020, Casio was still churning out 3 million units a year, despite launching the product in 1991. This is an impressive statistic and one that proves the small, thin digital watch isn’t dying a digital death just yet.
Why is it so popular? Well, it’s minimalist, retro, digital, durable (can be smashed with a hammer and survive), water resistant, and has impressive battery life for a quartz-powered watch. But the most crucial factor? It’s kind on the purse strings.
Case Size: 33mm | Movement: Quartz | Thickness: 8mm | Water Resistant: 30m
Best on Amazon: Timex Weekender 38mm
Forget what this watch calls itself, the Timex Weekender isn’t just for weekend boy scout adventures, it’s perfect for an everyday casual style. The unfussy nylon strap comes in a plethora of tones, so it can easily be customized for different outfits. Plus, a leather strap is available for even smarter looks.
But it’s the simple dial with large, clean indices and no-nonsense silver-tone brass case that make it an easy purchase. (The forgivable price tag is also a bonus). Customers rate the watch an average of 4.6 stars on Amazon after 14,166 reviews. That is impressive.
P.S. This watch is legendary for having one of the loudest ticks in the game.
Case Size: 38mm | Movement: Quartz | Thickness: 8.9mm | Water Resistant: 30m
Best Angular: LA Californienne Daybreak 24mm
To whom it may concern. Square or rectangular watches are some of the best small watches for men. By having a smaller width, one can afford length with deft elegance. La Californienne is a new leader in producing affordable and stylish rectangle watches.
Everything on this watch is in the name of aesthetics. The brand knows you don’t need a single color to enjoy a watch; that’s why they also hand-paint all their leather watch straps. The matte black dial features beautiful colored numbers and a glittery ruby. To top it off the bright blue hands make sure you never have to miss a single second. A lot of thought has gone into making this watch so attractive.
Case Size: 24mm | Movement: Swiss-made quartz ETA movement | Thickness: 5 mm | Water Resistant: 3 bar
Best Selling: Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36
According to Statista, based on annual turnover alone, Rolex was the largest watch brand in 2021. It achieved $8,807.15 million. This is obviously a ridiculous sum but what makes it even more so is the fact it’s roughly 3.3 times the size of the nearest competitor. So while the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust 36 isn’t one of the best-selling Rolexs, it does have a small face. In my humble opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful.
This particular specification is a blend of Oystersteel and white gold with a jubilee bracelet and a mint green dial. It isn’t so much simple or minimalist as totally refined. The iconic fluted bezel marks it out immediately as a Rolex and serves to waterproof the case. This is one of the most sought-after and sexy small watches for men on the market.
Case Size: 36mm | Movement: Automatic Rolex 3235| Thickness: 12mm | Water Resistant: 100m
Best Luxury: Chopard Alpine Eagle 36
Do you think of yourself as an Eagle? Not the feathery bird, but the symbolism of the eagle, an aggressive and dynamic carnivore that soars about the rest before gobbling them up? Then boy, do we have a timepiece for you? This luxury watch is a reimagining of the 1980 St Moritz watch designed by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, now acting as co-president for Chopard. It was inspired by the glorious alpine eagles of the Alps, and to be frank, I’m not sure many people will give a damn what the inspiration is, only that the end product looks as exquisite as it does.
The Lucent Steel A223 hardware is ultra-resilient and matted for a stunning luxurious aesthetic that’ll work well as a dress watch. Adding to the general metallic ruggedness are the tasteful screws and a large crown. This is a ticker that soars above the other small watches for men in almost every way.
Case Size: 36mm | Movement: Automatic CHOPARD 09.01-C | Water Resistant: 100m
Best Sports: Laco Himalaya 39
This Laco watch adopts the aggressive Scorpion as its inspiration. The Scorpion has a fluorescent substance that absorbs UV during the day and is visible at night. The Himalaya 39 has a minute hand coated in Superluminova that does the same. Scorpions have an exoskeleton made of chitin, and the Laco has a 39mm stainless steel case and double-dome sapphire crystal. The watch has earned the arachnid’s etching on the back of its case.
I like the way the brand describes the watch as being “resistant to external influences.” Exactly the cold way someone resistant to external influences would describe themselves. Plus, the bubble or coiled rubber strap is water-resistant and highly shock resistant. The Scorpion-inspired outdoors watch is a watch for the hardiest of travelers.
Case Size: 39mm | Movement: Sellita SW 200 | Thickness: 13mm | Water Resistant: 30m
What To Look For In Small Watches For Men
Movement
There are three main types of movements. Automatic, or self-winding, relies on the kinetic movement from the wrist to power the watch. This means reliability, longevity, and no need to replace batteries. Manual requires the user to wind the watch every so often to keep the watch at the right time. The advantages are reliability, thin movement, and no battery changes. Battery-powered, also known as quartz, is great for time accuracy, thin movement, and the possibility of a digital watch face.
Style
Style is the most personal of all the considerations, so you must go with a watch that feels right to you. Having an intuitive opinion about the style you like will help. I, for example, don’t like chronograph watches because of the extra crowns. Consider what watches you currently own, which watches you’ve admired from other people, and begin to create a nexus of designs you enjoy. Remember, match style to function. If you need a watch for deep-sea diving, maybe a minimalist watch isn’t for you.
Thickness
Oft neglected in favor of considering the diameter first, the thickness plays a huge role in how large that watch feels when you wear it. It’s the difference between a nimble, sleek experience and a weighty, luxurious experience. Generally, a thinner watch will be lighter and more comfortable to wear for long periods.
Final Verdict
As one of the best small watches for men, the Seiko Prospex ‘Alpinist’ SPB117 achieves a deft balance of form and function. It does not compromise on durability, movement quality, or battery reserve. This is ideal for those tentative about going to a smaller watch face. It retains the styling of a larger sports watch and so acts like a gateway drug towards expanding the watch collection towards embracing the teeny, tiny.
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- What size watch is best for a small wrist?
According to Grayton Watches, we can roughly deduce that a 16cm circumference (maybe 17cm) requires a 38mm diameter watch or lower. So get your wrist measured first to see where you stand.
- Is it okay for men to wear small watches?
No. Never. (Let’s pray this sarcasm makes it across those choppy Atlantic waves). Because otherwise, this whole article was in vain. But just in case… Yes, wear small watches with the confidence of James Bond.
- What is the smallest watch a man can wear?
How long is a piece of string? Genuinely. I can’t seem to find the answer anywhere on Google. In truth, there isn’t a “smallest” size. If you want to be pedantic, a watch that is illegible is too small. But once in the legible territory, it’s just a case of different watches for different swatches (people swatches, that is). Use your intuition. There are countless examples of celebrities adopting more gender-fluid approaches to male watch-wearing recently, like Harry Styles, Timothée Chalamet, and Kodi Smitt-McPhee. Try it, experiment, and go for it, hun.
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