However, like everything related to protocol issues, the watch is not exempt from rules according to which it is made explicit in which hand it should be placed, although these are not always taken into account when putting it on. Let us know what arguments are used to defend which of the two hands the watch should be placed on and what criteria are taken into account for it.
Why wear a wrist watch
We said at the beginning that the reason why many people still choose to wear a watch on their wrist is to complement their figure. For each outfit, there is an ideal watch: whether with a leather strap or a metallic bracelet , each watch has its ideal occasion to show off.
Thus, in addition to telling the time, a wristwatch is one of those details that serve to adorn and add elegance to the figure of the wearer.
But, on which hand does the watch go?
There has always been a question as to which wrist a watch should wear on. For some, it is placed in the dominant hand; for others, it must go the other way and, also for one part, the wrist on which it is placed is indifferent.
1. Dominant hand
The reason that many maintain for wearing the watch on the wrist of the dominant hand is by tradition, since the first watches that were made for the wrist were worn on the right hand , assuming that a large part of society was and is right-handed.
Keep in mind that attaching it to the right wrist would mean having to remove it to set the time if you are right-handed. On the other hand, if the wearer is left-handed, he will have no problem carrying it in his dominant hand and winding it with his right.
2. Hand opposite to the dominant
one For those in favor of girding the watch on the opposite hand to the useful one, this serves as a way to protect this object against the blows that it could receive when being on the wrist of the dominant hand. In the end,the dominant hand is the one we use the most , so that the watch will be more exposed to the slaps, damages and scratches of a person depending on how much or how little he gestures.
There is also a historical reason, since in past times the clocks had to be wound to set the time, something that was intuited difficult to do with the hand that is not practiced.
2.1. Pragmatism and fashion defend that it be worn on the opposite hand
Putting the watch on the opposite wrist to the dominant one has points in favor that allude to pure pragmatism. For example, at social events, when we have a drink, we usually hold it with our good hand. Now, what if they ask us for the time and we wear the watch on that wrist?
When we tell the time,we tend to unconsciously turn the wrist to look at the clock , which runs the risk of spilling the content.
Another point in favor has to do with fashion. Apparently, the followers of the latest trends tend to place the watch according to where it has the crown (the piece that allows the hands to turn to set the time). In case of having it on the right side, the watch would be designed to be placed on the left hand (ideal for right-handers). If you have it on the left, it should be on the right (great for lefties).
Thus, this small wheel must be pointing downwards, not upwards, since in this way it will be hidden by the sleeve of the shirt or jacket, with which the accessory will be lackluster.
3. A matter of preference
The hand in which to put the watch is, after all, each one’s decision. Depending on what is valued more, one criterion or another will prevail.
Both the most classic (and right-handed) women and men will always choose to wear a wristwatch on their left hand, in accordance with the ancient principles that have lasted until today and that “all life has been done like this”. In addition, as we have already mentioned, they will reduce the chances of it being damaged if they move that hand less.
On the contrary, the most flexible will prefer to always carry it in their dominant hand. For some people, since the dominant hand is the most recurrent, they will be more aware that it is where they wear their watch. To take it in the opposite,perhaps they can forget to check the time more frequently , totally losing the sense of putting on a watch.