Which watch size for my wrist
Case diameter does a lot for how a watch looks. Enter your wrist size to get a range, then compare at real size before ordering.
Measure just above the wrist bone, with a tape measure or a string.
Lay a ruler flat on top of your wrist and measure from one edge to the other.
Suggested diameter
to mm
Maximum lug-to-lug
From lug to lug, the watch should not be wider than the top of your wrist.
Enter your wrist circumference.
Enter a wrist circumference between 11 and 26 cm.
Real-size preview
Screen not calibrated: the size shown is approximate. Screen calibrated to real size.
Hold a bank card (or any card of the same size) against the screen, then move the slider until the rectangle is exactly as wide as the card.
Smaller than the guide for your wrist: discreet, rather classic. Within the guide for your wrist. Larger than the guide for your wrist: the watch will stand out.
Free, no sign-up. The calculation runs in your browser: nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Diameter guide by wrist size
| Wrist circumference | Case diameter |
|---|---|
| up to 15 cm | 30 to 36 mm |
| up to 16.5 cm | 34 to 38 mm |
| up to 18 cm | 38 to 41 mm |
| up to 19.5 cm | 40 to 43 mm |
| over 19.5 cm | 42 to 46 mm |
How it is calculated
The ranges are editorial guides drawn from watchmaking practice. They are not a standard: a thick dive watch looks bigger than a thin dress watch of the same diameter.
Diameter is not everything. Lug-to-lug, the length of the case including the lugs, decides whether the watch sits on the wrist without overhanging.
The preview draws the case at real size once the screen is calibrated with a bank card.
Good to know
- A light dial and a thin bezel make a watch look bigger. A dark dial and a wide bezel make it look smaller.
- Check the thickness too: above about 12 mm, a watch slips less easily under a shirt cuff.
- On a slim wrist, a leather or fabric strap feels lighter than a metal bracelet.
Ready to choose
Our selection brings together pieces picked by the editors, from houses whose work we follow.
