Determining your wrist size can help you choose a suitable sized watch or bracelet. Depending on the type of accessory you have to wear, you will need a different measurement, for example the width of the wrist, its circumference or the hand. Then you will need to wrap a string around the desired point to measure the length, which can also be used to calculate your body build.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Taking Measurements for a Watch or Bracelet
Step 1. Establish your wrist circumference if you need to measure it for a watch or bracelet
Standard watches and bracelets wrap completely around the wrist, so take your circumference measurement if you need it. Choose the point on the wrist where you would normally wear the accessory (which roughly corresponds to the widest point or the one just below the wrist bone), in order to take an accurate measurement.
If you need to take the pulse measurement for a heart rate monitor, take it approximately 1.5-2 cm above the wrist bone (carpus), in order to obtain the correct heart rate reading
Step 2. Measure your wrist width for an open cuff
This type of bracelet has a space between the two ends to be able to slip the wrist inside. Choose the widest point of the wrist: it is usually located at the height of the bony protrusion on each side of the arm. If you have to take a measurement for this type of bracelet, you will only be interested in the width of the wrist from one side to the other.
Step 3. Measure around the knuckles for a bracelet without a clasp
This type of bracelet has a rigid shape and must slide over the hand to be worn. To find the right size, hold your hand in front of you with the palm facing up, then bring your thumb to touch the little finger, so that the hand takes on the same shape it would have while putting on a bracelet. Finally, measure the circumference of the hand around the knuckles.
Be careful not to move neither the little finger nor any other part of the hand, otherwise you will take an incorrect measurement
Step 4. Wrap a string around your wrist or hand depending on the type of accessory you are measuring for
Use a 12-inch (12-inch) lanyard, so that there is enough to wrap it around your wrist. Place it flat on a flat surface and place your hand over it with the palm facing up, then tightly wrap both ends of the cord around your wrist, making sure that they overlap in the center.
- If you are measuring the width of the wrist for an open bracelet, place the cord so that one end starts from the bone on one side of the wrist and ends on the other.
- If you are measuring for a bracelet without a clasp, start the cord over the knuckles and wrap it around your hand, passing it over the base of the thumb.
- You can also use a tape measure to measure if you have one.
Advise:
If you don't have a lanyard, you can alternatively cut a 1.5cm-wide strip of paper to wrap around your wrist. Some websites offer printable rulers, so you can read the measurement when wrapping it around your wrist.
Step 5. Mark the point on the lanyard where the two ends overlap
Make sure the string is snug against the skin before marking the overlap with a marker. Be sure to mark both ends of the lanyard for proper measurement.
- If you decide to use a tape measure, check which number lines up with the zero on either end.
- If you are measuring the width of the wrist, mark the cord where it touches the bony protrusion inside the arm.
Step 6. Place the string next to a ruler to determine the correct size
Hold it taut next to a ruler, aligning one end of this with one of the marks on the cord and measuring the distance from the second mark. Write down the measurements so as not to forget them.
If you don't have a ruler, you can use a tape measure
Step 7. Add 1.5 cm to the measured length, so that the accessory is not too tight
Bracelets and watches can be uncomfortable if worn too tightly on the wrist, for this reason add a few millimeters to the measurement taken, so that they are a little wider.
- For example, if the wrist circumference is 14 cm, the final measurement should be approximately 15.5 cm.
- Do not add centimeters to the measurement if you need it for a heart rate monitor, as this is an accessory that must be snug around your wrist for a proper heart rate reading.
Method 2 of 2: Determine Your Body Constitution
Step 1. Measure the circumference of the wrist just above the bone
Touch your wrist for the two bony protrusions on either side of your arm, then place the lanyard on one side just above one of them. Wrap it around your wrist so that it is tight and mark the point where the two ends overlap, then stretch the string by placing it next to a ruler to find the size. Write it down so you don't forget it.
- Do not add any more centimeters to your measurement.
- You can also use a tape measure, if you have one, by observing and noting the point where one end overlaps the number 0 on the other end.
Step 2. Find your height using a tape measure or ruler
Stand straight, keeping your back against the wall; look straight ahead and keep your feet together and flat on the ground, with your heels touching the wall. Ask someone to mark your height on the wall at the top of your head, then walk away and use a tape measure to measure the distance from the floor to the mark you made to find your height.
Make sure you rest your feet on a hard floor, rather than a carpet, as it may affect the measurement
Advise:
Do not include the hair in the height measurement, but rather end with the top of the skull.
Step 3. Compare your wrist measurement with your height using a body build measurement chart
Search one of these tables online and identify the interval corresponding to your height, then compare the measurement of your wrist with the latter to check if your body build is thin, medium or strong.
- For example, if you are a woman whose height is between 160 and 170 cm, your body constitution will be slim in case your wrist size is less than 15 cm, average if it is between 15-16 cm and robust if it is over 16 cm.
- You can find a chart for measuring body constitution at this site:
- Discuss with your healthcare provider what significance your body build may have in relation to your ideal weight or your Body Mass Index (BMI).
