Hello,
In the past there was a long lead time re the order of your straps, is it still the same or is it a bit shorter now ?
Many thanks
The Hidden Rules of Wristwatch Wearing: Are You Breaking Them?
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Time to read 13 min
Introduction
We're told what to do and how to do it in most aspects of our lives, most rules, as the saying goes, are made to be broken. Wearing your watch is no exception, there are rules told to us by brands, YouTubers and the history books, but which of these rules can, or should be broken? Are they there simply because it's how it's always been done, or is there a solid reason behind them? We answer all these questions, and more as we delve into the historical and modern practices of wearing your timepiece.
Table of Contents
Introduction Video: Are you Wearing your Watch Wrong? A History Lesson in the Rules. A Little Bit of Backstory Is the Left Wrist the Right Wrist? The Wrist Bone Problem The Catch 22 in the Rules So Where Should you Wear your Watch? Comfort is Key Other ways to Wear your Watch. What is Double-Wristing What if it's Not on your Wrist? Our top Watch Straps for Ultimate Comfort 1. RIOS1931 Mittenwald Organic Leather Watch Strap 2. Erika's Originals MN™ Straps 3. Hirsch Pure Natural Rubber Watch Strap 4. WatchObsession Nylon Watch Watch Straps 1. Hirsch Camelgrain No Allergy Leather Watch Straps Conclusion
Video: Are you Wearing your Watch Wrong?
Our Top Straps for Comfort
A History Lesson in the Rules of the Wrist
A Little Bit of Backstory
Let's go back to the 19th century, when wristwatches first began to appear on the wrists of the highest women in society. These first wristwatches were often pieces of jewellery with the time merely adorned as an extra rather than a being a wristwatch first.
It wasn't until the 1880s that pocket watches began to travel to the wrist in the form of wristlets, or pocket watch converters. Wristlets were leather straps, designed to be fitted around the wrist, that had the ability to house a pocket watch.
These wristlets became increasingly popular towards the beginning of the 20th century, because of the increased need for a wristwatch due to the First World War. Many soldiers even began to DIY wristlets for their pocket watches by soldering bits of wire to the case to be able to strap to their wrists. It was at this time that wristwatches increased in popularity tenfold and the wristwatch industry truly began.
At this time, watches were more delicate objects with larger crowns than we see today. This led to the two main 'rules' of wearing a wristwatch that are still believed day.
https://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/wristlets.php
Is the Left Wrist the Right Wrist?
The First Rule
The original rule of how to wear your watch: A watch should be worn on the left hand had quite a simple reason behind it. People would wear them on their less dominant hand to keep them safe while performing daily tasks; writing, using tools, brushing your teeth for example.
The left being the less dominant hand for 90% of the population pushed the watch industry to make their wristwatches with a focus on being worn on the left hand. Crowns were therefore positioned on the right side of the watch to allow for easier winding with the dominant hand. This meant that even lefties began to wear the watch on the left wrist because the alternative was to remove the watch whenever it required winding. There are many examples of tools at the time that simply couldn't be used left handed, once again forcing the left handed to adhere to what was considered societal norm.
The 10% of the population that needed a watch for their right arm were left with needing a custom timepiece that would come at great expense. Charlie Chaplin was known to have a crown-left Rolex Oyster, one of the few Rolex made at the time.
The Wrist Bone Problem
The Second Rule
The other idea that was pushed is that a watch should be worn above the wrist bone*. There are various reasons for this, from the watch sitting more comfortably on the flatter part of your wrist, to the crown being kept away from the hand protecting it from damage and the hand from discomfort. It was also believed to protect the watch as it could be safely tucked under the cuff to avoid damage. Rolex have also stated a watch should be worn above the wrist bone because it would protect the bracelet from torsional forces.
There’s even jokes and memes around social media regarding people that wear their watch below the bone. But still, many people do, including, I may add, myself.
It's such an oddly strong belief that some of the more aggressively opinionated people have taken to reddit. A quick search showed me some angry redditors with points of view on the subject so strong that I can't quote them here for fear of being misinterpreted!
*For some clarification, above the wrist bone is when the arm is straight down, meaning the watch is further from the hand.
"You should wear the watch, not in the joint of your wrist, where it will suffer massive torsional forces, but above the ulnar styloid."
The Catch 22 in the Rules
The Problem with the Rules
The paradox that these two rules form is nothing more than a contradiction in the basic understanding between them: If a watch is more comfortable with the crown being kept away from the hand, why not wear the watch on the right hand where the crown is facing the other way, and if a watch should be worn on the less dominant hand, why are crown-right (or Destro watches) not taking up 10% of the watch market?
Destro watches actually make up less than 1% of the watch market, many brands don’t even have them their lineup. If you look at the second hand watch market, Chrono24 for example, you’ll find half a million watches for sale, with only about 1,500 of those being crown-left watches. We unfortunately can’t take those numbers for gospel due to Chrono24's listings being user created, but 0.3% of the market is staggering.
