This one goes out to all my homies and homettes with small wrists. I know first hand how it can be such a gift and a curse to have small wrists. When it comes to watches, my wallet and bank account definitely thanks me for sure. Immediately recognizing that a watch over a certain diameter and lug to lug width is going to look ridiculous on my wrist allows me to just forget about it. Unfortunately, that’s a lot easier said than done. There were so many watches I likely would have purchased had my pathetic wrist not been so puny. With that being said, even after having found a watch that actually fits, there’s now the problem of the watch strap.

You see, there are times when even the strap that comes with the watch is against us folks with small wrists. Take for example a microbrand watch (Vario 1918 Trench) I’ve purchased. Although the watch diameter is only 37mm, the default strap that came with it was meant for a giant’s wrist and practically unusable to me. It was absolutely ridiculous. So, I had to use an older leather nato strap I had, which fits perfectly on my wrist with the watch it came with. But being that the lugs on the microbrand watch were a bit different in shape and length, the sizing was still a bit off. Adjusting one hole either up or down made it sit either too tight or loose. As someone who cannot tolerate even the minutest of uncomfort, the leather nato strap was also useless. I literally require a watch to sit perfectly on my wrist, but in a way that isn’t so tight that it restricts blood flow nor leave a imprint when removed. After some time of searching around, I had finally found the ultimate solution to my dilemma: perlon straps.

Perlon straps consists of fabrics and materials that are tightly woven and braided together. The best part about a perlon strap is that it doesn’t have the traditional holes you’d use for adjustments. Because the material consists of fabric and other flexible material, the buckle tongue literally can go through any part of the strap when securing it on your wrist. This makes the strap one size fits all! Your wrist can be 5, 6, 7 or even 8 inches, and you’d still be able to get a secure and customized fit without having to worry about watch holes as in a traditional strap. While I assume people with average to larger sized wrist wouldn’t have to worry about this problem, a perlon strap is a godsend for people with below average to smaller wrists like myself. My watch is able to now sit comfortably on my wrist with little movement, which is how I prefer it.

Below are some pros I see in using a perlon strap:

• Fit and comfort – As mentioned, the holeless strap allows for a custom fit for any wrist, big or small.
• Breathability – Perlon straps can be a bit more breathable when compared to other straps such as a nato or leather strap.
• Lightweight – The fabric makes it so that you’d hardly notice it on your wrist.
• Dries faster – The material used usually allows the strap to dry faster when wet.
• Looks – It might take some getting used to, but I eventually warmed up to the perlon look. As with any strap type, it just depends on your watch.

Below are some cons:

• Fraying – Depending on the manufacturer, a bad quality perlon strap can fray or come a part with repeated use.
• Dressing up – Some would consider a perlon strap to be more of a casual watch strap and not one to be used with a more formal attire.