What wrist do you wear your watch on.
I’m right-handed and wear mine on my left wrist. So whenever I see someone wearing a watch on their right wrist, it completely throws me. It’s like seeing toilet paper hung the wrong way — and you already know how I feel about that.
Which brings me to the question:
Is it all about handedness? Do most right-handed people default to the left wrist and lefties to the right? Are there rebels out there — proud lefties who still wear their watches on their left wrist? Who are you people, and are you okay?
Chalk this one up as another completely useless blog post that exists solely to scratch my itch to ask pointless-yet-fascinating questions. I promise I think about real things too. Just not today!
- What’s your watch/wrist situation?
- Is anyone out there proudly watch-free?
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Right-handed and wearing the watch on the left!
We all secretly wonder about these things – good that you finally ask! 😃
I guess someone has to ask the tough questions of life – haha!
I am a lefty, and I’ve always worn my watches on my left hand. Why? Because I live in a world where everyone wears their watches on their left hand, and it never occurred to me to do anything else.
For most of our relationship, my right handed husband wore his watch on his left hand. Then he got a very fancy Garmin and for whatever reason he wears it on his right hand. I could ask why, but I’ve decided to just let him be.
Wait. You’re left-handed?? I did not know this!
And your husband’s behaviour is very confusing. Maybe the fancy watch is bigger? Maybe his pulse is stronger on the right so it tracks things better? I’m spitballing, but intensely curious now!
I’m a righty and wear mine on my left hand. I think it makes sense as the watch band would drag across paper when you’re writing if worn on the dominant hand. My dad is a lefty and a daily watch wearer and I’m ashamed to say I’m not confident which wrist he wears it on, but I think it’s the right. He’s actually visiting, so I will report back when I get confirmation. 😂
My husband is a lefty and never wears a watch, but I will ask him what side he would wear a watch on. Our three year old is a lefty too but he just shoves a stolen watch on whatever hand he wants at this point!
I just spent a week with my parents and I *think* they both wear their watch on their left wrist, but I wouldn’t want to bet any money on it!
Ha – love that your little thief doesn’t discriminate wrists 😉
I’m right handed and always wear my watch on my left!
When I used to wear I watch, I wore it on the left, and I am left-handed. I stopped wearing a watch when I was at my first desk job because it got in the way when I was typing and there was a clock on the computer monitor and on the telephone. I haven’t worn one in over 20 years now!
I rarely take my watch off to type, but if I’m at my desktop and doing a lot of continuous typing, I’ll often remove my wedding ring/engagement ring. I find I can type better without them on!
On the now rare occasion that I wear a watch it is always on my left wrist and I am right-handed. It is less fiddly to do up when I use my dominant hand, whereas if I put it on my right wrist I would be doing it up cack-handed 😀
It’s the same when I wear a bracelet, it is much easier to put on my left wrist and do up with my right hand.
Why didn’t I think about the actual putting ON of the watch. Of course! It’s easier to do up the watch band with our dominant hand!
I’ve been using a magnetic watch band for years with my Apple watch and while I wear my watch on my left hand, that would have become my habit many years ago when I had a regular watch strap which surely would have been tough to fasten using my left hand.
I no longer wear a watch but when I did it was on my left wrist, a little loose so it didn’t feel restrictive. I get ads for watches on IG so I guess some companies hope to lure me back to wearing one. As if.
Well, I blogged about watches that cost more than my vehicle not that long ago, so if you really want to lean into the watch craze…Seriously. How can watches be so darn expensive (especially since you can get a perfectly good watch that will tell time for like $10 at a department store.
I can’t imagine not wearing a watch; I’ve worn one since 3rd grade and I only take it off to shower! I’m right-handed and wear it on my left arm. But I also wear a gold bracelet (even in the shower) on my right arm.
I used to wear my watch at all times. I remember forgetting my watch one day after I had walked to the bus stop. I raced home, risking being late, because I couldn’t BEAR the thought of spending a day at school without my watch.
Then for about a decade, I rarely wore a watch for various reasons. And now I wear one almost daily, but that’s because I have an Apple watch.
