Bracelets Sizing Guide for Men and Women.

Bracelets can be worn by both men and women, and there are several considerations to take into account when choosing a bracelet either for yourself or for somebody else. The first is obviously the type of bracelet, since they come in a variety of styles and materials.

Bracelets are available in most metals including the popular gold and silver, but also in titanium, and can be adorned with stones, charms, pearls and the like. Irrespective of this, once the style has been decided upon you then have to determine the preferred size. The size of the bracelet can be determined by more than one factor and prior to opting for something that ‘fits’, you should think on what the purpose of the bracelet is.

Most bracelets are intended for adornment, but this is not always the case. Some bracelets are functional, and intended for identification, in which case a tight fitting size might be preferred. Others are therapeutic, such as the copper bracelets people wear to help the symptoms of arthritis, and have to be tight fitting in order to have a good contact with the skin. However, in general, when you purchase a bracelet, you will have a rough idea of what size it should be.

Bracelets come in standard sizes, or they can be customized to the size of your choice. The standard sizes are 7 inches for a woman, 8 inches for a man, and 9 inches for a larger wrist. Although standards, a lot will depend on the size and build of the individual, and quite frankly your bracelet will likely need to be adjusted for the perfect fit. Obviously there are more than just three wrist diameters, so these standard sizes are compromises that have been chosen as suitable for most of the population, given that the bracelets themselves can be adjusted by means of the clasp.

You will find that these three sizes will fit most people, although links might have to be removed for the smaller wrists and added for the larger. If you do have links removed from your bracelet, make sure that you keep the ones removed. They might come in handy later on in case a repair is needed and links can be expensive, especially if gold.

If you find that you are one of those that require a customized size then you should first try to ascertain whether or not there is another size available in the range that might fit you. That would likely be a less expensive alternative than having a bracelet made especially to your size. Any customization is expensive, since it will involve either the addition of more metal to the standard bracelet, or a redesign of a larger piece to make it smaller and still maintain the original design concept. Where stones are involved, the situation becomes even more complex and probably more expensive: sometimes considerably so.

If you feel that your wrist size is non-standard relative to the range of standard bracelets available, then your wrist circumference can be measured using a standard fabric measuring tape. If one is not to hand, you can use a piece of ribbon or string and then use a solid ruler to measure that.

The correct place to measure is just below the wrist bone, the prominent bone in the wrist at the bottom of your hand below your little finger. If your intended bracelet has a clasp it can be as much as three inches in circumference more than that of your wrist and still fit. However, claspless bracelets must be able to fit over the widest part of your hand, and you should measure that on your hand as the minimum circumference of your bracelet.

Once you have measured your wrist, and hand if appropriate, then add about an inch to the wrist circumference to allow for movement. Your bracelet should not fit your wrist fits your finger. It should be able to hang loose to a degree, though not able to fall off your hand. This is a rough guide only, since a lot depends on the design of the bracelet. Chunky bracelets, and ones with a lot of stones, will have different fitting requirements to slim thin chains.

If you are purchasing the bracelet as a gift, and have no idea of the wrist size of the recipient, then you will have to take a guess if you are unable to get your hands on a bracelet, or even a watch, belonging to the person. The average wrist size is about 7.5 inches, though if it is for woman then go for 7 to 7.5 inches depending on build, and for a man go for 8 if he is slightly built and 9 to 9.5 inches if he is a bit heavier.

It is not uncommon for bracelets to need size adjustment, and jewellers are generally equipped to make slight modifications to most bracelets in the same way that they can with rings. They are fairly popular adornments, and all but the most expensive can be adjusted in circumference fairly easily.

Whether you are looking for a bracelet for yourself or as a gift, consider browsing through the collection of men's bracelets and gold chains. You'll be able to find stylish new affordable designs that are the latest in fashion.