I think weight is a factor. Heavy watches are uncomfortable for me (>190 grams).

 

Same here, although my cut-off for weight is around 140g. Weight and fit of the bracelet/strap are the biggest factors in comfort, along with the size of the watch.

<140g, <47mm L2L, and <13mm thick with a well-fitting bracelet or strap (slides up and down the wrist about 2 inches but doesn't fall over the wrist bone) are my minimum criteria for a watch to be "comfortable." Then it comes down to trying it on and seeing how it feels on the wrist.

 

If the watch is on a bracelet I find a taper a big help.

 

To me comfort is if I forget I am wearing a watch. Many times a NATO strap does it for me. A properly sized bracelet also does the trick.


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To me comfort is if I forget I am wearing a watch...

Seems like a rather silly question to ask, but I think this answer pretty much covers it--it sits on the wrist so effortlessly (as a combination of case design, weight, strap/bracelet fit...) that you don't even notice it's there.

 

I seen many times on the forum people describing a watch as "comfortable" or the "most comfortable" etc.

What supposedly makes a watch, strap, watch/strap "the most comfortable"? Rolex seems to be a popular recipient of the "most comfortable" award. I've worn several oyster braceleted Rolex watches. None of them were anymore comfortable in my view than my Hamilton or Certina both sporting a similar oyster design. I've heard people talk about the jubilee on the SKX as comfortable. To me it's a jangily piece of crap that's never inspired great confidence in how secure it is. Rattily and sloppy is how I would describe it.

I've got a buddy with what he describes as the "most comfortable leather strap" he's ever owned. Based on the price I think it might be unicorn cordovan or something and not that great. It feels like a leather strap me. The fact he spent in excess 0f $350 for it speaks more to his gullibility than the comfortableness of the strap in my opinion.

So do our feelings about a watch or what we paid for something dictate whether we think it's comfortable or not? Is an expensive watch more comfortable because we feel it must be because of the price? Do we just lie to ourselves?

To state the obvious what makes a watch and strap/bracelet "most comfortable" is how it feels on ones wrist. Because we differ as individuals a given watch will not always fit and feel the same. I don't see a correlation between price paid and watch comfort.

 

definitely for me weight is a huge factor. Found I far prefer light watches. I know some people appreciate some "heft", but for me, in the future I'm prioritizing lightweight (ie. titanium) watches.

For straps, thinner the better for me as working on computer a lot, anything under the wrist can be bothersome. And how pliable/breathable the material is. I've had some stiff rubber and leather straps that are just hard to get feeling right.

Then it comes down to fit, which sometimes is hard to get perfect. The more micro adjustment the better. Even like NATOs sometimes I want to fit between holes.

 

Weight, lug to lug, and strap choice are key for me.

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No ripping out hairs. Smooth feeling against the wrist. Does not slip or turn the watch under the wrist. No sharp edges that "dig in".

 

Size and L2L measurement.

Lugs -- curved down rather than straight out from the mid-case. Case back not protruding too far below springbar holes on the lugs -- if lug ends sit lower than caseback, seems to fit better.

Female endlinks, except in cases where a male endlink sinks the effective lug-drop even lower.

Fully articulated bracelets, like a 3-link, 5-link, mesh, or h-link, rather than oyster-style, where it fakes 3-links, but is actually just one link. Bracelets with half-links and microadjust clasps.

Elastic straps like EO MN and Mankey Hook designs. Properly fitting leather straps.

 

One thing all of the watches that I currently own have one thing in common - they are comfortable.

I don't care how great it looks or how amazing the functionality is - if its not comfortable for extended wear I cannot tolerate it.

Quite a few of my "gone but not forgotten" watches are in that category because they were not comfortable.

For me that has always come down to crown dig and that comes from a protruding or sharp crown and perhaps combined with a heavy watch. I will say that I like to wear my watches loose so that is a contributing factor.

Notable examples in my experience are the Citizen "Excalibur" BN0100-51E and the Oris Big Crwon Pro pilot - I really liked both watches but not the nibbling on the back of the hand.

 

Design, materials and compatibility.

