Among all the jewelry and accessories that the fashion world has to offer, the wristwatch is clearly the special "extra" that skillfully adds the finishing touch to any outfit. But where does a watch actually lie correctly on the wrist - on the left or right? We provide answers and reveal how men's and women's watches are shown off to their best advantage.
Historical and cultural aspects of watch placement
To comprehensively address the question of the perfect place for the watch on the wrist, we first take a look at the historical background of the wristwatch. We'll also shed light on cultural and conventional influences on the common etiquette surrounding the wearing of watches.
Traditional left hand practice
The careful observer has probably long noticed in everyday life that most people wear their watches on the left. But what is the origin of this "rule" of watch placement that most men and women adhere to?
Historical background
The decisive reason for wearing watches on the left wrist is presented to us by history. The first timepieces whose movements were small enough to be worn on the wrist all had to be wound by hand. The winding functioned via a rather delicate crown on the edge of the case - on the right-hand side.
This placement was by no means randomly chosen by watch manufacturers. Then, as now, most people were right-handed, so it made perfect sense to place the crown on the right side of the watch. If you wore the watch on the left, you could comfortably use your preferred right hand to wind it. Left-handed people unfortunately had and still have the disadvantage with this consideration: They have to reach around the watch case in a comparatively awkward way or - despite their preference - use their right hand.
Cultural significance and conventions
Today, most watches no longer need to be wound manually. Nevertheless, wearing the watch on the left wrist has become accepted and is, in a sense, one of the traditional rules when it comes to watch placement. And there is also an optimum as far as the height of the watch on the wrist is concerned: about a thumb's width should fit between the carpus and the case. Alternatively, with longer jacket sleeves, a slightly lower placement on the arm can be chosen so that the sleeve and case end up ideally matched.
Personal preferences and individual fitting
Fact is: When it comes to outfits, you can make a grand entrance with a high-quality watch, regardless of whether you want to wear it on the left or the right. Ultimately, comfort, habit and taste decide on the individually perfect place for the accessory. At this point, we would like to summarize the biggest advantages and disadvantages of wearing wristwatches on the right and left hand:
Right hand
Advantages and disadvantages of this placement
Wearing the watch on the right hand is especially suitable for left-handed people. After all, these specifically use their left hand for all sorts of everyday activities, where the watch may be perceived as a nuisance. Worn on the dominant left side, the watch and bracelet are also exposed to greater stress, which in our experience causes more wear marks to accumulate. In addition, putting on the watch on the left hand can be quite tricky for a left-hander. It may take some practice to be able to smoothly place the watch on the wrist with the non-dominant hand.
For all these reasons, it is recommended that left-handed people wear their watches on the right - even if this does not conform to the usual "rules". After all, placing it on the right arm does not detract from the chic look of the watch and thus, despite the etiquette, there is nothing against putting the accessory on the right.
Left hand
Advantages and disadvantages of this placement
Men and women whose dominant hand is the right, the situation presents itself exactly the opposite. They use their right hand for cooking, cleaning, shaving, brushing their teeth and so on, which is why the watch is generally better off on the left. There, it doesn't get in the way of the right-handed person in everyday life and runs less risk of getting scratched.
How to wear a watch with style?
Once quite apart from which arm the watch is worn on, we would like to conclude with some tips on how to choose the ideal watch for men and women:
Wristwatch Size
How big is too big? This is also one of the most frequently asked questions about watches. Basically, the sizes of watches should fit the size of the wrist. For men with wide joints, a larger watch may be the optimal choice, while for a woman with a delicate arm, it would look excessive and heavy. This is where the so-called 18-40 rule comes into play. This states that the case of a watch for a person with 18 cm wrist circumference should measure a maximum of 40 cm.
Material and color
In the large market of watches, there really is something for everyone: from the simple no-frills watch for ladies to the diamond-studded gold watch with a thick link bracelet to the sporty diving watch for men, there is nothing that does not exist. And that's just as well! With regard to the material and the color design of the watch and bracelet, there is in principle no "right" and "wrong". A watch does not have to be eye-catching and extravagant in order to show its high quality. In the same way, it does not necessarily have to be restrained and discreet in order to express a good style. As long as it completes the outfit with which it is worn, supposed strict "style rules" are superfluous. In this sense, it is worthwhile to make sure that the material of the watch and bracelets matches the rest of the jewelry. This creates a wonderfully harmonious overall picture.
Occasion
Of course, the watch should be chosen to match the occasion or situation. For example, a sports watch with a bicolor textile strap and bright hands is better suited to a sporty casual look, while a chic, classic dress watch completes a business outfit. If you wear the flashy platinum luxury watch with a huge case to a casual meeting with friends, you may quickly be seen as a show-off. On the other hand, if you wear your favorite no-name watch with a half-tattered leather strap to an important meeting, it might be too much of a good thing in terms of "understatement".
Of course, all these tips are just rough hints, and the exception proves the rule. The bottom line is not to forget: Anything that pleases is permitted!
Conclusion - The optimal placement of a watch on the wrist
Even though the days when all watches had to be laboriously wound by hand are over, most people still wear their timepieces on the left. Nevertheless, theoretically nothing speaks against wearing the wristwatch on the right wrist. On the contrary: especially for left-handers, the right arm is often the more comfortable, practical choice.