Which Hand Should I Wear My Watch On?

So you've got a ring, and you're looking for things to complement it. You've thought about many outfits that will pair well with your ring and other jewelry. However, the type of event you're dressing for can drastically change the style or look you want. Casual events like your friend's BBQ night or formal events like a wedding can impact what you decide to wear. Casual shirts, collared shirts, and other dress clothing need to pair well with your jewelry. You ideally want something that complements your ring's band material. Your everyday wear is also something you have to consider when you're deciding on a ring that you can wear whenever you want to. But clothes aren't the only thing you need to worry about. Accessories like earrings, necklaces, and other forms of jewelry are other things to consider when planning for formal or casual wear. One of the most overlooked accessories to pair with your newly purchased ring are wristwatches. When it comes to watches, you probably only care about the functionality like the vast majority of people. You use a digital watch to track the correct time. You might even have a high-tech device like the Apple Watch or another smart watch that tracks key health statistics. But have you ever wondered about watch wearing etiquette? You've probably had some questions about it. Which hand should I wear my watch on? 

From an outsider's perspective, you likely haven't thought about it. But there's a plethora of hidden rules that you might not be aware of. It doesn't help that there are different kinds of watches available. Some have a formal watch design as dress watches, while others are classic timepieces made from precious metals. This blog post will help answer common questions about watch wearing etiquette.

First of all, are you left handed or right handed? Wearing your watch on your non-dominant hand tends to have more practical advantages. Sure, you can wear your wristwatch on your dominant hand, but that can lead to avoidable issues down the road.

If you're a right handed person and are more active with your right hand, then placing your watch on your left wrist reduces the likelihood of damaging your watch. Direct contact with harsh household cleaners and hard surfaces by accident can damage your wristwatch's surface. We're not talking about stains or scratches that you can buff out with a cloth with water. Your watch is also more likely to get in the way when you're moving your dominant hand around. Scratches and cracks are inevitable if you're not careful. Continuous damage over time to a metal band can ruin the integrity of its band latches over time. The opposite is the case if you're a left handed person. Placing your watch on your right hand can reduce the likelihood of damaging your wristwatch.

It's easier to see and set the time when your watch is on your non-dominant hand. Have you ever tried to write with your non-dominant hand? It's really difficult if you don't have a lot of practice. It's not precisely the same as adjusting a knob, but people find that it takes slightly longer if they're using their non-dominant hand to adjust the time.

If you're right handed and married, wearing both your watch and your wedding band on your left hand could be preferred, especially if both accessories complement each other well. Now if your wedding ring and watch are both heavy pieces, it may be wise to spread out the weight between both hands so it doesn't feel like one hand is weighing down the other.

At the end of the day, what hand does a watch go on is entirely up to you, but there's nothing wrong with going with the traditional route. Placing your watch on your non-dominant wrist has its uses that can extend the life of your watch. Whatever feels the most comfortable position should influence your final decision. But if you want to wear your watch well, you need to pair it with a ring that physically complements it well. The wrist that you put your watch on isn't a fundamentally big deal. Making sure you pick out a ring that matches your watch is more important than the placement of it.

Metal watches made with sterling silver or any other bright metal pair exceptionally well with our extensive collection of tungsten rings. If you have a golden watch, our assortment of gold rings can complement it beautifully. Every one of our rings is built to last a lifetime. But we can always make something special even if you don't see a ring that matches your beloved watch. If you have a unique custom made watch with non-traditional materials, we can always attempt a custom ring that can match your watch's design. Please reach out to us at support@spatrickadairdesigns.com for personalized assistance!