Guides · Choosing a watch

Which watch size suits your wrist?

A watch's size is the diameter of the case without the crown, measured in mm. Measure your wrist with a tape measure just behind the wrist bone: under 16 cm is small, 16–18 cm is average, over 18 cm is large. The rule of thumb: 34–38 mm for a small wrist, 38–41 mm suits most people, and 42 mm and up is for large wrists or for those who want a watch that gets noticed.

Lug to lug (the distance from lug tip to lug tip) often matters more than the diameter: if it is longer than your wrist is wide, the lugs overhang. Thickness decides whether the watch slides under a shirt cuff — under 10 mm is slim, 12–13 mm is normal for an automatic. Unisex is in practice 35–38 mm.

If you have a question about a particular watch, ask Nord, our assistant, at the bottom right — or write to us.

More guides on choosing a watch

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