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The best little watches for the demanding collector

The best little watches for the demanding collector

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Rejoice, you normal wrist – the era of the big watch is over!

And not a moment too early. During the early 2000s 47 -mm panerais and gigantic large pilots, nobody seemed to ask the relevant question: Who are all of these big watches for? The Schwarzengers and Stallone in the world are only a few of us are an average of 5'9 “and prefer a watch that is not balanced like a plate with a stick. Fortunately, companies seem to see that companies finally get the message. 32mm Calatravas.

Speaking of which we don't just talk about clothing watches here. Sure, there are now many parts of Sub-40 mm times that lead through the horological ecosystem, but there are also sub-38 mm field watches, divers and other tools. (36 mm chronogrAphs may be permanently in the past, but that's not necessarily one bad Thing; If you have two or three small registers to read, a sub-38 mm dial can cause an illegible matter.) While those who are used to 40 mm tools (and clothes) much Smaller than today. The famous A-11 field clock, which was issued by GIS thousands of GIS in World War II, was about 31 mm; The Mk. 11 Pilot's Watch was 36 mm; And when the Royal Oak debuted at 39 mm in 1972, it was “Jumbo!” Go figure.

What follows are just a bit of the wide range of small clocks out there. Even if they are used to be larger than 40 mm, we advise you to give you a spin. These smaller pieces are better not only better, but they feel better, they also feel better, but they, but them, but also them see Better also – especially if they are suitable and booted. Who knows … maybe you will find that you were really a “little clock” in the heart?

Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical

Hamilton

Specifications:
Diameter: 36 mm
Movement: Hamilton H-50 Handwound
Water resistance: 50 m
Price: $ 595
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Since its introduction in 2017, Hamilton's Khaki Field Mechanical has been a fan favorite. (In fact, we would argue that the popularity of its 36 mm proportions of the Vintage field watches reflected for the current shrinkage of watches.) Driven by a hand-hung movement with 50 hours of electricity reserve, it comes in a number of dial leaves and belt colors. However, the original black and dial version with darts-shaped indices and a green and brown fabric strap is the version for which we jumped. Buckle it up and go to the field and you could think you have entered a Francis Ford Coppola film. (And if this is not your cup of tea, it also comes in white.)

Baltic MR Classic

Baltic clock

Baltic

Specifications:
Diameter: 36 mm
Movement: Hangzhou Cal5000A automatically
Water resistance: 30 m
Price: ~ $ 621
More information

French microbrand Baltic provides vintage-inspired designs in affordable packages better than practically any other. The MR classic, which combines a 36 -mm single steel housing in different colors with an automatic microrotor movement, is a breathtaking value with a little more than 600 US dollars. For our money we jumped against a granular texture for the salmon dial variant with steel-breguet digits. With the offset sub -sections with a Guilloché finish and a leaf mobile part, it beats classic clothing clocks in the middle of the century. Measurement only 9.9 mm in size and paired with a sewn dark blue leather strap. It will slide directly under a cuff. We are not sure why you want it.

Unimatic U5S-ML

Functional wristwatch with a slim design

Unimatic

Specifications:
Diameter: 36 mm
Movement: Sellita SW200-1 automatically
Water resistance: 300 m
Price: $ 995
More information

Are you looking for a perfect everyday watch created by a brand with excellent sensitivities? How about two Brands with excellent sensitivity then? The U5S-ML is a collaboration between Italian microbrand Unimatic-a solid firm, which is known for its affordable, minimalist tool watches-and William Massena, noticed the horological authority and founder of Massena Lab. It measures 36 mm in brushed stainless steel and an unmistakable oversized crown and has a black dial with large white swords (and a practical date window), which is inspired by the works of Dieter -Rams to be brown. Driven by automatic Swiss movement and shipping with two straps, it is a matter of sub-40 mm beauty.

Junghans Max Bill automatic Bauhaus

Automatic wristwatch with a minimalist design

Junghans

Specifications:
Diameter: 38 mm
Movement: Junghans J800.1 / ETA 2824-1 automatic
Water resistance: 30 m
Price: $ 1,590
More information

Junghans Max Bill Bill Automatic Bauhaus is a special watch that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus movement in 2019, a modern, automatic version of a hand-produced classic from the middle of the 20th century. For the German watchmaker Junghans from the famous Bauhaus designer Max Bill, it has the minimalist codes that made the Dessau-founded design school so popular: measurement of 38 mm in stainless steel, the white dial with simple line indices and cardinal lume shops is only a date window. Combined with a leather strap and driven by a Swiss movement, the automatic Bauhaus in Max Bill is a study in simplicity.

Day Heuer Formula 1 Solargraph

Diving guard with a stainless steel tape and a bold dial

Tag Heuer

Specifications:
Diameter: 38 mm
Movement: Day Heuer Solargraph caliber TH50-00
Water resistance: 200 m
Price: $ 1,900
More information

The new TAG Heuer-Formula 1 Solargraph was launched at Watches and Wonders 2025 and lifts the brand that stopped with the Kith composition of 2024: based on the undeniable fantastic and high-collectible Formula 1 watch watches from the 1980s, which has sold more than three million with the new version with which Locker upgrades. Quartz-operated movement, with which she can run for a whole day with just two minutes. (Or for 10 months on 40-hour fees.) Our favorite is also one of the non-limited models: with its red and white dial, the black diving and steel bracelet, it looks like a million dollars.

Tudor Black Bay 54

E

With the kind permission of Tudor

Specifications:
Diameter: 37 mm
Movement: MT5400 automatic of the Tudor manufacturing caliber
Water resistance: 200 m
Price: $ 4.050
More information

The Tudor Black Bay 54 is very simply a waking collector dream: Based on a vintage trial dive guard from the 1950s, it is almost a copy for Note-for-Note right on the 37 mm proportions. Combined to a Nietarmband with Tudors loved “T -Fit” information and has a vaulted black dial with gilded accents and the characteristic “snowflakes” hands of the brand as well as the type of smaller crown, which was in common some of these references in the middle of the 20th century. Driven by Tudor's chronometer-certified manufacturing caliber MT5400 Automatic movement and waterproof against 200 m, despite its electrical proportions and its aspect, it is a rough watch. Just be careful – your significant other could try to steal it directly from the wrist.

IWC Pilot's Watch Automatic 36

E

IWC Schaffhausen

Specifications:
Diameter: 36 mm
Movement: IWC Cal. 35111 automatically
Water resistance: 60 m
Price: $ 5,600
More information

The modern version of the famous “Mark” series by Military Pilot's watches and the IWC Pilot's Watch Automatic 36 contains everything you need in a smaller tool clock – and nothing that you don't do. The cover made of brushed steel has a measuring case and a crown, while its matt black dial is typical of the watch face of a classic pilot: with an open tiny route in white; a shining set of swords; And large white Arabic indices also contain a practical date window, the black pane and white pressure fit directly into the design. This version is driven by an automatic movement and is paired to a pretty multi-link bracelet made of steel and gives an otherwise classic tool observation type a little modernity.

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