Whether you have your heart set on a nice, new dress watch or need a sports watch to kick your exercise routine into gear, you probably have plenty of questions.
Should I opt for fabric bands, a leather strap, or a stainless steel watch band?
Is this timepiece right for my wrist size?
Do I need a watch case to make sure that it’s safe?
One thing you may not have considered is the simplest question of them all — which arm should I wear my wrist watch on?
The answer to that question is a bit more complex than you might think. Your personal sense of style, dexterity, and the actual build of a watch are all factors to consider!
So, is there really a rule for watch wearers? Does it differ when comparing dress watches and sports watches? Does gender play any role in all of this?
No one really has a straight answer, but we’ve created this article to piece together all the information and help you make a decision for yourself.
Should you wear a watch on your left wrist or right wrist?
There is a lot of conjecture out there on Google about this question, with reasons for one or the other citing everything from the sloping of one’s wrist bone to the way a watch face tucks under one’s shirt cuff.
However, the actual answer to this question is a lot simpler than all that.
In short, right-handed folks generally wear watches on their left wrist. And lefties wear watches on their right wrist, as a usual rule of thumb. Since most people use their dominant hand and arm for the majority of tasks throughout the day, it makes sense to place your watch on the opposite side so you can look at your watch while using your dominant hand.
Are there actually guidelines for how to wear your watch?
Nope! Some watches have cases and crowns which are designed for one wrist or the other (more on that later), but it’s all up to you! Maybe you don’t like the feel of a watch’s case thickness on one wrist, or think that the watch’s case diameter is way too big for one of your arms.
If you fall into one of those categories, then it’s simple — wear your watch how you want to wear it! If it feels comfier on your dominant hand, then who cares what most watch wearers do? Wear a watch the way it feels best, and you’ll be doing just fine.
Now, we do want to say that with a bit of a sidebar. After all, there is actually logistical reasoning for why it makes sense to wear a watch on your non-dominant wrist.
Dominant hand or non-dominant hand? Does it matter?
To be honest, there’s no one out there who’s going to give you orders for how you should wear your watch — unless you’re in the military.
But, there are practical reasons for wearing a watch on your non-dominant hand which you should take into account. One reason has less to do with style and more to do with cookies. Or water. Or anything else you may eat throughout the day. You usually eat and drink with your dominant hand, which is the sort of thing which could end up scuffing your even damaging your watch if a drink spills on it or crumbs get into its gearwork.
In addition, some people just like to have their dominant hands and arms unencumbered by extra weight or pressure. The point of wearing a watch is for convenience, not discomfort. Rights or lefts don’t matter as much as feeling relaxed and being able to use your watch comfortably. Choose the side which feels best.
Others may actually prefer wearing watches on their dominant hands because the time is always just a turn of the wrist away no matter what you’re doing. If you’re one of those watch wearers, then feel content in knowing that there are others like you!
Now, there is one structural thing to keep in mind when browsing for a new watch on your favorite shopping site. And it has more to do with how the products are built than your personal preferences.
Was your wristwatch made for your right or left arm?
Did you know that 90% of watches are built for people who wear them on their left hands? Whether you’re in the market for a budget sports watch with a rubber strap, or an Apple Watch with all the newest bells and whistles, chances are good that what you’re looking at was made with a right-handed consumer in mind.
After all, approximately 90% of people are right-handed. Only 10% of the populace would classify themselves as either left-handed or ambidextrous.
So, what do we mean when we say a timepiece was made for somebody who’s right-handed? It’s all about the crown, baby.
Looking for a new watch? The crown is king (or queen)!
The watch crown is the small knob on the side of a watch which is used to set the time or wind the spring within mechanical watches.
On the majority of analog wristwatches, the crown is located next to the 3 o’clock position on the watch face. That’s because it’s much easier to manipulate the crown with your opposite arm when the crown is on the side closest to it.
These watches are designed for right-handed folks who wear watches on their left hands. If you reverse things, it can be a real trial trying to wind your watch!
As for left-handed watches, the crown is usually placed at the 9 o’clock position. And while they’re hard to find, watches for left-handers are definitely worth the price of admission for both lefties and those who prefer to wear their watches on their dominant arm.
Search for watch brands that offer left-handed watches
Whether you’re a lefty or someone who simply likes wearing their watch on their right arm, you have options.
Some of the top watchmakers in the world make beautiful watches with the crown placed at the 9 o’clock position. These wrist watch brands include:
- Rolex
- Tudor
- Cartier
- TAG Heuer
- Zenith
Which wrist to wear a watch for females & males?
Despite what some people say, there is no gendered rule for watch wearers.
While some people contend that women should wear their watches on the left and men should wear their on the right, it’s really not the case. It’s more make believe than anything else.
No matter what your gender or how you identify, there’s no rule out there which states which wrist you should use. Wristwatches were designed for women first, but gender lines were crossed around World War I when soldiers began donning field watches on the battlefield and on the town at night.
And in this day and age, gender norms for watch lovers really don’t make sense. Wear what you want, how you want, and when you want. You’ll be just fine.
What other ways do people wear their watch?
Some people actually prefer pocket watches to wristwatches. And that makes sense, especially if you have nerve issues in your arm that could be exacerbated when wearing a watch.
Also, some people keep wrist watches in their pocket for a similar reason. The Apple Watch has been linked to wrist compression issues for some consumers, so it makes sense that some users either pocket it or keep it in their bag.
(These compression issues can be solved by wearing your Apple Watch a bit differently, mind you. Be sure to loosen it just a bit if the watch starts hurting your wrist, or wrap it farther down your arm.)
And in terms of other wrist wearers, there are some who prefer to wear their watch with the watch dial facing down. This is often done by special force members attempting to evade notice by reducing glare, but it’s also a practical thing for some who simply feel more comfortable not having to turn their arm to check the time.
In the end, the rules don’t matter. You do!
While it’s true that most watch users wear their timepiece on their non-dominant hand, it’s not a faux pas if you do otherwise!
If you have a wrist issue on one arm that makes wearing a watch hard, using the other arm is perfectly alright. Just make sure you find a watch for your online shopping cart which fits nicely on your arm of choice.
After all, wearing a watch should be fun. Rules aren’t fun. Doing your own thing (and being comfortable doing while doing so) is!