I hadn’t worn a watch in years! My cell phone had the date and time as the screen saver, so it didn’t occur to me to wear a watch. Then my husband bought me an Apple watch and I am addicted now; I’m on my third! I am a righty and wear it on my left wrist. It even asks you which wrist you will be wearing it when you set it up. Strange.
I like this question of the day as I’ve never thought about it!
Hey! We’re Apple watch buddies. I didn’t remember it prompted users about the wrist!
My #1 favourite thing about my Apple watch is the timer function. I use it constantly. And getting texts pushed to my watch. Super handy when I wanted to be phone free when the kids were younger, but that way I could monitor calls and important texts on the go.
I’m right handed and wear my watch on the left. It seems like most people do this (reading the comments here). Last year I had a weird left arm injury and wore my watch on the right side for a while and it felt SO WEIRD. I’m thinking it feels most natural to wear the Garmin on the left, because then it’s your right hand that works all the controls. My son is left handed- I’ll have to ask him which side he wears he watch on.
I haven’t worn a watch in years, since the clasp broke on my pretty bangle type watch. I should see if I can get it fixed. Anyway, when I wore a watch, I wore it on my right hand, and I’m right handed. I did it because I was trying to be cool/different in my teens, and it stuck. People probably just thought I was left handed.
This has Julie written all over it and I LOVE IT!
I’m a righty and wear my new (refurbished) Apple Watch on my left wrist. I didn’t have a watch for years because I just used my phone to see the time. I’m shocked at how much I LOVE my Apple Watch. I got it mainly for sleep tracking, but it’s motivating me to stand up and move more, and I can feel the difference. I have Minnie Mouse as my watch face, and when I double-tap it, Minnie tells me the time AND giggles. It makes me smile every time! My husband even likes to reach over and double-tap to hear the time. Maybe someday I’ll try some of the other watch faces.
That watch face sounds precious! I have an Apple watch but use very boring watch faces (which I love, but still…I’m tempted to check out Minnie).
Right handed, wear watch on right hand.
I’m right handed and I wear my watch on my left hand. As someone with left/right confusion, I’ve done this since I was a child because it’s a visual indicator that my left is my left and the one without a watch is my right. My mom was a lefty and wore her watch on her right, so maybe it’s a norm to go opposite? I’ll be thinking about this all day, haha!
Someone in my family REALLY struggles with R/L comprehension, so this is genius to clue into which wrist their watch is on so they can quickly determine directions!
I hope everyone that read this post made sure to do some people-watching today and look at what wrist everyone was wearing their watch on!
I’m a righty and wear my watch on my left. I have worn a watch since 3rd grade, I think? I cannot fathom not wearing one. But guess who has never worn a watch? Phil!! He started to wear a running watch a few years ago as he started to see the benefit of wearing a watch. So he trained for a freaking marathon without a running watch which is CRAZY!
I can’t imagine life without a watch now. Like you, I’ve worn one since I was little, but there was a stage when I had young kids when I didn’t wear a watch. About 5-6 years ago I got an Apple Watch and there is zero chance I’m going back to being watchless again!
I love wearing a watch and consider it my favourite piece of jewellery. I am right handed and wear my watch on my left.
That’s an interesting perspective. For me, I always think of my watch as utilitarian! But they can be very beautiful and ornate (and expensive/luxurious). It would never cross my mind to consider it jewelry, but of course it is!
Good question! I’m right-handed and wear my watch on the left. I think only because way back, someone told me that’s what you do if you’re right-handed! But I wouldn’t do it any other way now.
update from my dad – he wears it on his left and says that’s because that’s what he was taught to do as a kid. I asked if it gets in the way when writing as a lefty and he said it’s more the hand that gets in the way, not the watch.
Right-handed, left watch. But here’s another important question: do you wear it inside your wrist or on the outside?
Outside! Who wears it inside?????
I feel like nurses maybe used to do this?
I feel like that would drive my absolutely crazy!
