Best Chronographs For Small Wrists (That You Can Afford) - All Under 40mm
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I lied to you. Yes, in this post from a few weeks ago, I said something that wasn't accurate in hindsight.
I told you that finding dive watches for a small wrist was the most complex horological challenge; I was wrong. It turns out that affordable, modestly proportioned chronographs are about as hard to track down as Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie Catch Me If You Can.
Don't despair; Ben's Watch Club has done the dirty work for you. The many, many hours of dirty work!
Here's our round-up of the best chronographs for small wrists that you can actually afford. These picks are the right size for your wrist and your wallet, too, all coming in at around $400 or less at the time of publishing.
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Sea-Gull 1963
A fan-favorite staple of the small chronograph niche is the Sea-Gull 1963, so it's the perfect place to begin. Despite the unusual name, this Chinese brand has a surprising history, dating back to the mid-1950s, and this model is effectively a reissue of an official airforce watch initially produced by the Tianjin factory in, you guessed it, 1963.
The limited available information infers that the main factory has licensed out the design, meaning these are now being widely produced by similar outlets at more competitive prices.
Today, many versions of the 1963 chronograph are on the market, including different sizes, movements, and crystals. Most of them have the retro reissue look with a cream dial and slim, colorful hands, while others are modern interpretations with alternate branding. However, most retain identically-styled cases and Sea-Gull movements.
The 38mm models will be the most rational choice for most of you reading this. For between $150-$200, you can grab yourself a steel-cased mechanical chronograph, something that's near-impossible to find elsewhere.
If you're considering the Sea-Gull, I'd personally go for one of the sapphire crystal versions. It's not only more scratch-resistant, but the dome isn't nearly as pronounced as the acrylic variants, meaning it reduces the overall thickness. It's worth applying similar logic to the strap choice. By default, most 1963s come with a khaki NATO strap, which is very long and adds more unnecessary bulk. If you don't already have an 18mm backup ready to go, opt for a bundle listing with a two-piece strap that doesn't pass beneath the case.
When combined, these selections make the watch much more sleek and proportionate. If you prefer, you can buy one of these from the original factory store, but you will be paying a hefty premium, to say the least.
I managed to get my hands on this Sugess chronograph, thanks to AliExpress, which is a modern reimagining of the 1963. Unfortunately, they sent me the 40mm model as a review sample instead of the 38mm one I requested; however, it is indicative of performance. Given that most of the other watches on this list are vintage-styled, it's nice to have this Sugess that offers a different vibe. By ordering through the standard checkout procedure, you should get the size you've selected (the convoluted sample system is what let me down).
An inherent downside of these manual wind 1963s, in all their cosmetic forms, is the audible ticking noise; which is particularly noticeable in quiet environments. Perhaps the previously mentioned versions with different movements would alleviate this issue, but I'm yet to try them.
Nezumi Tonerre 38mm
While Tianjin Sea-Gull is already a major player in the watch space, I think it's essential to shine a light on some of those newer to the industry, so you'll see plenty of microbrand watches throughout this post.
One such example is the impressive Tonnerre chronograph from the Swedish brand Nezumi. I reviewed a 40mm racing chronograph from this brand in mid-2020 (read that review here), which I thought was solid, but this new 38mm model feels much more refined and unique.
While sharing the same diameter as the Sea-Gull, it has a more compact lug to lug length of just 45.5mm, making it wear a touch smaller on-wrist.
Unlike their previous effort, this model has much more flair, with distinctive turquoise sections across the subdials and a brushed finish that l think works much better with the sharply tapering lugs that have become a Nezumi hallmark.
Like several options on this list, it comes with a Seiko mecha-quartz movement, which provides accurate timekeeping, responsive pushers, and a relatively smooth sweeping chronograph hand, providing a near-mechanical experience.
Something I want to commend them for is their willingness to act on feedback. Since my last review, the brand not only revamped its website but also neatened up the logo text on its watches, a frustration I had commented on previously. Overall, the Tonnerre offers a more sleek, streamlined design than its predecessor that delivers the finesse I was originally hoping for.
In some ways, it's a bit like a Western equivalent of the Sea-Gull, with a sporty 60s design that has come back into fashion over the last few years. While the $330 price point makes it not nearly as wallet-friendly, the finishing is elegant, the specifications are relatively good and it's got an excellent design you likely won't see anywhere else.
