About time: bigger the better

According to Guinness World Records, the tallest man to have ever lived measured an astonishing 8 feet, 11 inches. Robert Wadlow eventually found fame but growing up must have been a bit of a hassle, particularly when clothes shopping, as not all department stores carry size 37 shoes. A man of that size would have also needed a massive watch and although he may have still struggled today to find a case size to fit his wrist, modern-day offerings of oversized timepieces wouldn't be too far off the mark.

Panerai is the unofficial king of big watches, with the iconic oversized dials and brown straps a ubiquitous sight in Hong Kong. For 2012, the brand has released a slew of special-editions, the highlight of which is the Radiomir SLC 3 Days (top right). A tribute to Panerais of the past, the 47mm watch comes in a polished-steel and reassuringly robust case, with old-fashioned wire loop steel lugs. Features wise, aside from the handy three-day power reserve, the watch is limited to hours and minutes but that lack of clutter and complications is actually a plus point as it will appeal to those who eschew all the fuss. A key feature is the use of 2.8mm-thick plexiglas crystal instead of the usual sapphire crystal, which is a nod to the Panerai watches made for the Italian Navy in the 1930s. The dial is black with luminous hour markers. There is nice detailing on the crown and at the six o'clock position, where the word "Vintage" is stamped to link it to past Panerais. The Panerai Radiomir SLC 3 Days is priced at HK$67,200 and is limited to 750 pieces.

Another 47mm steel beast, and a watch with an extremely literal name, is the Graham Chronofighter Oversize GMT Blue & Red. Graham made a name for itself with watches that take up a great deal of real estate on the wrist and come with unconventional crowns and push buttons, and this approach informs the Chronofighter Oversize GMT Blue & Red (below right), too. However, there is substance behind the style as the watch is packed with juicy features including a chronograph with two subdials measuring seconds and 30 minutes, a second time zone complication, a big date indicator at the 12 o'clock position, a two-day power reserve and water resistance to 100 metres. Attention is drawn to the fast action start/stop trigger on the left side of the watch but another pleasing aspect is the split colour aluminium bezel, which gives rise to the blue and red in the name. The Graham Chronofighter Oversize GMT Red & Blue is priced at HK$83,642.

Last but not least is a high-concept watch with a monster case, the Oktopus II Rose Gold (below left) by Danish watchmaker Linde Werdelin. The timepiece is an exercise in geometry and the play of shapes is a refreshing change from the orthodoxy of watch design. The chunky case comes in rose gold and titanium and measures 44mm in width, 46mm in height and just over 15mm thick and is machined to look as industrial as possible. Designed to appeal to those who want cutting-edge design, the dial has a big date feature that is indicated by two rotating wheels and there are intricate octopus engravings on the back of the watch as well as the crown. The Linde Werdelin Oktopus II Rose Gold is priced at HK$170,000 and is limited to 88 pieces.