Wearing a watch of a smaller size is nothing new; in fact, watches for men generally used to be smaller. But what about wearing a tiny or ‘mini’ watch? Can we even do that?!
Some might call it a trend, but I rather see it as the watch world finally loosening up, just like the fashion world has done, by understanding that there’s no need to put a label on things. Not long ago, many men would avoid smaller watches to prevent comments about them being ‘women’s watches’ or ‘too feminine’. While in general, there’s nothing wrong with that, some would go for a ‘safe option’.
It’s hard to say exactly when this shift began or who was the biggest influence, but in our opinion, Tyler, The Creator played a big role here with his collection of vintage Cartier watches (which we wrote about here). Take into consideration his ‘street cred’ and with one feature in a well-known men’s magazine, suddenly, stylists caught on, and stars like Timothée Chalamet and Paul Mescal started rocking some of the smallest Cartier watches available. And it seems watchmakers have listened too, as they’ve begun releasing small, or even tiny watches.
Cartier were part of this phenomenon and last year reintroduced several models in the smallest sizes, then this year they added the really tiny Tank Mini to their collection (read more about it here) which finally I had the chance to spend some time with. And not only with the Tank Mini but the Cartier Baignoire Mini as well. And oh boy, I fell in love. I blame you Tyler… I never thought I’d be a Cartier guy, but here we are.
While it might be considered a dress watch, it doesn’t shout “wear me with a suit!” straight away when on the wrist. I had a great time wearing it for different occasions with completely different outfits. If I fancied a morning coffee with a cafe spot a bike ride away, an oversized shirt and jeans with loafers it was. Another time, same-same, but a knitwear instead did a trick… Having a meeting in the city and a drink afterwards, a completely different outfit and there we go. Going to the gym while having it on the wrist? Yes. It just all felt right.
Worth mentioning that it’s Cartier and, in these tiny sizes, it comes with the Quartz movement. I always thought that if I had a Quartz watch, it would be a fun watch, such as bada** G-Shock… but these two would be easy exceptions for me.
When it comes to the decision of whether you are the right one to wear a small watch. If you have a chance, try it on to see. But this is the important thing: luckily we are now finally in times when you can wear whatever you enjoy the most. In the end that is what it is all about. Watches are here to be enjoyed and it’s you who wears them.
For now, I am putting these two on top of my (endless) watch wishlist. A present for me anyone?! More info about Tank Mini here and Baignoire here.
If you feel a little nerdy today, here is our glossary to help you understand some of those ‘weird’ watch terms and facts…
- Cartier – quick history – In 1903, Cartier redefined timepieces by creating what many consider the first wristwatch. Louis-Francois Cartier’s friend, pilot Alberto Santos-Dumont, had complained about the difficulty of reading time while flying. In response, Cartier designed a small, practical wristwatch suited for pilots. Named the Santos de Cartier, this wristwatch featured a distinctive square face, a difference from the traditional round pocket watch, making it both comfortable and functional for flying. Though it sparked debate on being the ‘first’, it’s widely seen as the first pilot watch, available to the public in 1911.
- Baignoire – Cartier Baignoire got its name and design from the ‘baignoire’ – a bathtub in French – and was introduced in 1912 when Louis Cartier unveiled the house’s first oval-shaped timepiece. However, the design we know today with the signature rounded silhouette was released in 1958. The pre-current-’Baignoire’ gained its popularity in the last century thanks to wearers such as French actresses Romy Schneider, Catherine Deneuve, or The Beatles’ George Harrison, and the actor James Garner. Lately, many brands, such as Aimé Leon Dore, use it for their campaigns’ styling.
- Tank model – The Cartier Tank is inspired by a military combat vehicle Renault (seen from overhead) that helped the French army succeed during World War I., it goes back to 1917 and has become a staple for Cartier as a brand with only a few design changes throughout its existence.
- Quartz movement – Uses a battery as its primary power source. To create power, a battery sends an electrical current through a small quartz crystal, electrifying the crystal to create vibrations. These vibrations keep the movement oscillating and drive the motor to move the watch’s hands.
