Some Of The Best Watches For Any Wrist Size

Windup Watch Shop

Feb 9, 2025

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“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom,” and while Socrates probably wasn’t referring to wristwatches, it is sound advice for buying a new timepiece. Part of buying that new watch is the fit — many an enthusiast have had a release they were excited for ruined by realizing the watch won’t look how they wanted it to on their wrists. With just a few measurements, you can easily get an idea from the comfort of your own home.

One of the biggest factors in watch fit is not even the watch — it’s the wrist. Grab a cloth measuring tape (or a string in a pinch) and measure the circumference of your wrist where you will wear the watch. Also, take note of the shape of your wrist — a watch on a flat wrist will look different on a similarly sized round one.

With this handy measurement available, we can move on to the watch. Case diameter is the most obvious measurement to start with. Measured from 3:00 to 6:00, it represents the first of three major components in watch fit. The general rule of thumb is that smaller case sizes are best on smaller wrists, but don’t let one prevent you from doing the other.

Case diameter is not the end of the story, however. Lug-to-lug – that is, from the tip of the lug at 12:00 to the tip at 6:00 — has been recognized in recent years as being just as significant as case diameter when evaluating watch fit. A general guideline is that the lugs should not extend over the edges of the wrist. Anything within that — or over, you do you! — is fair game.

The last factor is thickness. This z-axis is further broken down into case and crystal thickness — a 14mm thick watch can actually be 11mm or 12mm thick, depending on this measurement. If choosing a thicker watch, be mindful of the types of straps you will want to wear it on — pass-through straps will add a few more millimeters, which in some cases will create a top-heavy feeling that may be uncomfortable.Ultimately, watch fit is a deeply personal experience. What one person deems perfect, another will decry as too small or large.

As a final word of caution, do not rely too heavily on the measurements — many watches, through various tricks in design, wear completely differently than what they would appear to on paper. Try watches on where you can — like at the Windup Watch Show! — find what suits your unique style, and rock it!Be sure to check out some of our favorite watches in the Windup Watch Shop for different wrist sizes below. As always, the Windup Watch Team is available via consultation to answer any questions you have. In addition, all of these products are eligible for free domestic shipping across the US.

Recommendation

The latest version of our WW75 Limited Edition

For the Timex x Worn & Wound WW75 V3 we used the same 37mm x 43mm case. It’s 12.7mm tall, including a domed acrylic crystal, and has 20mm lugs. It wears beautifully and is sized to fit a wide variety of wrists. The dials feature a combination of colors and textures in a concentric array. At center is a region with a waffle texture, encircled by a ring in a contrasting color for a vibrant pop. Applied indices cross from one to the other, creating a visual flow, and adding an element of classic elegance. A rotating set of numerals for the minutes/seconds brings it back to the casual.

A touch of vintage flair

Featuring a versatile 39mm stainless steel case with a box sapphire crystal and a combination of brushed and polished finishing, the Heritage Gent is designed to be an everyday timepiece with a business casual leaning. Clean, balanced dials in silver, sandblasted salmon or black create a sophisticated backdrop to a full set of hour numerals and a railroad index for minutes and seconds. Balanced and precise, the typography chosen is a standout feature of the design. Just below 12 is a vintage Tissot logo, while above 6 is a very important word “chronometre” indicating that these watches are chronometer-certified. For the silver dial reference, an additional bracelet is included.

Nivada Grenchen x Worn & Wound Datomaster VK63 V3

Inspired by mid-twentieth-century automobiles, the dial of the Datomaster features a cool, pale mint base. At the center is an unexpected circle of a darker, greener teal tone that extends out, encompassing the sub-seconds at six—sub-dials at three and nine for 24-hour and 60-minute counters cut through the center, emphasizing their functions. Dark gray indexes add contrast for legibility, while a deep purple adds a surprising play of color. An unconventional take on a racing chronograph dial, the Nivada Grenchen x Worn & Wound Datomaster VK63 V3 will stand out in a collection.

The Datomaster's case measures 36mm x 43.5mm x 12mm and is made of stainless steel, which gives it a classic chronograph fit and feel. Paired with a brown rally strap, but for the movement inside, one could think they are wearing an “exotic” dial chrono from the 60s.

“The Watch That Won The War”

Representing a slight increase in size compared to the original model, the 37mm stainless steel case of the Bulova A-11 Hack features a lug width of 18mm and includes an oversized winding crown, drilled lug holes, and a distinctive coin-edge textured bezel. The highly legible dial is heavily based on the iconic design of the original A-11 watch; however, it now appears in a deep blue color with white luminous markings and a bright red seconds hand. Completing the watch is a brown nylon strap with metal-reinforced sizing holes and matching stainless steel hardware.

Largely unchanged since their debut in the 1960’s

With the Max Bill watches the play of line, form and tone creates pieces that are near perfect examples of what the everyday watch should be. Effortlessly stylish with authentic vintage flair, highly legible at all times, modest on the wrist, yet can start a conversation. They are perfect for the office, a dinner with the relatives or a casual jaunt around town. They also exude German-made quality with refined details like curved hands and impossibly thin bezels.

A classically sized field watch

The new Khaki Field Quartz 38 harkens back to those original watches, reviving the classic “Khaki” type on the dial at 6:00. The watch features the same hands as the original 2017 Khaki reissue with a new dial. Its 38mm case is a modern and versatile size, ideal for daily wear. Now featuring a revised minute track and triangle at twelve, the Khaki Field Quartz harkens back to Hamilton’s pre-Vietnam War military watches.

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