Vostok

Probably roughly the way you did: say thanks for the gesture, yet shelve (or ultimately bin: there’s your suggestion) the sh*tter.

That Polerouter 👌

Vostok

Nice looking watch. Citizen is typically real value for money. I’ld say: go for it!

Simple: keep BOTH

Oh come on, what stupendously insecure BS is that? Wear whatever the hell you want. You are an ultimate fool and weakling if you let the fear of other people’s opinions determine your legit personal choices.

In the 1930s through 1970s, or maybe even the early 1990s, 30-34 mm was absolutely normal for any man, certainly for vintage (inspired) pieces like the ones in your post. The ridiculous hyper-focus on large watches (and worse: those as a sign of manlihood: ??) is over its peak, and eg 36mm is coming into style again.

My guess is that the risk of you with your 6” wrist looking ridiculous wearing a 42 or 44 mm watch is way higher than these things looking effeminate on you.

Man up, wear whatever you want!

Why not? Cool watch

‘Hate’ is perhaps a bit strongly put: people may wear what they want, however ridiculous it looks.

But otherwise I am fully with you: large watches often look laughable on people with smaller to medium wrists. Wherever the lunacy came from that putting a frisbee or dinner plate sized watch on your wrist is ‘manly’ is a complete mystery to me. It is frankly sad to see so many people being insecure on their wristsize, which is really not that easy to influence. To think that one might ‘compensate’ by actually accentuating the puniness of one’s wrist with a massive clock on top of it is misguided if not pathetic. Just deal with who you are, I’ld think.

Fortunately indeed there are … (a) … a large number of viable vintage options around, which tend to be more in say the 31-37mm range; (b) … increasingly brands that do veer back from the oversizing madness: 36mm is definitely back in the picture, along with 37-39mm; © … if need be unisex or even ‘for females’ labeled watches to consider, why not? Just wear what you like and fits well! (d) … certain somewhat larger (eg dive/Flieger/…) watches that by their purpose and/or proper design (eg of the lugs) sort of work on smaller wrists.

Wanna bet you’re nowhere near done? Nice start though, colourful

In essence you’re foregoing a few ‘00$ of time value of money. It’s annoying, but if you want the watch and can afford it in the sense that you do not need that money, why not?

Not something to get overly worked up about I’ld say: these are their conditions, either you accept them or you don’t, not much more to it.

Somewhere between tool and accessory I guess. They are both useful and nice (if chosen well)

None, really.

Got some inherited and/or very carefully chosen vintage watches (1920s through 1970s) which I absolutely adore, each and everyone of them. Had one sort of miss-buy over the years, which turned out to be rather fragile mechanically, so ultimately traded that back (proper dealer). One or two still on wishlist, searching for a solid example, which takes time (no hurry there at all).

Also own a few new, relatively (but not overly) expensive watches, which I only bought after serious consideration and comparison to all manner of alternatives. Like those a lot, wear them when appropriate, no regrets. There are a few still on my ‘wishlist’ that may survive the ongoing pruning I do of that list, so which I may end up buying down the line.

And I own a good handful of micro-brand watches. These are predominantly for fun and novelty, and frankly cost so little that they do not interfere with anything else. I am slightly faster and looser purchasing those, but still only buy only 10-20% of what I come across and (fleetingly) like. So perhaps not that surprisingly, none of those have really disappointed: I know what I got them for and why, and that is exactly what they bring.

My only overall hesitance is the simple fact that in the end, the more watches I buy, however carefully elected, the less I get to wear each of them on average. First world problem.

Vintage Longines from say the 1920s through to the 1970s are often exquisite. In those days they were at the top of their game, and the industry in general. Really high quality, beautiful watches with a long-standing top tier reputation. Love to wear some of those golden oldies.

In recent years they have repositioned themselves, more modestly yet at that quite admirably: some (not all!) great looking, very well finished watches with adequate - sometimes COSC level - movements (derived from proven ETA’s typically), at reasonable price points somewhere between $1,500 and $3,500 mostly. Again, a proper choice to consider in quite a few categories.

In comparison to most other offering in that segment, I think Longines are punching way above their weight. I find that refreshing and very good for both consumer and industry: Longines definitely help keep the game in the mid-market lively!

You don’t spend a hell of a lot of money on watches per se; fortunately you’re also not afraid of walking around with some uncommon pieces on your wrist; you don’t necessarily chase big brands or novelties; you’re actually using / wearing your watches by the looks of them. Pretty much all good, carry on! 😉

Perhaps a small diver such as https://www.timefactors.com/collections/dreadnought/products/baby-dreadnought?variant=41017525960866

Realy quite nice and sturdy, quite inexpensive, but a tad difficult to obtain in view of the unwieldy ordering process (but doable).