Finding the Right Watch for your Wrist
We’ve all seen it. Someone is wearing a beautiful timepiece BUT it’s just way too big or too small for their wrist or body type. It can be distracting and it can take away from an otherwise stunning watch!
While there is no hard and fast set of rules for choosing the correct watch for your wrist, there are guidelines that you should follow. These tips will help to ensure you end up with a proportionate and balanced timepiece each and every time.
Knowing your wrist size
First things first, in order to find the right size watch for you, you need to know your wrist size. To measure your wrist, print out Feldmar’s wrist sizing guide, cut out the bracelet sizer and measure your wrist right above the wrist bone where you would typically where a watch. Be sure to allow enough room for your index finger to fit between the bracelet sizer and your wrist. Read the measurement as it appears through the slit.
Generally, 5.5-6.5 inches is considered a small wrist, 6.5-7 inches a medium wrist and 7+ inches a large wrist.
Case diameter
Case diameter is probably one of the most noticeable watch characteristics, and can easily make a watch look unbalanced if it is too big or too small for the wearer. Typical men’s watches range in size from 38mm-46mm with a few outliers either way. For a small to medium wrist, try 38-42mm cases. For a larger wrist, try 44-46mm cases.
Case thickness
Believe it or not, case thickness can also play a part in how proportionate a watch looks on your wrist. However, because case thickness generally just increases with diameter, you should be choosing the best proportioned watch for your wrist if you’re paying close attention to case diameter.
Strap
Generally, straps should be about half as wide as the case diameter in order to look proportionate. For example, if you wear a 42mm watch, the strap should be about 21mm. Keep in mind that metal bracelets can look more chunky or heavier on your wrist when compared to their leather, rubber or nato counterparts.
Features and details
Very prominent or large markers, hands, pushers, sub-dials, etc. can make your watch appear much larger. As a rule of thumb, minimalistic watches tend to suit those with small wrists while watches with more prevalent features work best for those with larger wrists.
It may sound like there’s a lot to think about, and there certainly is. However, we have a team of dedicated watch experts ready to help you choose the timepiece that’s the perfect size for you. Stop in and see us!
About The Author: Scott Meller
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Scott joined Feldmar Watch Company, Inc. under the tutelage of his father, Sol. As a fourth generation family member, Scott’s forward-thinking business acumen has placed Feldmar on the cutting edge of the luxury timepiece market. Scott’s favorite part about working at Feldmar is being a part of his family’s multi-generational business and having worked alongside his father. His accomplishments are many, including the expansion and remodel of the Feldmar flagship store, as well as a second location inside The Beverly Hilton.
Since attending Santa Monica College, Scott has become an expert in the technical aspects of the timepieces sold at Feldmar. Each year, he travels to Switzerland—the watchmaking capital of the world—to attend the Baselword Watch & Jewelry Fair and build upon his extensive knowledge of this quickly-evolving industry.
Scott is very proud of the way Feldmar customers are put first: “We regularly go out of our way to meet the needs of our clients. A client once purchased a rather significant watch as a birthday gift for his brother who lived in New York. Our client asked how we were going to deliver the gift and we responded with the typical answer, we would ship it by FedEx. After we answered his question, we could tell that he wanted a more personalized experience for the delivery and offered to have it hand-delivered by one of our associates. He lit up at the thought, and so off went one of our associates to New York City for the day to hand-deliver the gift.”
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