 

I sometimes wear a watch that i like and it takes a while to feel comfortable, a watch that IS comfortable is one that i put on and immediately forget im wearing a watch.

 

I don't know what makes a watch comfortable however one of my lowest cost pieces has hands down the most comfortable fit. Bernhardt Binnacle Anchor II has a fantastic fitting oyster bracelet. From day one, it just feels right.

 

- Weight, especially weight that's further away from the wrist (looking at you APROO) is bad.
- Size especially if it overhangs the wrist is bad.
- For straps, thin and pliable material. Articulating lugs are best.
- For bracelets, flexible links and good micro-adjustments.
- Unobtrusive clasp or buckle.

The most comfortable (non-dress) watches I've worn are the RM35-02 on a fabric strap and the De Bethune DB28 on a super-thin alligator strap. Both watches weigh less than 40 grams. Some other contenders are the FPJ Linesports in Titanium, The Ressence Type 1 (calfskin, the ostrich strap is stiffer and less good) and the Bulgari Octo in ceramic.

 

I really have no idea. I have bought around a dozen watches without a thought to comfort and have yet to be surprised by an uncomfortable one.

 

1. overall case (including crystal) thickness of under 12mm.
2. a weight including the bracelet under 120 grams.
3. case has downward turned lugs
4. a L to L of < 55mm and width under 44mm.
5. Elevated or upward curved case edge sides -to smooth into the wrist contours & not interfere with wrist flexion (ex: Seiko Sumo)
6. articulating /full fold end/first links.
7. A thin and easily adjustable, on-the-fly ratcheting clasp (ie Chris Ward/Mido/Steinhart & worse case Strapcode)
8. links that have enough separation that don't pull arm hair and chamfered or rounded edge bracelet link interior - outside edges. (Engineer style)
9. no sharp corners or edges (above) or on clasp/lugs that catch on things or scratch/cut (Biggest gripe w Strapcode clasps)
10. a smooth caseback or not heavily textured/embossed one that has soft details.

Often having just a few of these things can make up for a lack of others- The Sumo is extrwmely comfortable to wear even though it has only a few of these.

 

Some pieces I can wear and barely notice. Some start to bother me after an entire day or a couple of days. Weight, fit, size, crown, all factors - some are just super comfortable and some just aren't.

 

First of all is the weight of the watch head,that’s why I prefer titanium over SS
The second is the strap (bracelet made the watch significantly heavier thus reducing the comfort level whether it’s a Rolex or a Seiko)
The third is the width of the strap/band,I prefer it to be at least 22mm but not crazy wide like 28mm
The fourth will be the center of gravity,I prefer a bigger watch with lower CoG than smaller watch with high CoG...
Caseback also plays a part,I have antimagnetic watch with bulging caseback,it fits awkward on the wrist in comparison to ones with flat caseback

 

Speaking from personal experience, these are the most pronounced attributes that make a watch uncomfortable:

1) weight-- max 3-4 oz
2) thickness-- max of 13-14mm otherwise it interferes with shirt cuffs (unless you customize these)
3) weight distribution-- top heavy watches that sit high on the wrist
4) overall case dimensions-- crowns that dig into the back of the hand and/or lug corners that dig into the wrist

There are probably other characteristics but are what I've learned first hand.

 

So do our feelings about a watch or what we paid for something dictate whether we think it's comfortable or not? Is an expensive watch more comfortable because we feel it must be because of the price?

Oh no, definitely not. Price is not the issue. I've had very expensive watches that just didn't fit until I found the right strap or bracelet. Can't fool myself on this one.

First of all, it must be correctly sized. Not too loose, not too tight. Then there's weight distribution. It shouldn't feel top heavy. And positioning on the wrist. A good strap should keep the watch rather in the middle, not make it slide upwards all the time. This is the strong point of many integrated straps that don't allow the strap to bend down 90° at the upper lugs. Of course, it shouldn't scratch or dig its crown into my the back of my hand either.

When all that is done right, I'd probably call it a very comfortable watch.

 

I would love to see the extinction of OEM bracelets that don't have micro-adjustments, easy-links, or extensions.
Half links (or, in the case of Damasko, 1.5x links) are useless in that moment when you need a slight adjustment.

