The Big Game Of Small Watches

29 Apr, 2025

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When watches moved from pocket to wrist, smaller sizes were a mechanical necessity, not just a style choice. The finest Swiss manufacturers produced compact movements that represented watchmaking at its best: elegance through efficiency. Today’s renaissance of small watches isn’t just a fashion’s pendulum swing but rather a rediscovery of horological fundamentals.

At 28mm to 36mm, these creations challenge the two-decade dominance of oversized wristwear with compelling arguments beyond aesthetics alone. The properly proportioned watch sits in perfect harmony with the wrist’s anatomy, neither shifting uncomfortably during movement nor catching awkwardly on shirt cuffs. It whispers rather than shouts, commanding attention through refinement rather than dimension.

The Technical Virtues Of Small Watches

Manufacturing small watches presents formidable challenges that separate true watchmaking masters from mere assemblers. When every millimetre matters, there’s nowhere to hide mediocrity.

Consider Patek Philippe’s original Calatrava at 30.5mm, a study in proportional perfection that established the archetype for the gentleman’s dress watch. Its restrained dimensions weren’t limitations but rather the exact canvas required for perfect balance. Similarly, Piaget’s ultra-thin movements from the 1970s demonstrated how technical virtuosity could flourish within compact spaces, producing timepieces that sit nearly flush against the wrist.

Beyond Binary Classification

Watches are no longer being boxed into “his” and “hers” as those old labels are finally fading. A 34mm Royal Oak or 37mm Nautilus 7118/1A-001 performs its function identically, regardless of who wears it. The determining factors should be proportion, comfort, and personal aesthetic rather than outdated conventions about appropriate dimensions.

This more fluid approach reconnects watchmaking with its heritage. Before the oversized trend emerged in the late 1990s, the distinction between men’s and women’s watches was primarily decorative rather than dimensional. The finest dress watches worn by gentlemen throughout the mid-20th century would be classified as “mid-size” or even “ladies” models by today’s inflated standards.

The Investment Perspective

Beyond their aesthetic and ergonomic virtues, small watches present compelling investment opportunities. While oversized contemporary watches flood the secondary market, original mid-century references in smaller dimensions remain comparatively scarce.

The market has begun recognising this value correction. Auction results demonstrate a growing premium for properly preserved examples in original dimensions. Phillips’ landmark sale of a pristine 35mm Patek Philippe reference 2526 for £651,700 in 2023 signalled this shift dramatically, as collectors increasingly prioritise originality and proportional correctness over contemporary trends.

The Contemporary Response

Forward-thinking manufacturers have recognised this evolution in collector preferences. Cartier’s reintroduction of the Tank Normale honours its historical proportions rather than enlarging it for contemporary tastes. Likewise, the Baignoire watch is enjoying a modern revival, capturing the attention of a new generation of tastemakers. Celebrities like rapper Tyler, The Creator, known for his appreciation of rare Cartier models, and Kendall Jenner, who was recently spotted styling the Baignoire with a racing-core jacket and designer staples, have reaffirmed its status as a piece that balances heritage elegance with contemporary cool.

This resurgence highlights the enduring appeal of watches that exude character without chasing trends. Most significantly, these pieces arrive without restrictive gender classifications. The modern approach acknowledges that the relationship between timepiece and wearer remains intensely personal, a matter of physiognomy, style, and function rather than arbitrary categories.

Your Celebrity Advocates: Small Watches With Substantial Presence

Dwyane Wade – Tiffany Eternity

The NBA legend challenges conventional masculinity with this refined selection. At 28mm, the diamond-accented Tiffany creation represents watchmaking at its purest, a technical marvel that complements Wade’s sophisticated tailoring with understated confidence. The Eternity 28mm features an 18k white gold case plated with rhodium, a Tiffany lacquered dial with 12 diamond markers in different cuts, and a halo of round brilliant diamonds on the bezel. The crown, inspired by the Tiffany Setting engagement ring, is set with a round brilliant diamond.

Paul Mescal – Cartier Privé Tank Chinoise

Mescal’s preference for this reimagined 1920s classic demonstrates the contemporary relevance of historical proportions. Drawing inspiration from Chinese temple architecture, the Tank Chinoise features distinctive horizontal bars on its rectangular case. It houses either Cartier’s manual-winding 430 MC movement or the skeletonised 9627 MC Calibre. The classic model displays Roman numerals and blued steel hands on a silvered dial, while the openworked version reveals the movement’s intricate mechanics, all completed with an alligator strap and deployment buckle.

Timothée Chalamet – Cartier Panthère

Perhaps no contemporary style ambassador has done more to transcend outdated conventions than Chalamet. His choice of the compact Panthère with its fluid bracelet design represents watchmaking at its most versatile. Originally introduced in 1983 and revitalised in 2017, the Panthère features a square case with softened corners measuring 27mm. Its seamless integration of case and bracelet creates a jewellery-like fluidity. It features Roman numerals, sword-shaped hands, and Cartier’s hidden signature within the numerals.

Bad Bunny – Patek Philippe 3980

The Puerto Rican artist’s vintage yellow gold Patek Philippe simultaneously challenges every convention. Its compact case, embellished with diamonds and sapphires, proves that smaller dimensions need not limit expressive potential. Reference 3980 is a coveted vintage chronograph from Patek Philippe’s Nautilus line, produced from the late 1980s to early 2000s. Bad Bunny’s custom edition features an 18k yellow gold case with a unique arrangement of diamonds and sapphires. The integrated bracelet flows seamlessly from the porthole-inspired case, housing Patek’s sophisticated CH 28-520 C automatic movement with a column wheel chronograph.

Michael B. Jordan – Piaget Polo 7P

Jordan’s ultra-slim Piaget exemplifies the technical excellence of small watches. The Piaget Polo 7P features an astonishingly slim profile at just 6.5mm thick, housing Piaget’s in-house 430P manual-winding movement, one of the thinnest mechanical calibres in production at just 2.1mm in height. The 34mm stainless steel case presents a perfect circle surrounded by signature gadroons, while the silver-toned dial features minimalist applied hour markers and slender dauphine hands. The integrated bracelet continues the vertical brushed finish of the dial, creating visual harmony throughout.

The Perfect Proportion

Beyond trends and marketing noise, the right timepiece integrates effortlessly with its wearer. It complements rather than dominates, enhances rather than overwhelms. The most compelling timepieces achieve this balance not through adherence to contemporary fashion but through proportional correctness, dimensions that honour both the technical requirements of the mechanism and the physical proportions of the human form.

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