Size is the one thing photos do not show. However beautiful a watch is, if it is too big or too small for your wrist it will not sit right.
Measure your wrist
Wrap a tape measure, or a strip of paper, around your wrist just above the wrist bone. That is your wrist size.
A starting point for case diameter
- 14 to 15.5 cm wrist: 34 to 38 mm case
- 15.5 to 17 cm wrist: 38 to 40 mm case
- 17 to 18.5 cm wrist: 40 to 42 mm case
- Over 18.5 cm wrist: 42 to 46 mm case
These are guidelines, not rules: dress watches are usually worn smaller, sports and dive watches larger.
Lug-to-lug matters more than diameter
The distance from the tip of the top lugs to the bottom lugs decides how much of your wrist the watch covers. The simple rule: the lugs should not overhang your wrist.
Thickness, weight and strap width
Watches thicker than about 13 mm are hard to slide under a shirt cuff. A steel bracelet adds weight; leather or nylon is lighter. Strap widths usually run from 18 to 22 mm; you will find each watch's lug width in its specifications.