 

Weight is definitely a big factor. A heavy watch tends to slide more on the wrist. I also think on watches with bracelets it depends on the actual link size. I find that some can be "fine tuned" better that others; especially if there are half links available.
As far as straps go as long as it's not too stiff and I can find a spot that is not too loose and not too tight I'd say the watch is comfortable.

 

I know one thing for sure...
Leather NATOs are far more comfortable than a metal bracelet on MY hairy wrist of 7.75inches.

Unfortunately, a leather strap of any style doesn't suit all activities of the day.
Swimming and sweaty days are terrible for leather straps.
A metal bracelet will endure quite nicely in these scenarios.

My collection is 50/50 leather straps and metal bracelets.

mich

 

One thing that has bothered my wrists are watches with complicated designs on the back of the watch.

I am fine with a light engraving and even sapphire, but I've had a few watches with some more detailed design where it irritates my skin after a week or so. I don't think it's an allergy, since most of my watches are fine.

 

For me it is about weight distribution. If the watch is too top heavy then it doesn't work. I generally ind rubber to be the most comfortable strap material.

 

First, it is clear the comfort for a particular watch is very individual. Some like NATOs for example while I wear them on occasion I don't choose them for pure comfort.

As for the Rolex part of the question is probably comes up for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact they a brand that has very wide exposure in the WIS community. They have become a benchmark by which all watches can be compared. It makes sense to use them as a yardstick given the number of Rolexes out there, the fact they change little over time and many of the cases and bracelets are of a similar size and shape. Trying to use the newest Kickstarter darling or a watch from a small obscure Haute Horlogerie is going to be less effective communicating a point.

Outside of being a benchmark, Rolexes tend to have reasonably small cases and well-built bracelets and clasps with excellent ability to micro-adjust them, the later being almost paramount in producing a comfortable fit. While being arguably wasted on a niche watch the clasp on the DSSD is one that when you experience wearing you can't help but begin to wish for one on every bracelet. Two examples about how important micro-adjustments (or pure luck) are in fit and comfort consider the DSSD and the Tudor Black Bay. The BB has a reasonably comfortable case and a well-made bracelet. With that said there are a number of people for which the micro-adjustment range and lack of half link leave them in a comfort no man's land, I happen to be one of them. The lack of one extra micro-adjust hole leaves an otherwise comfortable watch uncomfortable on a bracelet for many, I fall into tht category. Contrast that with the DSSD that shouldn't be comfortable for the vast majority of people. It has a large thick case and a bracelet that is light and tapers dramatically. The ability to quickly and easily get a perfect length for the bracelet and then change it by small amounts while the clasp stays locked on the wrist to accommodate changes in wrist size during the day allows it to wear far more comfortably than it "should" even though for most people it is unlikely to be their most comfortable watch. It is like a dump truck that happens to handle very well.

As for expensive straps, the suppleness seems to add comfort for some. Compare a Camille Fournet with a leather strap on a $15 Chinese watch and most would probably prefer the CF but compare the CF with a good Hirsch and far fewer people would be picky enough to see any significant difference in comfort.

For me I think the Vacheron Constantin Overseas bracelet is the most comfortable of any I have worn, second is maybe the AP RO but the latter can be a hair grabber for some. The worst being the non-tapering Engineer bracelet you see on a lot of chunky divers, particularly Micros.

Very light dress watches on quality straps with a deployant that is infinitely adjustable are by far the most "comfortable" watches for me but they have every advantage. For chunkier sports watches nothing beats a rubber strap that is fitted to the end of the case, ie Everest, Rubber B, and most OEM versions. The fitted end prevents the strap from rotating on the spring bar and produces a loop if the length of the clasp fits your wrist reasonably closely which allows the loop of rubber to contact my wrist uniformly all the way around which distributes the force evenly and makes the heft of the watch basically disappear.

One last point, sometimes those loose ratty old bracelets whether on Seikos or 5 digit Rolexes can actually be extremely comfortable like an old pair of leather shoes. Some can't get past the look or the sound though.