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Choosing well

How to measure your wrist for a watch

To measure your wrist for a watch, wrap a soft tape (or a strip of paper you then measure) snugly around your wrist just above the wrist bone — that circumference in millimeters or inches is the number that guides case size and lug-to-lug fit.

Step-by-step

Use a flexible tailor’s tape if you have one. Sit the tape where a watch normally sits — not over the lump of the ulnar bone if that distorts the number. The tape should be snug, not cinched. Read the circumference.

No tape? Cut a thin paper strip, wrap it the same way, mark the overlap, and measure the mark with a ruler. Record both millimeters and inches if you like; most watch talk uses millimeters for cases and lug to lug.

What to do with the number

Circumference alone does not dictate a single “correct” case size — wrist shape and lug design matter. Pair your measurement with photos of watches you already like on-wrist, and with lug-to-lug lengths on candidates. That combination beats any viral size chart.

What this means for a consultation

If you share your wrist measurement (and a photo of any current watch on your wrist), recommendations get sharper fast — especially for avoiding overhang and finding a daily-wear sweet spot.

FAQ

Should I measure over my watch or on bare skin?

Measure bare skin where the watch sits. Measuring over another watch adds bulk and skews the circumference.

Is wrist circumference the same as lug-to-lug?

No. Circumference is the distance around your wrist. Lug to lug is a length along the watch. You use both: circumference for general scale, lug to lug for whether a specific watch will sit cleanly.

What if my wrists are between sizes on a chart?

Charts are starting points. Prefer trying similar sizes on-wrist or using lug-to-lug guidance. When in doubt, we bias toward comfort for daily wear briefs.

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