How to Measure Your Wrist for a Bangle | Why Bangles Slip and Spin
A bangle that keeps spinning around your wrist. One so loose it feels as if it might slip off. Or, going a size down, one that presses against the bone. If you have ever struggled with bangle sizing, you have probably experienced one of these.
It's not just about size
Most bangles are sold by inside circumference alone. But no two wrists are alike — shape, bone structure, tendon movement and thickness all vary from person to person.
Some wrists are close to an oval; others are slightly squarer. Two wrists can share the same circumference, yet if the shape doesn't match, a bangle will leave gaps and rotate — or press on the bone.
While adjusting a client's bangle, I once noticed a subtle angle in the structure of their wrist, and reshaped the inner curve to be just slightly squarer. The change was only about 2 mm, yet they told me it felt completely different. Moments like that are the reason I do this work.
How to measure your wrist at home
A narrow tape measure — about 5 to 8 mm (roughly 1/4 inch) wide — gives the most accurate result. A wider tape can add an error of 4 to 12 mm, so please use a narrow one if you can.
Measure on the palm side of the small bone that sticks out on the little-finger side of your wrist (the ulnar styloid). A bangle resting here makes the line from the palm to the fingertips look its most graceful, which is why I recommend this position.
In this photo, the measurement is 16.2 cm. Please send us the number exactly as you read it, down to the millimetre.
A bangle following the natural line of the wrist.
Your measurement is a starting point
The circumference you measure at home is an important guide. But as mentioned above, size alone doesn't decide how a bangle feels. Through a personal Wrist Assessment, I look at the shape and movement of your wrist and design the inner curve, opening and inside circumference around you. This method is patented in Japan.
- About the Wrist Assessment
- Book a private appointment (our salon in Daikanyama, Tokyo, and appointments in other cities across Japan)
- Visiting Japan? Plan your fitting during your trip
- Can't visit in person? Send us photos or videos of your wrist for an online consultation via our contact page.
Adjustments after delivery
If your bangle ever feels a little loose, or presses somewhere after it arrives, size and curve adjustments and refinishing are included free of charge under our Lifetime Care. For clients outside Japan, you arrange insured shipping to us, and the return delivery is on us.
Let's find the curve that's right for your wrist — together.