My only gripe is that the strap was too long, but otherwise, I've been wearing this one far more than I initially expected.
Festina Junior
Once more, I've had to get creative with this list to find some viable options. That means delving into watches that aren't marketed toward adults. You'd never guess that this Festina wasn't, with a stereotypical masculine chronograph design squeezing into its 36mm housing.
As with the previous Festina I reviewed on Ben's Watch Club, the case feels solid, and the dial is quite tastefully done. It features an array of applied, faceted markers, textured and embedded subdials, and a subtle vertically oriented pattern enclosed by the chapter ring. Considering the low retail price, it's not half bad, but the functionality department has some notable sacrifices. That bezel and those screwed pushers? Yeah, they're fake…or at least they're fixed in place. The pushers operate though the ridged sections do absolutely nothing. The crown is also misaligned with the guards.
As with the other Festina, the bracelet here is rubbish; just a lightweight folded link piece with no micro-adjustment holes. Despite its shortcomings, on-wrist, it fits me better than 99% of other chronographs and actually looks, dare I say it, quite nice? I like the red upper pusher and the stepped lugs, which aren't too pretentious. With this model, it feels like you're getting some archetypal 45mm chronograph styling but without the giant proportions. It's not the best watch, but it may be the perfect option for those with tiny wrists.
Rotary Avenger
Seemingly a quartz homage to the Sea-Gull 1963, the 38mm Rotary Avenger is an unremarkable albeit well-sized chronograph for small wrists. This brand, originally of Swiss origins, is trendy in the UK, and while they may say this watch is British Designed, I'm not sure much 'design' went into this one.
Indeed, it's incredibly similar to the Sea-Gull, with a similar layout, a near-identical handset, and analogous typefaces appearing in matching colors. A different tone is used on the dial. This is more of a silver-white, as opposed to the creaminess present on the original, resulting in a more contemporary look, though it is a little less coherent.
Despite having a shorter lug to lug and a slimmer case, the Avenger has more wrist presence due to the thinner bezel and larger dial, making it look bigger. It's by no means massive; it simply looks like a swollen version of the watch it copied.
So, it's not exactly unique, and to be honest, I prefer the original. However, this Avenger could work if you like the 1963 styling but dislike the inconvenience of mechanical watches.
While it feels lower quality, it can sometimes be had for much cheaper than the Sea-Gull, and it's more widely available in the UK, with quicker delivery times.
In that same vein, there are many other 39mm 'homages' available on sites such as AliExpress, predominantly cheap clones of the Rolex Daytona and Omega Speedmaster. I've not got one on hand as I'd just be retreading old ground, but the concept is self-explanatory.
Dan Henry
I'm not sure a small chronograph round-up would be complete without Dan Henry. This brand, named after its acclaimed watch collector founder, offers a surprising number of sub-40mm chronographs. Unlike some of the branding suggests, these are vintage-styled watches, rather than true vintage ones, with modern materials and components, such as steel construction and a mecha-quartz movement.
Viable options include the 39mm 1962 Racing Chrono, the 38mm 1964 Gran Turismo, and the one I have here, which is the Art Deco style 38mm 1937 Dress Chrono. The 1964 wears the smallest out of the three, given it has the shortest lug to lug, though the other two could be worth considering depending on your wrist size.
This 1937 is very nicely executed with a tasteful gilt dial housed within a well-finished case. It's also very slim, at just 9mm excluding the domed crystal, and arrived with a lovely pair of leather straps that are more than up to the job. The strong leather workshop scent exuding from these inspires confidence in their durability over the long haul.
I like that Dan Henry offers a wide assortment of period-style pieces, but some designs are harder to pull off than others. Their wearability is firmly tied to your wardrobe. The specifications aren't quite as good as the Nezumi mentioned earlier, with this model housing only 3bar water resistance and a sapphire-coated mineral crystal. Nevertheless, some of their watches are about as close as you can get to vintage ones without the maintenance headaches.
Certina
A viable Swiss-made option comes in the form of the Certina DS Nautic. This classic triple-subdial piece features a thoroughly brushed finish and a rotating compass bezel that doesn't have the best action but is great to look at.
