While many of the best EDC watches tend to measure in on the larger side, more brands have started releasing small men’s watches, and for good reason. The smaller case size and proportions help better highlight certain design features. You might also just have a small wrist and want something that fits it more proportionally. Smaller watches also tend to be much lighter, less bulky, and more comfortable to wear than popular overbuilt dive watches and larger tactical watches. This guide covers some of our favorite sub-40mm watches that are excellent EDC watches in their own right. They’re stylish, low-profile, and durable enough to earn their spot on your wrist.
Casio W59-1V Waterproof
PurchaseKey Features
Affordable
Lightweight
Backlight
Specifications
Case Diameter
36mm
Movement
Digital Quartz
Water Resistance
50m
This is one of Casio’s classic digital wristwatch designs, and it’s still relevant for EDC use today. It’s a lot lighter and less bulky than some of Casio’s other options, and at 36mm in length the case diameter is slimmer as well. You get a full-featured digital display with day and date, alarm, timer, and stopwatch, and the watch is rated for water resistance down to 50 meters.
Seiko SKX013K2 Midsize Diver
PurchaseKey Features
Classic design
Day and date complication
Stainless steel band
Specifications
Case Diameter
37mm
Movement
Automatic
Water Resistance
200m
You might think that all diver watches are big and bulky, but you’d be wrong. Take this Seiko Automatic mechanical diver for example, with a case diameter of just 37mm total. It’s rated for water resistance down to 200 meters, with a screwdown crown and a caseback that keeps the water out. And the 21-jewel automatic movement will keep on ticking whether you’re down in the depths on a dive or just walking to and from the office.
Apple Watch Series 3
PurchaseKey Features
iPhone integration
GPS + cellular connectivity
Versatile interface
Specifications
Case Diameter
38mm
Movement
Digital Quartz
Water Resistance
50m
Not so much a watch as an extension of your iPhone, the Apple Watch is a great choice if you want the watch on your wrist to do way more than just tell you the time. The Series 3 in particular is the smallest of the lot, with a 38mm case diameter that’s sized just right for most people’s wrists. You can accessorize with the watch band of your choice, and you can even change out the watch face whenever you feel like, making the Apple Watch continuously versatile for everyday carry.
Timex Classic
PurchaseKey Features
Indiglo
Highly-legible partial Arabic legends
Leather band
Specifications
Case Diameter
39mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
50m
Legibility is the name of the game with this classic-styled watch from Timex, with huge roman legends at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’ clock positions. The distinctive stainless steel case measures 39mm in diameter, and it contrasts well with the sunray finish on the dial. And for when the sun’s not out, the Indiglo technology that backlights the watch face makes it easy to read the watch in the dark. The leather strap works well with both casual and formal wear, and the 50 meter water resistance means you won’t have to scramble to cover or pocket the watch if you get caught in the rain.
Bulova Aerojet Camo
PurchaseKey Features
Camo design
Thin profile
NATO strap
Specifications
Case Diameter
39mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
If you’re a fan of NATO-style watch straps and quality American watches, Bulova has the perfect setup for you with their Aerojet Classic 39mm watch. This particular model features an elegant black-on-black stainless steel case and dial, with a red second hand for contrast and legibility. A date complication lets you keep track of where you are in the month at a glance as well. In keeping with the military origins of the NATO strap, the one that comes with this watch has a camo style, and with its mineral crystal and splash resistance down to 30 meters, it’s ready to go with you pretty much wherever and keep on ticking.
Nixon Staple
PurchaseKey Features
Minimal styling
Day/date calendar, alarm, timer
Two-year warranty
Specifications
Case Diameter
38mm
Movement
Digital Quartz
Water Resistance
100m
Reviews
No reviews yet
Price
$$
If you’re looking for a low-profile, slim, minimalist digital watch for everyday carry, the Nixon staple is a solid choice. It packs a discreet black-on-black styling with a high-contrast backlit digital LCD screen for the important stuff. Aside from telling you the time, the Staple provides a day/date calendar, alarm, and timer functions, and it’s water resistant down to 100 meters or 10 ATM, making it good for adventures wherever you find yourself.
Timex Waterbury Classic
PurchaseKey Features
Indiglo
Stainless steel watch band
Two-year warranty
Specifications
Case Diameter
36mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
Reviews
No reviews yet
Price
$
If you’re looking for an affordable quartz movement watch, the Timex Waterbury line is a good place to start, and their silver stainless steel model provides a touch of class that’ll dress up your ensemble for more formal affairs. And with a case length of 36mm in diameter, it’s not too big or bulky like other metal bracelet watches. This Waterbury model also features high-legibility full Arabic numeral legends, as well as luminous hands and Timex’s hallmark Indiglo backlight technology for night operation.
