Are you looking for an Omega watch that will look good even though you have small wrists? Read on to see our top recommendations.
As watch sizes continue to increase faster than Deion Sanders’ 40-yard dash, it’s easy for those of us with smaller wrists to ignore contemporary models completely.
Omega certainly isn’t resistant to current trends. Not a single Omega watch at Sotheby’s last Important Watches auction clocked in below 42mm.
As a legendary Swiss hard-hitter though, Omega always has one foot in its history, in eras when 38mm cases were the norm.
This is good news for us smaller gents who love the brand.
Whether you’re an adventurer, a fancy gentleman, or into understated styles, we’ve rounded up the seven best Omega watches for men with small wrists.
Table of Contents
Quick Take
Short on time? Here are our top three picks for the best men’s Omega watches for small wrists you can buy right now:
The Speedy Reduced may seem like an obligatory entry for a small wrist roundup. After all, it’s the 38.5mm version of the iconic Speedy Pro.
This watch excites me more than any other Omega. It has historical importance, being affiliated with the British Navy; and of course, pop culture importance as a Bond watch.
The Constellation looks great in a smaller size just by virtue of it being a timeless dress watch.
Read on for more info and the complete list…
The 7 Best Omega Mens Watches for Small Wrists
Here they are in no particular order…
Speedmaster Reduced
The Speedy Reduced may seem like an obligatory entry for a small wrist roundup. After all, it’s the 38.5mm version of the iconic Speedy Pro.
Size aside, the Speedmaster has features that differentiate it from its lunar adventurer ancestor. These unique offerings might make it preferable to you, regardless of your wrist size.
I don’t think manual winds and automatics are intrinsically better or worse than one another –it’s a matter of preference. However, the Speedy Reduced, as an automatic, is objectively more convenient than the Pro.
Also anyone who’s owned a manual wind for a long time can tell you, continuously turning the crown does wear it down faster.
I love that the addition of a rotor gives the automatic version a heavier wrist-wear. It feels as mechanically impressive as the classic. After all, size doesn’t equal substance, and the Speedy Reduced is a testament to that.
The Arabic hour markers make the Reduced legible for a chronograph. The subdials are closer to the edges, which create a comfortable negative space in the middle of the dial.
I like this because the subdials still touch the markers on the side preserving the iconic frenetic look, but avoiding potential accusations that it’s too crowded and that the Speedy shouldn’t be made this small.
Contemporary Speedmaster Moonwatch
I separately spotlight this contemporary Speedy because of its interesting grouping of features. To avoid confusion right off the bat, its reference number is 311.30.40.30.01.001.
It’s a descendant of the original Speedmaster Professional Moonwatch, but it interestingly doesn’t have the Professional appellate on it.
To make clear how special this modern Speedy is, here’s a quick history of Speedmaster calibers: Before 1968, all Speedmasters used caliber 321. The watches on Apollo 11 were 321s.
After 1968, all Speedmasters use some variant of Piguet’s 861 caliber. The main difference between the original 321 and the 861 variants is that the 861 features increased beat rates. The first watch on the moon, as well as today’s Speedy Pro, has an 861 variant.
321 is therefore rarer and highly desired.
The modern Speedy we’re looking at now has a similar busy look as the full-size, features a sapphire crystal, and manual-winding chronograph movement, and most importantly, the 321 caliber!
That’s a lot of highly coveted features in a 39.7mm watch.
This watch is for the detail-oriented Omega collector, or the Omega collector who prefers the full-size Speedy’s packed dial.
Just keep in mind that this version is as big as a small-wristed man can go, and that it will likely cost you north of $14,000.
Constellation 35, 36, and 39
The Constellation looks great in a smaller size just by virtue of it being a timeless dress watch. Remember Will Ferrell in Elf? That’s how a large Constellation would look.
Omega did something remarkable with the Constellation’s design. They implemented thoughtful rebellions without interrupting its classic dress watch features.
The 1980s Manhattan model added the iconic two claws on each side to hold the crystal. This provided weight and masculinity, but didn’t take away from the slim profile and overall smaller face.
The numbers on the bezel are reminiscent of a sports watch, which also adds a manly quality. But by using Roman numerals, the bezel doesn’t take away from the overall stately look –many say it adds to it, in fact!
The memorable bracelet is made up of single horizontal links and integrates with the watch face. This tank-like aesthetic gives even the 35mm the volume it needs to sit safely in the men’s watch category.
Overall, I consider the Constellation the best brand-name dress watch for men who want to look fancy, but not over-the-top or prissy.
These design innovations also make this one of the most versatile dress watches out there, a quality so few dress watches are able to achieve.