I very, very rarely wore a watch until I got my first Fitbit, and then my Apple watch. Even though I am a righty, I wear my watch on my right wrist. But that’s out of necessity. For some reason, my left wrist gets irritated by my watch band and I end up with red bumps. My right wrist has no such issue.
Ugh. That sounds painful and annoying. How interesting you don’t have the issue with your right wrist!?
Left handed and right wrist here! Cannot imagine putting anything on my L 🙂
I hoped you would weigh in, because I knew you were a lefty!
I’ve never worn a watch and never will! I’m incredibly good at correctly guessing what time it is……..
That sounds like a fun party trick.
We do this with the kids a lot and it is incredible how close we can get. But I would be lost without my watch, especially since my Apple Watch has a timer function. I use this daily. So convenient!
Proud leftie here, and when I wear a watch, I always wear it on my left wrist ((and bracelets on the right)).
In theory, I think people wear them on the alternate hand so it doesn’t interfere with writing – but since my leftie-self is ALWAYS encountering obstacles, that’s a moot point, lol …
I stopped wearing a watch last summer, so now I wear bracelets over on my left wrist. But when the time comes to go back to watch wearing, it’ll likely be on the left wrist again. It’s what feels comfortable and right 🙂
Right-handed, wear watch on right wrist. Used to wear it on left, but my doctor advised me not to wear anything on my left fingers or wrist. I have lymphedema (swelling) in my left arm. Now that am used to it, it doesn’t bother me!
I suspect I would struggle to adjust and then…it would suddenly become the new norm. I’m sure it was tough for a little while, but now feels both normal and like the prudent decision health-wise.
I’m a lefty who hasn’t worn a watch in at least 20 years. When I did I wore it on my left wrist. I never liked wearing a watch (or a bracelet). I was always either losing them or breaking them when I was a kid and teenager and just found it annoying to have something on my wrist as an adult. One day I realized we have clocks in the house, a clock in the car, a clock at work as well as a computer screen showing the time, and then a phone that I carried around anyway that told me the time. Put my watch permanently in the jewelry drawer and never looked back! (I do have a garmin but found that annoying as well so haven’t used it in years.) Something tells me I wouldn’t want an Apple Watch either…
For the 4-5 years when the kids were young when I didn’t routinely wear a watch, I didn’t miss it! Which sounds crazy since I was so attached to my watch as a kid/teen. And now, again, I am very attached. But I don’t have any desire to have a “normal” watch – a smart watch has so many features I appreciate. I guess it’s a bit sad to be incorporating more technology into my life, but being able to set a timer with two quick taps of my finger is something I truly appreciate each and every day.
Same! Whenever I try wearing my fitbit or now Garmin on my left watch I get an irritated inner wrist. I’ve given up and just wear it on the right.
I also wear a bracelet, but that goes left…
I’ve never heard of something like this! Glad that for both of you, switching to your right wrist did the trick.
Hm, that was meant to be a reply to Suzanne – as I’m also right handed. With skin irritation issues!
I’m a lefty and when I wear a watch, I generally wear it on my left wrist. I’ve tried to wear it on my right and it just doesn’t “feel” right.
This is how I feel about TP being placed in the “under” position! It doesn’t feel (or look) right.
I think I’m one of those people that you need to check on to see if they are ok. I’m fine, thank you – but I’m a lefty and I wear my watch on my left hand . . . BUT – I haven’t worn a watch since my very nice gold watch broke a few years ago. I tried to get it fixed and I still feel naked without it, but I haven’t gone to the trouble of replacing it yet. I hate having to consult my phone for the time. And yet? I linger in the not replacing the watch time frame. Weird, I know. Curly just got herself a fitbit thing and Coach has one too, and I wonder if I’ll go that route one day. Hmm.
I love my Apple watch and feel like you’d love having a smart watch with all the running you do plus the billion things you juggle each day with the daycare/big family.
I’ve worn a watch daily since my parents gave me a watch in my teens. I can’t imagine not having it. I’m left-handed and wear it on my left.
I’m genuinely surprised at how many lefties there are…
It is definitely more than 10% of the people who have left comments (and that’s the global percentage of lefties)!
