Men’s Watch Size – The Definitive Guide to Picking The Right Size

An analog watch is an essential accessory for any stylish man. It’s the missing piece that makes an average outfit into something dapper. However, unfortunately, most men don’t know how to pick the correct one.

That’s because they’ll either buy something too big or small for their wrist. So how do you make sure that you pick the correct one? Stay tuned to find out.

First, Measure Your Wrist

First and foremost, you’ll have to learn how big your wrist is. You can do it easily by taking a tape measure and then wrapping it around your wrist. That will be the deciding factor for picking the correct size.

Watch Case Diameter

So you’ve measured your wrist? Great, now let’s start looking at one of the most obvious and essential measurements – the case diameter. This is a significant factor for choosing the correct sized watch.

The rule of thumb for picking the right watch is to stay between 38mm – 46mm. If you go a bit big, it could start looking too bulky, even for big hands. And if you go smaller, it starts to go to the women’s watch category.

However, the diameter choice depends on your wrist size. So, which size diameter works for your wrist? Here are the general guidelines:

  • For Wrists Between 15cm-17cm – Your wrist is in a smaller size. For you, it’s best to avoid big watches and stay in the mid to small range. The case diameter should be about 38 mm – 42 mm.
  • For Wrists Between 19cm – 20cm – Congratulations, you’ve got bigger hands! That means you’ve got more variety. But as a general rule of thumb, you should stay with larger watches. The case diameter that works for you is about 44mm – 46mm.

Watch Case Thickness


When buying a watch, you should consider how thick it is. That’s because if you have smaller hands, the thicker watch might make your hands look even smaller.

So when you can, I’d highly recommend you try to stay on the thinner side as they are more stylish. A good range to be is in 7mm – 9mm.

Watch Strap Width

Like any other watch dimension, this one can make or break your look. Generally, these watch’s strap widths are about half the size of your case diameter. That means, if you have a watch with a 40 mm case diameter, the strap should be about 20 mm most of the time.

So what sized strap should you be looking for? Well, there’s no definitive rule, but the best straps for your wrist size are:

  • For Wrists Between 15cm-17cm – For your hands, it’s best to stay between 18mm – 20mm. That will help your hand not to look too big.
  • For Wrists Between 19cm – 20cm – I highly recommend you stay between 22 mm – 24 mm. You can go with smaller ones, but you might risk making your hands look extra big.

However, knowing your watch width isn’t only great for proportions. It will also help you buy the correct watch straps if you ever wish to switch between them. So just remember your watch strap width, and you’ll be able to switch between them depending on the weather and formality of an event.

Watch Strap Material


It’s not only the strap width that matters. The materials can also make a massive difference to how your watch looks when worn.

For example, leather will usually look slimmer on your wrist than your metal wristband, even if they have the same width. That’s because metal already looks heavier and larger due to the characteristics of a metal.

So which one should you pick? Well, that once again depends on two things: your preference and your wrist size. If you have smaller wrists, it’s better to choose a leather one as it looks slimmer on you. And for bigger wrists, it’s better to pick a metal wristband.

Fortunately, the choice mostly doesn’t matter! That’s because metal bands are usually chosen for the bigger watches types like divers or aviator. And the slimmer watches typically have a mesh or leather strap.

Lug-to-Lug Distance


That is a metric that most people forget to consider when choosing the right size. But what is the lug-to-lug distance? Basically, it’s the height of your watch case. That can play a big part in how big the watch looks.

For example, a watch with 42 mm and a bigger case height will always look larger than one with a smaller measurement.

But how can you choose the right one? Well, the best way to do that is to try to find one with a golden ratio. But what is the golden ratio, and how do you get it.

Basically, the golden ratio is between 0.8 and 0.9. The ratio shows the difference between the height of your watch case to its diameter.

For example, let’s take a watch with a lug-to-lug distance of 50 mm and a watch case diameter of 40 mm. If we do the calculation (50/40=0.8), it’s a 0.8 ratio. And since it’s 0.8, that watch has the golden ratio.

The Small Details


And finally, you should look at the small details of your watch. These small details are mainly the numbers and watch hands, but you should also look out for other things like the crown, lug size, and the pusher.

Generally, the bigger these details are, the bigger the watch looks. That means if your watch is 44mm, but has slim numbers and watch hands, it makes it look smaller and balanced. But if you have a 40 mm with huge numbers, lugs, and hands, it will look huge and unproportionate.

Before we end this article…

Before we end this article, I wanted to talk to you about one thing. Please don’t take these guidelines as rules! The thing is, these are just guidelines and are here to help men start looking more stylish.

However, if you already have your own style, it’s better to go with your gut feeling and what you like the most.

Remember, style isn’t only about the clothes and accessories you wear, it’s also about your attitude. So when you’re choosing your analog watch, make sure you pick the one that makes you feel more comfortable, even if it’s too big for you. It’s better to feel great and confident than having the right size with the wrong attitude.

Also, remember that the dimensions can sometimes fool you. As we’ve said multiple times in this article, some illusions make your watch look bigger than it actually is. For example, the crystal could make your watch look bigger than it is, thanks to its dome look.

Conclusion

And that’s how you pick the right size watch. All you have to do is measure your wrist size and then compare it with the following dimensions:

  • Watch Case Diameter
  • Watch Case Thickness
  • Lug-to-Lug distance
  • Watch Strap Width

Additionally, it’s beneficial to also look at the strap materials and the little details. And then you’ve found the perfect-sized watch!

Do you have any more tips on picking the correct-sized watch? If so, then don’t forget to comment down below! Then we can all pick our next stylish watch even more effortlessly.

FAQ

Q: How do you know what size watch to get?

A: The best way to know what size watch you should get is by wearing it. However, if you’re looking to buy online, then measure your wrist size, and pick the one with a diameter that suits your hand.

Q: Does size of watch matter?

A: Yes! Size can make or break your outfit. For example, an oversized watch might make your hands look tiny, while a small watch might make your wrist look too big.

Q: Is 41mm watch too big?

A: Not at all! For most men, this watch size isn’t too big!

 

Q: How do I know if my watch is too big?

A: The best way to know if your watch is too big is by measuring your watch case diameter and then looking if the size suits your wrist size from our article.

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