Seamaster 300 Mid Size
This watch excites me more than any other Omega. It has historical importance, being affiliated with the British Navy; and of course, pop culture importance as a Bond watch.
Unlike so many icons before it though, the Omega Seamaster doesn’t cement its legend status by putting up barriers and employing gatekeepers. Being part of this watch’s lore is accessible to men in all tax brackets and of all heights.
First, the watch that Brosnan sported in Goldeneye in ’95, AKA the inaugural Bond Omega, was the quartz version, which can be found in the 2k range.
Secondly, the 36.25mm Mid Size has just as many admirers as the bigger version.
If what you love about this watch is the fabled world it’s a part of, you must go for the blue wave dial. Of course if you just want a high-quality diver, any of the Seamasters will do, but the wave pattern is more iconic.
There’s a bigger bezel-to-face ratio on the Mid Size. This allows the watch to keep the blue wave pattern without it being too overpowering or cartoony.
The bigger bezel also makes this version look sportier, which is a great balance to its more luxury-leaning design features (its beautifully complex bracelet, for example).
If you need confirmation that the Mid Size is a noble and tasteful Seamaster option, look no further than the 6’3’’ Duke of Cambridge, who is almost never seen without his.
Railmaster, Vintage or 1957 Trilogy Rerelease
Nothing like this cult-favorite to make you feel like an Omega insider. 1957 was an auspicious year for Omega, having debuted their collectors trifecta: The Speedmaster, the Seamaster, and the Railmaster.
Unlike its brothers in arms, the Railmaster didn’t achieve household name status. Decades later, sporting this watch is considered a sign of being a highly in-the-know Omega collector.
So much so, that the Railmaster was rereleased in 2017 in its original 38mm size.
Since the Railmaster’s path to legend status was more low-key, it doesn’t have as many design reiterations as the Seamaster and the Speedmaster do.
The original Railmaster, with its smaller case, is thus considered its most important design (the Speedmaster’s Moonwatch is considered its most important, while the 90s wave dial is the Seamaster’s most important).
The pale orange-brown triangular markers on the black dial are delightfully classic. Whether you find an original vintage Railmaster or the design-accurate rerelease, there’s something special about running around in 2021 with a design that is simultaneously relevant and a throwback.
Because of its vintage look, even Omega collectors with big wrists love the smaller size.
Image-wise, the Railmaster was created as a response to demands for an anti-magnetic watch. The Speedmaster was built for racecar drivers then astronauts, the Seamaster for divers, and the Railmaster was for scientists and engineers.
Aqua Terra 38
The Aqua Terra is Omega’s answer to the Rolex Date, at least visually. It elevates a t-shirt and jeans, and adds a classy but bold pop to a suit and tie. It’s the most versatile option on the list and an effective everyday watch.
I always say that the Aqua Terra is the Seamaster’s classy brother: Just as adventurous, but always tucks his shirt in. It features a cleaner bezel, smooth lugs, and the horizontal waves on its face are straight instead of wavy.
I love the newer models because the date window is on the 6-hour mark, making for a less quirky, more symmetrical look.
Of course, vintage pieces have a cool factor about them, but this Aqua Terra reminds us how fun contemporary durability technology can be. It features Omega’s famous self-winding movement with a Co-Axial escapement, and it’s resistant to magnetic fields reaching 15,000 gauss.
Globemaster 39
Similar to the contemporary Speedy Moonwatch, the Globemaster pushes the size boundary at 39mm.
But while the contemporary Speedy justifies its bigger size with its unique grouping of qualities, the Globemaster does so by being a statement piece. After all, small guys are allowed to wear statement pieces too.
The pie pan dial with a fluted bezel has an art deco quality. Omega has been using fluted bezels since the 30s, so it’s a meaningful design choice steeped in the brand’s history, not just a random way to stand out.
Despite its mostly clean face, the Globemaster is one of the most detail-oriented contemporary Omega designs I’ve seen. The printing on the outlined polished hands, logo, and star medallion above the date is so sharp, it seems to float.
Under certain lights, you can see the rhodium plating. That, along with the clear caseback makes the Globemaster a great piece for us horology nerds.
Since the unconventional design choices are so tastefully implemented, I don’t think this watch would be a statement piece without the slightly bigger size. All guys have different wrist and hand proportions, so definitely try before you buy or make sure you’re looking at a good return policy.
Like the Railmaster, the Globemaster is a bit of a well-kept secret, so it’s an effective way to be thoughtfully unique.
Got small wrists? Try Omega!
My favorite watch brands are those with important horological histories.
Fortunately, since brands like that are best known for their classics, even contemporary lines are reliant on past designs that were created when small pieces were popular.
Omega is a great place to start, and a surprisingly easier brand to find a watch for us smaller gents!
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