Measuring flat on a table will mislead you
Chunky heavy bracelets
Take two bracelets of identical length and lay them flat. Now put them on the same wrist. They won't fit the same — not even close — if the links are different thicknesses.
A thick link doesn't conform to the wrist the way a slim one does. It arches, and that arch reduces the inner circumference. The heavier and chunkier the link, the more circumference it consumes. A 23 cm bracelet measured flat will sit comfortably on a wrist of around 17 cm — that difference isn't error, it's just how the geometry works.
This is why flat measurements are useful only as a rough reference, not as a sizing tool.
How we actually measure bracelets at the workshop
Mandrel to measure bracelets
We use a tapered wooden mandrel — standard jeweller's tool — and a soft tape measure. The bracelet goes on the cone, settles at its natural position, and we mark the circumference there. That's the inner circumference: what the bracelet actually offers the wrist.
Look how different circumferences make the bracelets that looked almost identical in size in previous picture.
It's a simple method and it works. If you want to replicate it at home without the mandrel, a cylindrical object close to your wrist size — a wide jar, a rolled magazine — gets you reasonably close.
Measuring your wrist
Adjusting bracelet to wrist size
Use a soft tape measure or a strip of paper. Measure just below the wrist bone — that's where a bracelet naturally rests when you move your hand. How much to add depends on how you want the bracelet to sit: A fitted feel means the bracelet moves with the wrist but doesn't slide much. Add around 2 cm to your wrist measurement. A looser feel means the bracelet hangs with some movement, shifts when you gesture. Add 3 cm or a bit more.
For bracelets in the 80–100 gram range, most people find the looser end more comfortable for all-day wear. A heavy piece on a tight fit becomes noticeable after a few hours in a way that a lighter bracelet wouldn't. If you're between fits, go looser. You can always have a link removed.
What adjustments are possible
Custom made bracelets
We can add or remove links on most of our heavy chain bracelets. The caveat is that large links — 10 mm and above — work in steps of roughly 2 cm per link. We can get close to your ideal fit, but not always exact.
Foxtail and finer link styles allow smaller adjustments. If you need a precise fit, that's worth factoring in when choosing a style. When in doubt, send us your wrist measurement and we'll tell you where you land and whether an adjustment makes sense.