Skagen Aaren Colored Silicone
PurchaseKey Features
Minimal single-color design
Small seconds dial
Silicone band
Specifications
Case Diameter
36mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
Skagen is best known for their ultra-slim minimalist watches, and their Aaren is no exception. But where most Skagen watches have a mesh stainless steel watch band, the Aaren comes with a silicone band and a unique monocolor style, which ranges from flashy to this particular model’s grey-white understated aesthetic. It has full Arabic legends, but they’re small and don’t take away from the otherwise very minimalist design language of the watch. And aside from the tasteful look, the Aaren features a manageable 36mm case diameter, and a small seconds dial that makes for a quiet quartz movement.
Swatch Skin Irony
PurchaseKey Features
Thin profile
Swiss-made
Two-year warranty, free battery exchange at retail locations
Specifications
Case Diameter
38mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
Swatch watches were definitely a fad of yesteryear. Today they get a bad rap for their plastic construction and eclectic styles that are sometimes more suited for more youthful wearers, but they do make serious watches as well once you dig deeper into their catalog. Take their Skin Irony, which features a stainless steel case and a leather strap with an elegant black case with rose gold tone accents to round everything out. And it’s not just the 38mm case that’s slim, its height is svelte as well, making this one of the easiest and lightest analog quartz watches you can wear.
BOLDR Venture
PurchaseKey Features
Titanium case
Sapphire crystal
NATO strap
Specifications
Case Diameter
38mm
Movement
Automatic
Water Resistance
200m
For the price you pay, BOLDR’s Venture is a complete package of a watch for EDC. It starts with the reliable Japanese-made NH35A automatic movement, built into a lightweight 38mm diameter titanium case. The titanium design is durable, but it also means people who might react to certain stainless steel alloys on the casebacks of metal watches shouldn’t have a problem with this one, due to the natural properties of the metal. The angled crown and the sapphire crystal glass prevent damage to the mechanism from normal everyday bumps and scrapes, too. The design of the watch features classic field watch styling, with clean and legible full Arabic legends and easy 24-hour conversion. The blue dial matches nicely with the blue nylon NATO strap as well.
Seiko SNK809
PurchaseKey Features
Field watch design
Day/date window
Shock and water resistant
Specifications
Case Diameter
37mm
Movement
Automatic
Water Resistance
30m
The Seiko SNK809 is one of the most popular entries in the Seiko 5 lineup. With water resistance, shock resistance, a day and date display, and a reliable automatic movement, this little watch punches well above its weight. You’ll appreciate the classic field watch styling and multitude of available color options. The case measures in at a comfortable 37mm, hitting the perfect balance between legibility and wearability.
Timex Weekender
PurchaseKey Features
Affordable
Legible dial
Plenty of designs
Specifications
Case Diameter
38mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
Timex’s Weekender collection is known for being easy to wear, highly legible, and very affordable. For around thirty bucks, you get a solid watch that’s available in a ton of different colorways. One feature that makes the Weekender unique is Timex’s Indiglo technology. With a push of the crown, the entire face of the watch lights up making it easy to read in low-light conditions. You get all of the classic military field watch size and looks without having to hunt down a vintage model (which can sometimes be less reliable given its age).
Marathon Field Army Watch
PurchaseKey Features
Mil-spec toughness
Hi-vis lume
NATO strap
Specifications
Case Diameter
34mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
30m
If you’re looking for a smaller watch that’s built to withstand hard use and abuse, consider this Military Field Army Watch by Marathon. Marathon builds watches specifically for military applications, so you know it’s going to be tough enough for day-to-day wear. Packed inside this 34mm case, you’ll find a reliable high-torque quartz movement, luminescent paint treatment on the hands and indices, and strong sapphire crystal. The case itself is made from an impact-resistant fibreshell material that’s both ultra light and ultra strong.
Citizen BM8180
PurchaseKey Features
Eco Drive
Field watch design
Canvas strap
Specifications
Case Diameter
37mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
100m
This take on the field watch features Citizen’s Eco Drive technology. The BM8180 recharges itself by way of tiny solar panels mounted on the watch’s face. This tech is ideal if you never want to worry about your watch dying or needing its batteries replaced. In addition to the self-charging capability, the BM8180 has a stainless steel case, stitched canvas band, and a durable mineral glass crystal.
Victorniox INOX V
PurchaseKey Features
Tough construction
Swiss-made
Paracord strap
Specifications
Case Diameter
37mm
Movement
Quartz
Water Resistance
200m
The INOX line of watches from Victorinox are specifically built to withstand as much abuse as possible. Each watch passes a litany of stress tests: everything from freezing it in a block of ice to dropping it from extreme heights. Even though it’s smaller in size, the 37mm INOX V is just as tough as its 43mm counterpart. The INOX V features a stainless steel case, paracord strap, screw-down crown, and reliable Swiss quartz movement.
Do you prefer wearing a smaller watch? Which one do you like that wasn’t on our list? Share it with us in the comments below!
