Tiny Time, Big Trend: Gen Z Chooses 'Grandma' Watches Over Smartwatches

Gen Z is swapping oversized smartwatches for ultra-small, vintage-inspired 'grandma' watches (18–26 mm), a trend buoyed by mini pieces from Cartier and Bulova and celebrity sightings, plus ring and pocket-watch reappearances. While smartwatches remain for fitness and connectivity, this movement favors time-only, understated pieces that feel like jewelry and offer a refreshing counterpoint to constant device notifications and the tech-filled wrist.