How to Measure Your Wrist for a Watch
To measure your wrist for a watch, wrap a soft tape measure around your wrist just above the wrist bone, where you would wear the watch, and read the length without pulling it tight. No tape? Use a strip of paper or string, mark where it meets, then measure it flat against a ruler. That number, your wrist circumference, tells you which case size and strap length will fit.
How to measure your wrist, step by step
With a soft tape measure
- Place the tape just above the wrist bone, on the side you wear your watch.
- Wrap it around snugly, flat against the skin, without squeezing.
- Read the measurement where the tape overlaps. Measure twice to be sure.
Without a tape measure
- Wrap a strip of paper, a phone charging cable or a piece of string around your wrist at the same spot.
- Mark the point where it meets with a pen or your fingernail.
- Lay it flat on a ruler and measure up to the mark.
Add about 1 cm (0.4 in) for a comfortable fit on a strap. For a bracelet, you will adjust the number of links once you have the watch.
Which case size suits your wrist?
As a rule of thumb, the lugs of the watch should not go past the edges of your wrist. This table gives a starting point; personal taste matters too.
| Wrist circumference | Case diameter that usually fits |
|---|---|
| Under 15 cm (5.9 in) | 34 to 38 mm |
| 15 to 17 cm (5.9 to 6.7 in) | 38 to 41 mm |
| 17 to 19 cm (6.7 to 7.5 in) | 40 to 43 mm |
| Over 19 cm (7.5 in) | 42 mm and above |
Thickness matters as much as diameter: a 9 mm dress watch like the Venice Moonphase (40 mm) wears smaller than a diver of the same width. Our Aquadiver is 40 mm, and racing chronographs like the Ascari Miami or the Celestial Tourbillon are 42 mm.
Strap or bracelet?
- Leather and rubber straps adjust with the buckle holes, so your wrist measurement is mostly useful to check the strap is long enough.
- Steel bracelets are sized by removing links. A well-sized bracelet lets you slide one finger between the bracelet and your wrist.
- NATO straps fit almost any wrist.
Frequently asked questions
Where on the wrist should a watch sit?
Just above the wrist bone, towards the hand. That is where you should measure.
How tight should a watch be?
Snug enough not to slide over the wrist bone, loose enough to fit one finger underneath.
What is the average wrist size?
Many adult men measure between 16 and 19 cm, many adult women between 14 and 17 cm, but the only number that matters is yours.
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