A bracelet can look close-fitting in a photo and feel surprisingly different on your wrist. For a beaded bracelet, start with the circumference of your wrist where you plan to wear it. Then check the finished fit and the diameter of the beads. Those are three different measurements.
How to measure your wrist for a bracelet
- Rest your hand and wrap a soft measuring tape around the spot where the bracelet will sit. Keep the tape flush with your skin, without pulling it tight.
- Read the measurement where the tape meets its starting point. If you use a strip of paper or a piece of nonstretch string, mark the overlap and measure it flat against a ruler.
- Record your wrist circumference in inches or centimetres. If you plan to stack bracelets, measure each spot where you expect a piece to sit.
For example, 6¼ inches is about 15.9 cm. That number describes your wrist. Use it to compare against a bracelet’s stated fits wrist measurement, or share it with us if you’re unsure how the finished piece is measured.
What changes the fit of a beaded bracelet?
Bead diameter. Large round beads take up more space toward the inside of the loop. Two bracelets can have a similar outside circumference and leave different amounts of room for your wrist. Bead diameter also changes how the strand sits under a sleeve.
Construction. An elastic strand stretches as it goes over the hand. Check how it sits once you let go. For a bracelet with a clasp, check whether the listing gives an adjustable range or a single finished size.
How you wear it. For a close fit, the bracelet should move a little without leaving an indentation. If you like more movement, look for room for the strand to shift as you turn your hand. Consider where a large bead, clasp or tassel will land as you type or slip on a coat.
Use the photos and the measurements together
Rose Ripple is an example of a substantial elastic bracelet. Its rose quartz rounds are 14 mm and its clear quartz focal bead is 16 mm. Use the wrist image to see the profile of the strand, then check the product details for measurements. The cover is a studio illustration based on the design.
If the finished fit isn’t listed, send us your wrist measurement and the name of the bracelet before ordering. Include where you’ll wear it and whether you prefer it close or loose. Explore the Crystal Bracelets collection.
For more on measuring, see the Tiffany & Co. wrist measurement guide.
Continue with our rose quartz and clear quartz comparison or see how a focal bead changes a bracelet.