I double-wristed all weekend, and don’t regret a minute of it

It took some bravery, and there was some anticipation leading up to it, but I double-wristed all weekend, and after doing so, I don’t regret a thing.

While I don’t think it’s for everyone, if you’ve been wondering what it’s like, I’m about to encourage you to go for it, despite how uncomfortable it may sound at first.

Just in case it’s not absolutely clear, I’m talking about wearing a normal watch on one wrist and a smartwatch on the other. Yep, I know, weird, right?

Why double-wrist?

Best of both worlds

The act of double-wristing sounds unnatural. Watches usually go on one wrist or the other, and not both.

But this is needlessly restrictive, as we have two wrists, and it’s not uncommon to wear jewelry on both. Why not watches?

Then there’s the question of why you may want to do it.

For me, it’s the problem of liking normal watches, and liking both the health tracking data and notifications from a smartwatch. It’s really hard to have both unless you double-wrist.

I’m not going to lie and tell you it’s immediately an amazing experience, nor am I going to say it doesn’t feel a bit odd, but provided you follow a couple of rules, it’s possible to make it as normal and unobtrusive as possible.

Choosing the right watches

Not everything works together

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reviewing the Apple Watch Series 11, and near the end of my review period, I received the Seiko 5 Sports x Bamford limited edition watch.

I really wanted to wear the Seiko over the weekend, but also needed to wear the Series 11, leaving me with a dilemma.

I’d experimented with double-wristing in the past, and it was time to give it another try.

I usually wear a watch on my left wrist, but as I prepared for my Saturday, the Seiko went on it instead, and my Apple Watch Series 11 went on my right.

However, that wasn’t all there was to it.

A degree of preparation is required, and there are a few decisions about your smartwatch of choice to make. If you get it wrong, comfort will suffer, and (even more) aesthetic issues will come up.

In an ideal world, the smartwatch needs to be toned down to work.

Back when fitness bands were a thing, they were perfect to wear opposite a normal watch. Now they’ve fallen out of favor, eager double-wristers must minimize the impact of the smartwatch so it appears closer to a fitness band than it is to a watch.

It’s easier to do with some models.

The Series 11 and the Pixel Watch 4 are great choices, as neither has an in-your-face design, and can be matched to simple bands.

Smartwatches like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic or any serious Garmin smartwatch are less suitable because they demand attention, visually.

The aim here is for the normal watch to get any attention, not the smartwatch.

Think about faces and bands

If it’s too flashy, it won’t work

Provided the smartwatch’s design is right, you next need to consider the watch face and the band.

One joy of a smartwatch is the ability to switch between a variety of dial designs, and while I’ll normally tell you to use one that looks like a normal watch, when you double-wrist a data bank face works best.

Again, it’s all to do with not taking attention away from your normal watch, and also a way to make it look like you’ve thought about wearing both.

Your choice needs to have more numbers than anything else, and even a graph or two, to work. A data-heavy watch face usually makes me shudder, but in this case, it’s the only choice to make.

Finally, we get to the band, and I think you know where this is going. Keep it simple.

In the same way that a watch-like dial isn’t going to work, neither is a metal bracelet. A silicone band, one with fabric and velcro, or a one-piece option like Apple’s Braided Solo Loop is ideal.

The ultimate goal is not to make it look like you’re wearing two watches, but one watch and something else.

The normal watch is for looks and telling the time, while the smartwatch is for tech. Make its functionality clear with your dial and band choices.

Just give it a try

It’s less weird than you think

Follow these basic rules, and it’s entirely possible to wear a normal watch and a smartwatch together, without looking really weird.

I warn you, you’re going to look a bit weird regardless, but by creating a cohesive style between the two, it’ll at the very least make your choice look intentional.

It then comes back to the question of why.

By wearing both, I got to enjoy my new watch and still make the best use of my smartwatch. It won’t be appropriate to wear both in every situation, but it’s fine casually.

I quickly got used to having a watch on both wrists because smartwatches are so light today.

Now I’ve justified to the world (and myself) that double-wristing is a perfectly acceptable and normal practice, I’ll close by saying this is what smart rings are made for.

I get all the health tracking I personally need from my Oura Ring 4, which can be worn with any watch you like, without the need to think deeply about it at all.

But if a smart ring isn’t for you, and there’s a normal watch crying out for attention in your collection, don’t be afraid to put both it and a smartwatch on together. The more of us who do it, the more accepted it’ll become.