Oversized Watches: How Stars Wear Them

Oversized or extra-large watches seemed to be a trend in the early 2000’s, but it still continues to unfold today. So can we really call it just a trend?

The truth is, “oversized” watches or watches with cases larger than 42mm, have been around for nearly a century. Originally created for military or government use, big watches served important functional purposes – for instance, they had to be legible and durable enough to tell time beneath the sea. While they are rarely used for these reasons today, their timeless designs and fine mechanics endure.

Maybe you want to jump on the big watch bandwagon; but think that you have to have serious style chops or a larger than life personality to pull them off. Not at all! Just take your cue from these stars:

A gown with a sporty watch? Why not? Adriana Lima toned down her otherwise ultra-glamorous look by pairing it with an IWC Aquatimer with a rubber strap. The IWC Schaffhausen ambassador has said that she actually finds big watches “very feminine and sexy”, especially if you don’t really wear jewelry. Photo from Adriana Lima on Twitter

The Rolex Yacht-Master II, with a case size of 44mm, is currently Rolex’s largest watch and also one of its most distinct designs. Mark Wahlberg, who is known for his love of gold Rolexes, is often seen with his yellow gold Rolex Yacht-Master II. A shirt-and-jeans combo means all eyes are on the watch; but if you want something more subdued, go for the stainless steel version. Video from Mark Wahlberg on Instagram

Oversized watches aren’t just for the big guys, as we’ve shown you, but if there’s a guy who can certainly pull them off, it’s Sylvester Stallone. Credited for making Panerai watches popular in Hollywood, Sly is also a big fan of IWC Big Pilot and Portuguese watches. The Portuguese is big, bold and yet classic in design, so it looks right at home with a shirt (as seen on Sly) and but also looks good with a suit.