How to choose a watch size (measure your wrist first)
Case diameter is only half the story. How to measure your wrist, read lug-to-lug and thickness, and which of our sizes fit which wrists.
Most returns we process are size, not quality. This guide should save you one.
Step 1: measure your wrist
Wrap a tape measure, or a strip of paper you then measure with a ruler, around the wrist bone where you wear a watch. Do not pull it tight.
- Under 15 cm (5.9 in), small wrist
- 15-18 cm (5.9-7.1 in), average wrist
- Over 18 cm (7.1 in), large wrist
Step 2: read three numbers, not one
Case diameter is the number in every product name (38 mm, 40 mm, 42 mm). It is the least useful of the three on its own.
Lug-to-lug is the length from the top of the case to the bottom, where the strap attaches. This is what decides whether a watch overhangs your wrist. As a rule of thumb, lug-to-lug should not exceed your wrist width. Every GoShopCara product page lists it.
Thickness decides whether it fits under a cuff. Under 10 mm slides under anything; 12-13 mm (our dive and automatic models) will catch on a tight shirt cuff.
Which of our sizes fits which wrist
| Wrist | Diameter | Our models |
|---|---|---|
| Under 15 cm | 28-34 mm | Aurora 32, Luna 34 |
| 15-17 cm | 36-39 mm | Ridge 38, Olympic 38, Fremont 38, Cascade 39 |
| 16-18 cm | 40 mm | Rainier, Ballard, Pike, Sound, Alki, Meridian |
| Over 17.5 cm | 42 mm | Elliott, Puget, Boeing Field |
These ranges overlap on purpose: a 40 mm watch on a 16 cm wrist is a deliberate, slightly larger look, and plenty of people prefer it.
Bracelet or strap?
Steel bracelets need to be sized. We include a spring-bar tool and spare links; removing links takes ten minutes with a little patience, or any jeweller will do it for a few dollars. Leather straps adjust with a buckle and need no sizing, but they take a week or two to soften.
If it still feels wrong
Measure before you order: we accept returns for items that arrive missing, damaged or faulty, not for size. If you are between two sizes, email us and we will help you choose. See our refund and returns policy.