I’m late to the game, but I am a lefty and weather my time on my right. I do it that way to keep it from interfering while writing. And I can adjust it while wearing it with my dominant gand. My husband, a lefty, wears his fitness watch on his left, because it’s his dominant hand. So two more data points!
I love the data points and CANNOT get over how many people are left-handed. Far more than I was expecting!
Inside! Yeppers, that’s how I do it because my Dad did and I thought it was interesting and fun to go against popular watch-wearing behavior.
What a rebel.
I spent a lot of time at that age trying to bust out of my crappy town, and part of that was trying to be cool!
I did that too! I think I saw it in a movie and the character was British and I thought it was very sophisticated. So I wore mine facing in. Thinking about it now, it means that a lot of the time, what people see is the buckle, not the face.
Right handed and proud right wrist watch wearer. Despite decades of unsolicited comments from many, that’s just what works for me since childhood.
I don’t think I’ve ever made suggestions to people about how they wear their watch, but it sounds wearisome. Glad double right works for you!!!
I am right-handed and wear my watch on my right wrist. I think as a kid I thought you were supposed to wear it on the hand you used most and now it just feels right. Wearing it on your non-dominant hand makes more sense for getting it on though!
I knew you wore yours on your right wrist but had never gotten around to asking WHY!
I have three watches that I never wear anymore. Mostly due to the fact I carry my phone around with me most places so don’t really need the time piece as well. But, just to throw a spanner in the works, I’m ambidextrous though default mostly to being right handed and … wear my watch on my right wrist as, for me at least, it’s the logical place to wear it.
As someone who use to write by hand, a lot, it was more convenient to have the watch where I could actually see it, on the right wrist, as I wrote. Rather than having to move my left into view. If that makes sense?
I also eat with my fork in my right hand (as I’m right handed) and my knife in my left, which is the most comfortable for me. I also pluck (play) guitar left handed. So, there you go. I don’t really fit the norms.
That makes perfect sense!
My husband has a lot of overlap with you! He is also ambidextrous with many things; or more, shared dextrous. He writes right (was forced to as a child in Portugal), but throws and kicks left, but shoots a hockey puck right. For many things left is his dominant hand…and then for other things, it’s his right.
I am a righty and wear my watch on my right hand. But the weirdest thing is my friend who wears her watch with the face on the inside of her wrist, rather than the outside. I would find that so uncomfortable!
Jana brought this up and it had never crossed my mind. It DOES sound uncomfortable! Now that I think of it, I think my mom does this occasionally?
I’m right handed, and always wear my watch on my left wrist. I was taught this at a very young age, and I assume left handed people wear their watches on the right wrist. Right? I’m gonna go back and read all the other comments, so I can verify.
Did people teach me this? I don’t know. I know I’ve always been a righty wearing a watch on her left wrist, but the rest is a mystery. It’s just…always how I’ve done it!
So many comments! I don’t have time to read this, but I am going to come back and read them some day. I don’t wear a watch. It stresses me out so much. I worry about time passing all the time and the constant moving of the second/minute hand just makes me think about how every second we are closer to death. I have been like this since I was 19 and a therapist I was seeing told me that I needed to stop wearing a watch. She was right.
Seems like a great solution! There’s no watch police out there monitoring our watch usage, and sometimes we need to make decisions for the benefit of our mental health. Gold stars, Engie.
I am right-handed, and I used to wear my watch on the right. Not sure, always thought it was easier to glance at my watch when I was writing.
I am now wearing my Apple Watch on my left wrist (day to day) and also wear my Garmin on my right wrist when I workout. LOL
My FIL used to wear two watches as well. He loves to exercise and monitor all sorts of things. I think he just wears one watch now, but at the time, he was the only person I knew who routinely wore two different watches.
Important question indeed.
Right handed, left watch wearer.
However, come to think of it I remember trying to wear them on my right hand sometime during my youth. Not sure why… Maybe I saw it at my grandma who was originally left handed but forced to do everything right handed but I think her watch was on her right hand. Huh… I need to check photos.
Interesting.