With handwriting being replaced by typing, the need for the watch to be on the left wrist is diminishing. The final nail in the coffin for these rules could be that the vast majority of watches are automatic or quartz. Leading to the watch not needing to be hand-wound while on the wrist at all. Further to that, if Rolex themselves only state a watch should be worn above the wrist bone being for the protection of the bracelet, surely that means there is no reason to listen to the rules if you wear a leather strap?
So Where Should you Wear your Watch?
Long Story Very Short.
Comfort is Key
Cutting to the point – Wear your watch, where you find it most comfortable on your wrist.
Short Story Longer
If you prefer to wear your watch on your left arm, above the wrist bone. As long as that's because it's most comfortable for you, and not because it's what you've been told to do. Great! You can wear your watch deep in the knowledge that its placement is rooted firmly in a rich history.
Or, whether you're a leftie or not, if you prefer the feeling of your watch being on the right arm because that's just where it feels right, then that's great too. Comfort is the number one aim when it comes to wearing your watch.
Whether you wear your watch above or below your wrist bone depends firstly on comfort, and secondly on the size and protrusion of your wrist bone. Some people have a fairly pronounced wrist bone close to their hand, leaving little to no space for a watch, while other's with a less pronounced bone are able to choose either way.
Whatever you opt for; remember that comfort is the most important factor in wearing your watch. Never let anyone tell you that you're wearing your watch wrong. Never forget the long history of trailblazers that have worn their watch in weird and interesting ways. Charlie Chaplin with his crown-right Rolex, military personnel from around the world wearing their watches on the inside of their wrists, Neil Armstrong wearing multiple Speedmasters.
Other ways to Wear your Watch.
What is Double-Wristing?
If wearing your watch on your right arm is considered to be breaking the rules, then wearing a watch on both wrists is taking those rules and smashing them to pieces. But why not? The trend of wearing multiple watches has been around for decades, there are multiple photos of Fidel Castro from the 1960's wearing two watches.
With the modern interpretation of double-wristing, as the term has been coined, many people have been known to wear a smartwatch on one wrist and a regular timepiece on the other, this is the best of both worlds in my opinion. With the desire to always be linked to the rest of the world through modern technology on one wrist, why not keep the wrist planted firmly in tradition.
If you are a happily dual-wristing, and anyone tries to argue with you about it, remember this simple reply:
Raise the wrist with traditional watch, "This one tells me the time", raise the wrist with the smartwatch, "and this one tells me everything else." You are then in a traditional fighting post with both fists raised if the disagreement continues.
What if it's not on your wrist?
Wearing your watch anywhere but your wrist would be an odd choice for many of us, but for some it's an easy option
- The Ankle – Many people have taken to wearing their smartwatches on their ankles. This TikTok trend is a great hack for people that want to be able to track movement when their arms are stationary, either running on a treadmill while holding the bars, pushing a stroller, or even just pushing a shopping cart around your local grocery store.
- The Fob Watch – A fob watch, or nurse's watch, is worn clipped to the chest pocket in the medical industry, these watches keep the wearers hands clear to maintain cleanliness while also giving the ability to check the time while both hands are full.
- Ring Watches – Having the time on your finger is a novel idea that has come and gone in fashion for centuries, the first ring mounted clock being dated 1561. In modern history some of the worlds largest watch brands; Jaeger-LeCoultre, Blancpain, Seiko and even Audimars Piguet have all dipped their toes into ring watches, although I personally hope a toe-ring-watch never catches on.
Our top Watch Straps for Ultimate Comfort
If comfort is the name of the game, we've chosen five of our most comfortable watch straps to get your wrist feeling it's best. You may ask yourself what makes me such an expert in how comfortable these straps are? Hopefully I can settle your worries by letting you know, as the Head of Media here at Watch Obsession, I have worn (almost) every strap in our extensive collection. Through product photography, testing, videography or simply wanting to wear them, I have had the chance to slap almost every strap onto my wrist, and these are some of my favourites.
1. RIOS1931 Mittenwald Organic Leather Watch Strap
You don't get much more comfortable than the RIOS1931 organic collection, these extremely supple watch straps are the epitome of comfort straight out of the box. The Bio-Organic Certified collection, contains watch straps that are guaranteed 100% organic along the entire production chain, from the farms, to the tanneries, to the manufacturing, every step ensures the straps are environmentally sustainable and organic certified.
All the watch straps in the Organic collection are comfortable due to their use of supple leather and allergy-friendly materials. My personal favourite is the RIOS1931 Mittenwald, in particular, the Mocha colour, with its retro styling, subtly off-tonal stitching and low padding, it's a perfect watch strap in my opinion. And as you can see, it also looks fantastic on the Omega Seamaster No Time To Die.
2. Erika's Originals MN™ Straps
Whenever we talk about watch strap comfort, Erika's Originals MN™ Straps are always mentioned. Many have tried to recreate Erika's famous straps, but all have failed to get the sheer comfort, durability and overall craftsmanship that Erika's have done. The material the straps are closely styled from is the elasticated nylon webbing from the French Marine Nationale Parachutes, where name MN™ comes from.
