Wrist watch or arm watch?
I recently noticed that most Youtube watch folks wear their watches right on the wrist. I’ve always worn my time pieces a bit more up my arm, like 2-3 inches above my wrist. I’m sure I started wearing my first Timex from mom & dad when I was in 5th grade like this. I always wore watches under the sleeve of a dress shirt as well. 🤷♂️
I guess it also gives a more secure location on my arm than on my wrist especially when working with things out in the garage.
8 comments
Sort by
David
Professional old guy. I worked at Peps-Cola for 34 years, quality control lab, merchandising Pepsi products in grocery stores and the last 14 years driving a truck & trailer filling vending machines....
Bakersfield, California
Member since
Last active: 1 year ago
If you started in 5th grade, I'd guess that the larger size that far up the arm helped keep the watch from falling off when it was on the last notch or as far as the Velcro allowed for it to be secured properly and you've grown accustomed.
Like you, I wear watches above the radius and ulnar bulge that's slightly above the carpal bones in the wrist. Yes, I also have noticed a lot of vids where the watch is loose and right down over the carpal bones.
And yes, if I wear a watch that way it's painful and perhaps damaging to the bracelet when I've got a high degree of wrist flexion or extension.
Maybe it works for people who seldom bend their wrists or keep it so loose that it can't pinch? Wearing loose doesn’t work well for me.
I tend to wear my watches "above the bone" as well, unless my arm is swelling considerably over the course of the day and the watch features no form of micro adjust.
However, there are days on which I have to channel my inner Sonny Crockett and wear the bracelet jangly, but those are rare. 😅
Just above the wrist bone is the narrowest part for me, so that's just the sensible place. Down over the joint is ridiculous, and I suspect that is people with unadjusted bracelets or trying not to crease the band. I have no idea how one would keep a watch up as shown in the first photo without cinching tighter than I'd like.
Always above the wrist bones… too uncomfortable and loose below
Always below the wrist bone for me but perhaps a few things mitigate that:
1. As a lefty I wear the watch on my right, crown away from the back of my hand (as god intended 😉)
2. As a bigger guy, below the bone my wrist is 7.75 in, above the bone its 8in plus - frankly a lot of straps and bracelets just don't fit up high
3. I like my watches a little loose which feels natural down low and really weird up high.
Above the bone, but loose enough that it can slide up the wrist.