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 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. Put it where a watch normally sits, not over the bump of the wrist bone if that throws the number off. The tape should be snug, not tight. Read the circumference.

No tape? Cut a thin strip of paper, wrap it the same way, mark the overlap, and measure the mark with a ruler. Note 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 doesn't dictate one “correct” case size, because wrist shape and lug design matter too. Pair your measurement with photos of watches you already like on your wrist, and with the lug-to-lug lengths of watches you're considering. That beats any viral size chart.

Using it to get advice

If you ask a creator for picks, send your wrist measurement and a photo of any watch you already wear. It's the fastest way to avoid lugs that overhang and to land on a size you'll actually wear every day.

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 number.

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. Try similar sizes on, or go by lug-to-lug length. When in doubt for a daily watch, pick the more comfortable size.

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