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When eyesight is impaired, highly legible wristwatches become a valuable aid for getting through everyday life. In traditional timepieces, large numerals, strong contrasts and uncluttered layouts are the keys to easy readability, while smartwatches assist their wearers with voice functions. We explain why large wristwatches are attractive options on the wrist, and not only for the visually impaired, and present five successful models that combine maximum legibility with stylish designs.
Powerful Looks, Functional Character: Large Watches Are Popular
Over the past few years, our magazine has repeatedly reported on the growing trend toward oversized wristwatches. While a 35 mm diameter was still considered the refined standard for a man's wrist in the 1950s, 42 mm hardly merits a mention these days.
Wearers with sturdy enough wrists (and those without them) are increasingly reaching for 45 mm heavyweights, and manufacturers are responding with a growing selection. If the watch size suits the wrist circumference, these giants offer clear advantages: while the imposing, self-assured presence plays a role on an emotional level, from a practical standpoint the Goliaths score with clear legibility and the freedom to accommodate various complications without running out of space.
[box type="note" align="" class="" width=""]When these powerful luxury watches are bought for the visually impaired, their size takes on particular importance.[/box]Rather than being a fashionable style element or simply an everyday convenience, the oversized format now becomes a necessity – much like the extra-large buttons on phones for seniors. Unlike those pragmatic electronic devices, however, a wristwatch is still an emotional product that can convey the full fascination of beautiful timepieces to the visually impaired – great news, in our view.
Breitling Navitimer Super 8 B20 Automatic 46
Hear the name Navitimer, and your first thought is of complex slide rules and countless tiny numerals, not maximum legibility. That the legendary pilot's watch masters the latter too is proven by the Breitling Navitimer Super 8 B20 Automatic 46 (Ref. AB2040101B1X1): measuring a hefty 46 mm, the stainless steel heavyweight draws our eyes to its wide bezel, chunky crown and perfectly readable dial design.
Instead of filling the large surface beneath the sapphire crystal with complications, this edition limits itself to twelve white Arabic numerals on a black background, a textbook example of a highly legible wristwatch. Like the large, high-contrast hands, the numerals are coated with generous amounts of Super-LumiNova, so reading the time at night is child's play as well. Inside the Super 8 beats the automatic in-house caliber B20, with a generous 70-hour power reserve and COSC certification.
Oris Big Crown Timer Chronograph
How luxury watches for the visually impaired can be elegantly combined with a chronograph function is demonstrated by the Oris Big Crown Timer Chronograph (Ref. 01 675 7648 4234-07 5 23 77). Measuring an impressive 46 mm in diameter, the gray-coated stainless steel case houses a Caliber 675 automatic movement (based on the ETA 7750) that gives the pilot's watch a 48-hour power reserve. On the black dial, this power is expressed through a day-date complication and a tri-compax layout; both elements make the Oris appear complex at first glance.
Its legibility does not suffer from this high level of functionality, however, because the white hour and minute hands stand out in brilliant contrast against the black dial and can be read superbly even with weaker eyesight. Together with the twelve huge Arabic numerals (which are also luminous), this feature makes the Big Crown one of the best chronograph watches for the visually impaired.
TW-Steel Canteen
If your budget for large wristwatches is tighter, our insider tip is the Dutch manufacturer TW Steel. Since its founding in 2005 by father-and-son duo Ton and Jordy Cobelens, the company has focused on oversized models, of which the TW-Steel Canteen (Ref. CB1) is the prime example. Measuring 45 mm, the stainless steel model immediately catches the eye with its huge crown and crown guard, and its dial shows what ultimate legibility is all about: gigantic silver numerals and indices on a black background.
Besides the sheer size and the strong contrast of all markers, the luminous coating on all three hands is a welcome sight. The date window next to 3 o'clock can be useful, but its size does not meet the needs of the visually impaired. On the other hand, the quartz-powered men's model (fitted with the Miyota 2415) scores with a solid 100 meters of water resistance, which is by no means a given in the entry-level price range.
U-Boat Classico 50
Another superstar in the oversized segment is the Italian manufacture U-Boat, whose astronomically large models are designed by the eccentric designer Italo Fontana. The Tuscan probably never imagined that his timepieces would not only be worn by unconventional watch enthusiasts but could also be of great benefit to the visually impaired.
The U-Boat Classico 50 (Ref. 7433/A) in particular, whose name refers to its 50 mm case diameter, puts minimal strain on the eyes: black hands and numerals, of which, true to the brand's style, only the "4", "8" and "12" appear as Arabic numerals, create the starkest possible contrast against the beige background. Almost unnoticed, a chronograph function is integrated into this heavyweight, which is water-resistant to 100 meters and has its pushers and crown on the left side.
Talking Wristwatch: Tag Heuer Connected
With the Tag Heuer Connected smartwatch (Ref. SBG8A10.BA0646), the Swiss luxury brand takes a completely different approach from all the previous models for the visually impaired: digital, interchangeable dials on a touchscreen and a talking wristwatch thanks to Google Assistant are the arguments with which Tag Heuer aims to win over weak eyes.
The 45 mm Rolls Royce of smartwatches is a powerhouse not only in terms of size but also in functionality: a heart rate monitor with numerous sports functions, an OLED display beneath scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and the full connectivity of Google's Wear OS – the Tag Heuer brings it all to your wrist. And not just any old way, but in extremely stylish fashion – we especially like the black ceramic bezel of this Swiss Made instrument. Before giving this luxurious device to someone who is visually impaired, however, you should check whether the future wearer will be able to handle operating the Connected.
