A watch is an excellent accessory for making a personal statement. Watches come in various shapes, sizes, styles, and even colors. And what is more advantageous is that you can choose to wear one watch all year round or switch things up depending on the occasion and outfit for a matching look.
Watches also make great gifts, surely, they can’t help you buy enough time with your loved ones, but a gift watch is a great way to show that you care.
Then, there’s the one question everyone new to the art of accessorizing using a watch asks: Should I wear my timepiece loose or tight?
Well, watches can be worn both ways; it all depends on the preferred degree of comfort. Experts say wearing your watch too loose wears down the bracelet due to increased movement, but wearing it too tight won’t spare it either; you may overstretch the bracelet; also, because of too much skin contact, you will need to clean it often, leading to wear and tear too. Clearly then, what matters is only comfort and style.
Comfort and style
When it comes to style, comfort is key. Do not give everything to look elegant at the expense of feeling great. How tight or loose to wear your watch depends on the following factors::
If you use your hands quite a lot, then a loose larger bracelet watch on your hands is going to get awkward really quickly. You could do well with a small soft-leather strap timepiece.
Always try on the watch and engage in a few activities to get a feel of how comfortable it is on your wrist. If it is too cumbersome for hands-on operations, you can have it reduced or increased accordingly. A local jeweler or watchmaker can help you get the watch to your desired fit.
What kind of watch you have determines how you should wear it.
The type of watch determines whether it can be worn tight or lose too. Things that matter when it comes to watch type include the case diameter, case thickness, lugs, bracelets, and straps.
When it comes to case diameter, modern tastes have shifted towards the larger case watches. Both men and women seem to prefer the weight and striking size of over-sized watch cases. The standard watch case sizes are 26-29mm and 23-25mm for women; 37-39mm, 40-42mm, and measurements above 45mm for men. Fir large case watches, you want to wear them tight to avoid looking ridiculous and for easy hand movements.
Case thickness is often overlooked, but it matters. For example, if you are wearing a suit, a watch with a thick case might bunch up your sleeve, especially when it is worn loose. You’d do well pair your suit with a thin case watch or tightening the watch up a little bit.
Lugs are the metal extensions where the bracelet/strap meets the watch case. They make the height of the watch look longer. If the lugs are too long, wearing the watch loose will only make things much uncomfortable.
And finally, when it comes to bracelets and straps, you have the option between metal bracelets and non-metal, synthetic, or leather straps. For oversized and bracelet style timepieces, the general rule is that the watch should not move more than one inch up and down the wearer’s wrist.
Large bracelet pieces should be worn tighter than small bracelet watches for easy hand movements without looking ridiculous. If you want to be surer on comfortability, you can never go wrong with NATO-strap on your watch. Specially developed for British soldiers for use during the war, this watch strap style has found its way to the common consumer. The NATO-style strap is designed for maximum stability and to prevent the stainless-steel case from touching your skin. It is an excellent strap style for a casual look.
Dress
The type of outfit determines how loose or tight your watch should be. Know-it-alls will tell you that a suit doesn’t go well with a loose watch or one with a thick case.
It is ridiculous for a suit jacket or shirt cuff to get caught above the watch. In fact, the watch shouldn’t be visible unless you bend your hand. Don’t make the mistake of wearing a watch over the shirt cuffs. Even so, if the watch leaves an impression, it is too tight.
With informal dresses, you are free to wear your watch the way you want, as long as you are comfortable and looking stylish. However, avoid wearing it too loose that it is dangling or free to turn around your wrist. Wear it just slightly loose for a comfortable fit and to avoid impressions. Experts say that as long as you can squeeze the pointer finger between your wrist and the bracelet, the fit is good. Watches that are worn too loose scratch and wear off easily.
Season
A tight leather strap watch or metal bracelet piece during hot and humid conditions doesn’t make sense. It is surely going to leave marks on your skin, plus it is likely to get dirty and cost you some good cleaning time when sweat accumulates in the bracelet.
You can wear your watch a bit tighter during cold conditions because you don’t have to worry about sweat and imprints on your skin. However, when you are enjoying the outdoors, wear your watch slightly freer.
See? It is not rocket science; when it comes to whether you should wear your watch tight or loose, DIY is the way to go as long as you are stylish and, most important of all, comfortable. There is no reason you should endure an ill-fitting timepiece; the first step to enjoying a watch is to wear it comfortably.
If you feel your watch is too tight or too loose, take it to your local jeweler or a watch specialist for modification through micro-adjustments or by adding or removing a link. They can also order half-links for a perfect fit.
