When looking at watches online, it can be hard to gauge whether something that suits Teddy Baldassare or Adrian Barker will look equally as good on you. Just like with all physical features, wrist sizes vary from person to person. Every unique wrist will have a different shape and circumference. So how are you able to tell if a watch will look good on you without trying it on in person?
In this How To guide I will be taking you through a couple of simple considerations I keep in mind when looking at and buying watches online to ensure you too can find the right watch size for your wrist every time.
Finding The Right Watch Size For Your Wrist
It’s Personal Taste
The first thing to remember is that watch sizing comes down to personal preference. This is the same with watch design, strap choices, price point; it’s your choice and your watch is an expression of your personality. So, don’t let anyone say that any watch is too big or too small for you. Anyone can wear anything they like, so long as they truly love it.
There are no wrong answers here. I’ve seen a 46mm IWC Big Pilot on a 5.2inch wrist and it looked great, because the owner rocked it. And I often wear a 34mm Rolex Air-King and love the way it looks on my 6.75inch wrist. If you trust your gut, you can’t go wrong.
Know Your Measurements
There are two important measurements to know when looking at wrist sizes. The first is wrist circumference, often simply referred to as wrist size. This is the measurement of the surround of your wrist and is the most commonly quoted measurement on websites, strap listings, forums, YouTube videos, and so on.
To get the most accurate measurement, I’d recommend using one of our wrist measuring tools that is graduated for both millimetres and inches. Measuring in millimetres will give you the most accurate reading and you can convert the units afterwards. If you don’t have one of these tools to hand, a flexible tape measure will work well, or even a piece of string or paper which can be marked and measured up against a ruler.
The other measurement that I like to know is wrist width. This is the measurement of the top section of your wrist. As I stated before, every wrist is different. One 7inch wrist might be very round, while another very flat and this will make a difference to how a watch wears. This measurement can be taken by simply using a ruler across the top of your wrist and noting where your wrist begins to drop off either side. This will be useful to know when looking at the lug-to-lug measurements of watches, and I’ll now talk about which numbers you need to know on the watches you are considering.
Know Which Specifications are Important
When looking at watches online or on video, you’re often bombarded with technical information. But which specifications are important when choosing the perfect watch size?
In my opinion, there are three to look out for:
- Case Diameter
This is the main measurement you will see on websites, articles and videos. And it will give you a good idea of how a watch will wear but it’s not the full story. Case diameter is the measurement across the circular section of the case (square watches will differ and I’ll mention them later). Most watches will be between 28mm-46mm but of course there will be some that are both bigger and smaller than this.
- Case Thickness
Slightly less commonly listed online but still easily found, this measurement tells you how tall a watch is. I would consider anything under 9mm to be slim, 10-12mm about average and anything over 13mm is thick. Again, personal preference will determine what is right or wrong for you here.
- Lug-to-lug
Arguably as important as case diameter but often not overlooked online. This is the measurement from the top of the lugs to the bottom. This will tell you how the watch will sit across your wrist. When combined with the case diameter these measurements will give you the best idea as to whether the size of a watch will work for you. If a lug-to-lug is longer than your wrist width, it’s likely that the case will hang over the edges of your wrist.
Don’t Limit Yourself
When searching for the perfect watch size for your wrist it’s important to stay open minded. Don’t rule out something until you’ve tried it, even if you’re used to a certain size. I wore a 42mm Seiko for many years, but as I’ve tried different things I’ve found that I actually prefer watches 40mm and below.
If you can’t find the watch you’re lusting after in person, find something with similar specifications to try on. This is a sure-fire way to determine whether something is right for you or not.
These are the steps I would take and the considerations to keep in mind when buying a watch online or determining if the one you saw featured in our latest YouTube video is worth pursuing. Nothing can beat hands on experience with a range of watch sizes when it comes down to making an informed decision about what size works for you. So, get out there, try things on, keep in mind this advice, and you’ll be confident when pursuing your next watch purchase.
