A few years ago, big face watches became a real trendsetter and this became a problem for those who risked having their slender wrist swallowed up by a big chunk of steel. Nowadays, watch trends have resumed and normal-sized watches are once again filling up the market. Big men’s watches now belong to a category of their own – available for those that want them. Today, big face watches can be those that sit within a bracket between around 44mm and 52mm wide. The appearance of a large watch on the wrist depends on the shape of the case, however, and how the watch is worn. They come in various styles, price tags, and materials – some the chronograph type – others the diver’s watch style – even military, pilots and three-handed versions. So, without further ado, here’s a guide to some of the best big face watches out there on the market right now.

The Seiko SNJ029 watch is nicknamed “Arnie” and its not hard to see why. Measuring in at a dominating 47.8mm diameter, this watch from the Japanese brand’s Prospex collection certainly gets noticed on the wrist thanks to its black dial with chunky rectangular hour markers and thick central hands that have been treated with LumiBrite for enhanced timekeeping at night. The stainless steel case had a hardened black coating applied to its surface. Coupled with a 200-meter water resistance, a screwed-down crown and caseback, and a sapphire crystal glass front - this Seiko Prospex watch is a big face watch that can be enjoyed both underwater or with smart evening attire. The watch is completed on a beige rubber strap for a comfortable fit around the wrist, securing with a hardened steel buckle.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly big face watch, something like the Tissot Chrono XL Chronograph may be just the watch for you. Clad in a very sleek black and blue colour scheme, the sporty chronograph will pair with elegant or casual attire and features a black dial with vivid blue featuring in the central hands, the chronograph scales and the hour markers around the edge. This large-sized watch measures a confident 55mm diameter and features a sapphire crystal glass lens that keeps the watch looking as good as new, plus luminous hour markers and hands for assisted guidance in the dark. Keeping costs low, this big face watch is powered by a quartz movement and fitted on a supple black fabric strap.

The Casio Edifice watch has what is classed by the brand as a Neo display, which means ample luminous material covers its integral features such as the baton hour markers and the tapering central hands. The big face watch measures a very masculine 47mm diameter and boasts a deep frosted blue dial with a durable stainless steel strap for wearing outdoors, during sport, whilst travelling, or even when paired with something more sophisticated by night. The Casio Edifice is another affordable big face watch, offering a 30-minute stopwatch feature at 6 o’clock, a 1/1 sec, and date function too. The 100-meter water-resistant case holds a quartz movement at its centre and features a screw-locked caseback for easy accessibility when changing the battery.

This rugged 45mm stainless steel model from the Breitling Avenger series is a powerful design that is ready to take flight with its pilot-inspired credentials. The black dialled model is equipped with chronograph functions for effortless measuring of elapsed time – the push buttons on the side of the case of which are easy to handle under pilot gloves. Perfect for all airborne tasks and adventures, this big-sized men’s luxury watch from Breitling features luminous hour markers and hands, a date window at 3 o’clock, a glare-proofed convex sapphire crystal glass front, a screw-locked crown with two gaskets, a 300-meter water resistance, a black calfskin strap, and is powered by an automatic movement capable of beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour.

The great thing about the Baume & Mercier Clifton Club watch is its subtle vintage character that will pair well with most smart attire, especially since its broad 44mm satin-finished and polished steel case is fitted on a stunning brown leather strap. This big face watch is racing-inspired. Its partially exposed slate grey dial allows for a peek into the working Swiss-made Valjoux 7750 movement through the front side of the watch. This large-sized luxury men’s watch is also equipped with a tachymeter scale around the black bezel for tasks like measuring speed based on distance. If you like your big face watches and have an innate passion for both superior watchmaking and motorsport, this limited edition watch paying homage to the Indian Motorcycle Company, founded in 1901 in Springfield is the one for you.

IWC Big pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Top Gun Edition Mojave Desert IW503004

This IWC Schaffhausen watch is a big and bold statement for the wrist. Its feature-packed design offers a day, date, month, and year in four digits, as well as a perpetual moon phase for both the northern and southern hemispheres, a 7-day power reserve, a glass secured against displacement caused by a drop in air pressure, and an automatic winding movement named the Calibre 52615. Its broad 46.5mm design is crafted from ceratanium to give it a unique sand-coloured tone, plus with its 60-meter water resistance and a screw-in crow - the movement remains dry and protected from external damage. This highly complex, wearable calendar watch is perfect for keeping track of a busy lifestyle, making it to our list of top big face watches.

If you’re looking for a sporty chronograph, this confident 45mm Zenith El Primero watch bridges the gap between an on-the-go chronograph and a classic dress watch. The central chronograph hand, powered by the Calibre 4400B, is red-coated to stand out against a silver dial with luminous baton indexes and hands. It also features a 30-minute, 12-hour and small second sub-dial at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock respectively. Covering the wrist with a large inventory, this attention-grabbing Zenith El Primero Sport Chronograph watch completes its stylish look on a brown leather strap and retains a 200-meter water resistance.

The BMG-TECH structure of this large-sized Panerai Luminor Submersible watch offers superior robustness and extreme strength, protecting the internal environment of the watch from external shocks and magnetic fields. Measuring a dominating 47mm diameter, the BMG-TECH case is 300-meter water-resistant and features a deep blue dial with luminous hour markers and hands, a small second sub-dial at 9 o’clock and a date window at 3 o’clock. Completing its dive-ready look, the watch is completed on a supple caoutchouc black strap. The watch is also powered by the P.9010 calibre, executed entirely by Panerai, offering a 3-day power reserve and a composition of 200 individual, yet beautifully hand-arranged components.

This black edition of the Carrera creates a huge wrist presence with its carbon fibre case, bezel and lugs. The racing-inspired big face watch is perfect for fans of the large sporty kind. Its exposed dial features luminous hands and baton hour markers, and a date window, surrounded by a tachymeter bezel for measuring distance based on time travelled. The key features of this big face watch are; a 45mm diameter, 200-meter water resistance, a sapphire and grade 2 titanium caseback, double anti-reflective treatment on a curved sapphire crystal glass front, an automatic movement that prides an 80-hour power reserve, and a black rubber strap.

Lastly, if there was one big face watch that could achieve that all-important powerful and masculine appearance on the wrist, it would have to be a watch from Hublot’s Spirit of Big Bang watch collection. Its barrel-shaped case is influential, sporty, dynamic and bold. The titanium and ceramic watch features a skeletonised dial that exposes the workings and performance of the self-winding HUB4700 through its surface. Paired with its black alligator leather strap and a titanium buckle, this big face watch has become a famous and highly collectable design, recognised for its distinguishable H-shaped screws that connect the bezel to the case. This large-sized luxury men’s watch measures a 45mm diameter and also offers a 50-hour power reserve, chronograph features, and 100-meter water resistance.

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