As the name implies, the DS Nautic is well-suited to aquatic action, with an impressive 100m of water resistance, beating out the rest of its competitors on this list. This can partially be attributed to its use of the DS or 'double security' concept introduced by Certina in the late 1950s. Among other things, this involves the implementation of additional reinforced gaskets and o-rings to aid water resistance (even if the crown is left out). This makes the Nautic one of the most versatile chronographs here, able to be worn in just about any situation, however treacherous.
The steel bracelet it's kitted out with is reasonable, housing mostly solid links, and integrates perfectly with the smoothly brushed case. It has a smooth structure with a side profile similar to the Nezumi Tonerre.
Personally, I prefer more precisely cut cases, though I can see the rounded corners and matte finish holding up well to bumps and bruises, which may be more visible on glossy watches like the Sea-Gull.
The dial is rather plain with a simple navy and silver color scheme, paired with well-spread subdials and bold Arabics for easy visibility. It's not my favorite to look at on this list as I'm not a huge fan of some of the oversized typography that seems to compete with the primary logo. Nevertheless, it gives a sportier look than the rest of the pack and feels like a more premium version of the Festina.
I initially thought this was using a mineral crystal, though my diamond selector revealed it is a piece of sapphire, which is excellent. For a remarkably durable option that still fits your wrist, this Certina is well worth a punt.
Zeppelin 7037M-1 Hindenburg
Have you ever used a chronograph as a stopwatch?... Nah, I thought not. Most people buy chronographs because they prefer their look, specifically the pushers and subdials. Therefore, I figured I'd shoehorn a multifunction watch in here, given the visual similarities. This unisex Zeppelin 7037M-1, marketed as the Hindenburg LZ129 (yes, that Hindenburg) offers a distinctive look in a squat 36mm package. This is fundamentally the same as the larger 40mm version, with a shiny silver textured dial and a classic mixture of muted accent colors. The inking has been completed to a good standard, and I like the red crescent hand, which I'm assuming pairs with the quirky week calendar around the perimeter.
I wouldn't recommend getting this one wet due to the low water resistance. The acrylic crystal, while attractive, will scratch rather quickly and could need polishing to revive it later down the line. So, it's not the most practical, but it is very unique. Within is the Ronda 706b, which provides the pusher with the functionality to shift the date forward once per compression.
The Milanese bracelet is solid with a double interlock clasp for added security. However, it is rather long, meaning the inner layer wraps quite far around during wear (at least on my thin wrist). It's usable but may be troublesome for those with bony wrists if the tip hits the wrong spot.
Still, if you're after a dressier piece with mid-century proportions, this is a left-field choice worth considering.
A couple of other options may be worth considering that I couldn't get my hands on in time for this post. Take these mentions with a pinch of salt as I'm yet to try them in the flesh
Citizen AN3660-81L ‘Bullhead’ Reissue
When reviewers claim a watch is too small, that generally gets me excited. That has more than been the case with the unusual 38mm Citizen Bullhead, the reissue of which sold out before I even learned of its existence. Therefore, I haven't been able to track one down at RRP in time for this article, and I won't dwell on it for too long, given I haven't handled it. It is to be noted that the incredibly short lug to lug of 41mm and the absence of a crown apparently makes this one wear very small, possibly making it an ideal choice for those of us with slim arms.
Geckota W-02
Additionally, there's the equally elusive Geckota W-02 range. These 37mm vintage-styled pieces resemble the Sea-Gull 1963 and even use the same movement but aren't so easy to track down. At the time of publishing, I couldn't find one of these for sale on the WatchGecko site, though I imagine the experience would be comparable to the Sea-Gull variants. As always, their excellent photography makes me jealous that I wasn't able to grab one.
Disclaimer: The Sea-Gull 1963 was purchased with my own money on Aliexpress. The Sugess was sent in by Aliexpress upon my request for this video. The Nezumi Tonnerre was provided by Nezumi for a previous review. The Festina and Rotary were purchased on Amazon. The Dan Henry 1937 was provided by Dan Henry upon my request for this video. The Certina DS Nautic was provided by Jomashop upon my request for this video. The Zeppelin Hindenburg had its cost covered by Amazon through their Influencer program.