Their comfort comes down the meticulous design of every part of the straps:
- Their parachute style hardware allowing the straps to be micro adjusted to get the ultimate perfect fit.
- The nylon webbing material giving a sturdy yet extremely comfortable feel against the wrist.
- And finally the design of how the watch is fitted that allows a single piece of the strap to pass under the watch raising it from the wrist and following through the comfort from the strap.
At WatchObsession you'll find almost the entire collection from Erika's in our store, nearly 94 different colour variations coming in a large choice of lug widths and hardware options. We can also order custom made straps directly from Erika's themselves so you get exactly what you're looking for.
3. Hirsch Pure Natural Rubber Watch Strap
If you're after a rubber watch strap and comfort on your wrist is one of your top priorities, look no further than the Hirsch Pure Rubber Watch Strap. Made from premium caoutchouc (natural rubber), the Pure is naturally soft and supple, alongside also being waterproof, tear proof and hypoallergenic. It is a true marriage of bold style and raw functionality.
We love the Pure in orange and have paired it with a Doxa Sub 300 Searambler to pick out the Orange in the dial, it works wonderfully with the dive watch both aesthetically and functionally. |
The Pure in Black is an classic black rubber and as you can see looks fantastic against the gold dial of this Seiko Stepped Bezel Tank giving the pure a completely different look and showing off it's versatility. |
4. WatchObsession Nylon Watch Watch Straps
Comfort goes hand in hand with nylon watch straps, also known at one-piece straps amongst other names. The key feature of these straps is that they create a barrier between the wrist and the watch. This means those with a allergy or intolerance to the metal of their watch touching their wrist will more likely be able to wear the watch without issue. They also tend to be longer that most straps with the ability to tuck the end back into themselves, giving them the ability to be used with a variety of wrist sizes.
We have a huge range of over 250 nylon watch straps available at WatchObsession, including our popular Premium Collection. Made from an upgraded nylon to our standard range in a thicker, stronger, yet softer material with upgraded buckle and hardware. Our premium range is based on the Omega Watch Straps, but at a more accessible price point.
1. Hirsch Camelgrain No Allergy Leather Watch Straps
The Hirsch Camelgrain is advertised by Hirsch as "The greatest wearing comfort even for people with sensitive skin." And for good reason, the Camelgrain is equipped with a Hirsch Pro Skin lining; a protective coating developed in cooperation with the Department of Vienna Dermatological University Clinic, the Pro Skin provides a dermatologically tested system specifically for people with sensitive skin.
Further to it's Pro Skin lining to keep your wrist happy, the Camelgrain also has a soft calfskin upper, and is available in sizes from 8mm up to 22mm making it suitable fur a huge range of watches. Further to that it is also available in an Open Ended option making it suitable for fixed lug watches like the CWC G10 you see here.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the most important factor in how you wear your wristwatch is personal comfort. Ignore rigid rules and prioritize what feels best on your wrist, whether that's left or right, above or below the bone.
While understanding the historical origins of wristwatch wearing practices is interesting, it shouldn't dictate your choices. Traditions evolve, and modern lifestyles often render old rules obsolete.
Don't be afraid to experiment with different wearing styles, including double-wristing or alternative placements. The world of watches is constantly evolving, and personal expression is encouraged.
At the end of the day, a wristwatch is a tool and an accessory. It should complement your lifestyle and preferences, not constrain them. Wear it with confidence, knowing that you've chosen what works best for you.
The Author: Will Parker
Will Parker is the Head of Media at WatchObsession and has been with the company since 2020. As our dedicated photographer, videographer and content creator, he has changed more buckles, straps and clasps than we can count and his own personal watch collection grows every year, although his strap collection is growing faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tight should a watch strap be?
Although a very personal choice, a good rule of thumb is that a a finger should be able to fit behind the clasp, but not be able to slide around the wrist. For more information read our Blog post: "How Tight Should a Watch Strap Be?"
https://www.watchobsession.co.uk/blogs/watchobsession-blog/how-tight-should-a-watch-strap-be
What size watch strap do I need?
To determine which size watch strap you should get, you need to measure the strap length and lug width on your watch.
For more information read our Blog post: "What Size Watch Strap Should I Get?"
https://www.watchobsession.co.uk/blogs/watchobsession-blog/what-size-watch-strap-should-i-get
Will any strap fit my watch?
Whether a watch strap is universal is dependent on how the strap attaches to the watch. If the watch has a conventional lug arrangement which will hold a straight ended watch strap, you can attach almost all watch straps to that watch. However, some watches are designed so that you cannot fit a universal replacement watch strap to it.
For more information read our Blog post: "Are Watch Straps Universal?"
https://www.watchobsession.co.uk/blogs/watchobsession-blog/are-watch-straps-universal
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