How To Measure Your Wrist Size For A Perfect Watch Fit | Jack Mason

These situations may seem extreme, but they are based on reality. The reality is, you need to protect your timepiece investment so it can withstand the test of time. 

Making sure your watch band fits your wrist is essential to your watch's durability and looking put together at the same time. It is incredibly easy to measure your own wrist to make sure you have the perfect fit for any band type and any situation, whether it be style, practicality, or adventure.

Measuring Prep 

In this little DIY, you will need to measure your wrist as the baseline so you can figure out your size in each of the three variations of straps. All straps are not created the same and sit very differently on the wrist, but we'll break all that down.

Three main types of straps or bands:

• Metal Bracelet
• NATO Strap
• Leather Strap

The easiest way to measure your wrist size is with a flexible measuring tape, called seamstress or a tailor's measuring tape. These are available in the sewing section of most big box stores or available for sale online. If you don't have access to a tailor's tape, the best way to improvise is with a narrow piece of paper or a string and a standard ruler.

Most watch strap measurements are given in millimeters, so for these purposes, we will use the centimeter side of our measuring tape or ruler to make our measurements.

A couple of things to keep in mind while measuring your wrist. 

1. Your wrist is going to be a little larger at the end of the day as opposed to the beginning as your body retains water throughout the day.
2. Your wrist is going to be slightly larger when your hand and palm are open as the wrist bone adjusts when you make this movement.
3. You will need to take into account your preference when it comes to where you like to wear your watch on your wrist and measure that section accordingly. For our purposes, we are going to take our measurements in the middle and on the bone.

• Above the bone
• On the bone
• Below the bone4. Lastly, you'll need to consider which type of band you'll be wearing your watch with. The correct measurement of your strap will vary depending on which style of band you will be wearing.

• Metal Bracelet or Band
• Leather Strap or Band
• NATO Strap

How to Measure Your Wrist Properly

With your palm open and the underside of your wrist facing up, take your tailor's tape, place the end with the metal tip in the center of your wrist, and pull the tape over your wrist till it fits snug. Line up the tip of the metal with the measurement that sits the closest to the tape. You may find it most comfortable to go ahead and loop the tape, slide it over your wrist and then pull the tape snuggly down to the metal tip. Write this measurement down in centimeters. To calculate millimeters, there are 10 millimeters in a centimeter. 10 times the number of centimeters plus the number of millimeters over the last centimeter in your measurement equals your wrist measurement in centimeters.

10 x # of cm + # of mm over last cm = wrist measurement in cm.

Alternative Measuring Technique

If you do not have a tailor's tape, your piece of paper or string can function pretty much the same way. Wrap the paper or string around your wrist and mark with a pen or marker where the two pieces overlap. Then take your piece of paper or string and measure mark to mark on your ruler.

1. Place underside of wrist face up.
2. Open up your palm to widen your wrist.
3. Place the metal end of tailor's tape in the center of your wrist.
4. Pull the tape over your wrist to where it fits snug.
5. Line up the tape with the metal end piece and read the measurement in centimeters.
6. A quick Google conversion for the millimeters

This measurement takes into account the rough size of your wrist with your watch face, but some minor adjustments are needed.