How to adjust wristwatch size?

Have you bought a new watch but unfortunately it is not the right size? This problem usually happens to many people, especially those with small wrist sizes. Yet, you don’t have to give up on your watch. You just need to adjust the watch strap to fit your wrist size. Whether it is metal, leather, or any other material, you can easily adjust the strap.

However, before you start adjusting your watch strap to average wrist size male, you need to measure your wrist accurately to know how much you need to remove or add to your watch strap. Also, you don’t need to go to a professional to do so. You can do this task at home with simple tools.

How to adjust wristwatch size?

Watches usually come in standard strap lengths. These standard lengths are 110/70mm, 120/80mm, and 130/90mm for the two straps on both sides of the watch case.

Metal watches are certainly different from leather watches in how they are adjusted. Leather watches tend to be easier as you can just add extra holes on whatever side according to whether you want to shorten or increase the length of the strap. If there is no space for extra holes, then, you must change the strap at all.

On the other side, for metal watches, the process is a bit more difficult but still applicable. Here is how you should it:

You will need a measurement tool, a hammer (even a small one), and pliers.

Step 1

Decide whether you want to increase or decrease the length of your watch strap. If you want to increase the length of the strap, then you need to find extra metal parts from the same strap. Most watches come with spare links for average wrist size male.

Further, each link should come with those small pins that will hold them to each other. These also typically come with the watch.

Step 2

Measure the length of your wrist and compare it to the original strap. Below you will find a guideline to the average wrist sizes and straps and how they should fit together.

Once you have decided the average length you want to increase or decrease, measure the length of each link, and estimate how many metal links you need to add or remove.

Step 3

Whether you will increase or decrease the length of the strap, this step goes for both. You need to remove the pin of the first metal link. Do this by using the pliers and press on the pin, so, it comes out. If you find it difficult to remove the pin using the plier, you can use a blunt needle to push the pins. You may also use a thin paperclip or a thin wire to do this step.  

When you push the pin, it should come out from the other side. Once a small part of the pin comes out, you can use the pliers to hold the pin and push it out from the other side

If you want to shorten your metal strap, repeat the above step for how many links you want. Make sure that you remove links from both sides of the strap. If you removed or added links to one side only, your watch won’t adjust correctly on your wrist.

Step 4

This step is for increasing the length of the strap. Grab the extra metal link you will be adding to the watch strap. Place it right after the previous link and make sure the two holes are adjusted correctly.

Use the pliers to hold the pin of the added link. Push it to the hole and tap gently using a hammer or any heavy object until the pin enters the hole completely.

Make sure you don’t tap aggressively on the pins, so, they don’t get broken. Also, don’t keep pushing the pins till they come out from the other side.

Repeat the previous step until you add the number of links you want to get the right watch strap length. Again, make sure to add pins to both sides of the watch strap.

How tight should your watch fit?

Your watch should be generally longer than your wrist size by half an inch, maximum an inch longer. At the end, it depends on the watch style and how you want your watch to look on your wrist.

If your watch holds tightly around your wrist causing red marks, this means it is too tight and needs some extra length.

Bear in mind that if you usually wear long sleeves, you need your watch to be tighter around your wrist as you don’t want the sleeve to hide the watch.

Average wrist size male

Most male wrist sizes range from 6.5 to 8 inches.  According to your average wrist size male, you will be able to know what strap length is suitable for you. Measure your wrist by wrapping a string around your wrist then measure the length of the wrapped part using a ruler.

The length you get is the wrist size but not the watch strap size as the watch should be a bit loose. However, it shouldn’t be too loose, so, it doesn’t fall off.

For a small wrist size from 6 to 6.5 inches, an average suitable watch strap is 110/70mm. A medium wrist size from 6.6 to 7.5 inches needs a longer watch strap at 120/80mm. Finally, larger watch straps with 130/90mm will be good with larger wrist sizes from 7.5 to 8.5 inches.

While these are the general rules, you don’t have to follow them exactly as they are. You may go for larger or shorter straps as you like. Yet, for your comfort, just go around these measurements.

Adjusting your watch strap is easy and don’t need a special jeweler to do it. You can shorten and lengthen your watch strap yourself with simple basic hand tools. The most important thing is to make sure you get the average wrist size male measurements so as not to repeat the process again if you do it wrong.