The Short Answer
Yes, it is safe to buy a watch without trying it on, provided you know your wrist size and you understand what the case dimensions mean in practice. The vast majority of our cash-on-delivery orders go to customers who have not visited the workshop. Most are happy with the fit. When someone is not, we sort it out.
Measure Your Wrist First
This is the one thing that prevents most sizing issues. Wrap a strip of paper, a piece of string, or a soft tape measure around your wrist where you normally wear a watch. Mark the point where it meets itself and measure that length. Write it down.
If you are buying for someone else, a useful trick: ask them to wear a watch they already own and note the hole they use in the strap, then measure the wrist circumference using that reference.
Case Size Guide by Wrist
Under 16cm
38mm is the maximum that will look proportional. 36mm is ideal. Most women's dress watches in this range. Avoid anything above 40mm or it will look borrowed.
16–17cm
38–40mm is the natural range. This is the most common wrist size among Albanian men and most of our stock in this size range fits well here. 42mm is borderline, not wrong but starts to feel large on some wrists.
17–18cm
40–42mm. A 44mm sport case is also wearable here if you prefer bold presence. 38mm will look slightly small.
Above 18cm
42–45mm is the right range. Anything smaller sits disproportionately on a large wrist. The Navimarine sport range and chronograph models were made for this.
What to Check on the Product Page
Every product listing in our shop includes case diameter in millimetres. That is the number to match against the wrist guide above. Case thickness is less critical for fit but matters for how the watch sits under a shirt cuff: anything under 9mm is genuinely slim; 10–11mm is standard; above 12mm starts feeling substantial on the wrist.
Lug-to-lug distance (the measurement from one side of the case to the other, top to bottom) affects how the watch drapes over the wrist, but this is only relevant if you have a very small or very large wrist. For most buyers, case diameter alone is enough to judge fit.
Not sure? Send us a WhatsApp message with your wrist measurement and the model reference you are considering. We will confirm whether the fit will work before you order, with no obligation to buy.
Bracelet Sizing
Steel bracelets typically arrive sized for a larger wrist and need links removed to fit correctly. We can do this at the workshop. If you ordered remotely and the bracelet is too large, bring it in or send it with a message and we will size it free of charge for watches purchased from us.
Leather and rubber straps come in a standard length with multiple buckle holes. These will fit most wrists without adjustment, though the fit is less precise than a properly sized bracelet.
Buying as a gift? For gift purchases where you do not know the recipient's wrist size, choose a watch with a leather or rubber strap rather than a steel bracelet. It will fit well enough on most wrists without needing adjustment, and the recipient can bring it in or order the right bracelet later.
What Happens If It Does Not Fit
We have a practical returns approach. If a watch arrives and the case size simply does not work for the wrist, message us on WhatsApp and we will discuss the options. We are a family business and we treat customer satisfaction as part of the transaction, not separate from it.
The Lug-to-Lug Measurement
Case diameter is the number most brands advertise. The measurement that actually determines comfort is lug-to-lug - the distance from the tip of the top lugs to the tip of the bottom lugs, measured in a straight line. This is the length of the watch as it lies across your wrist.
If the lug-to-lug exceeds the width of your wrist, the ends of the watch overhang the edges of your wrist. A 40mm watch with long, straight lugs can have a lug-to-lug of 48mm or more. A 42mm watch with short, curved lugs might have a lug-to-lug of 46mm and sit better on a narrow wrist. The diameter alone does not tell you this.
Lug-to-lug is less consistently published than diameter. If it is not on the product page, it is usually in enthusiast forum reviews of the specific model, or you can ask us directly on WhatsApp. For our Navimarine and Hislon stock, we can measure any piece on request.
How to Read Product Photos for Size
Product photos shot on a white background give you the shape and proportions of the watch but no sense of absolute size. A few techniques help:
Look for shots of the watch on a wrist, not just laid flat. A wrist shot from a real wearing photo (not a model with unusually large or small hands) gives context. Look at where the lugs end relative to the wrist edges.
Compare the case diameter to the strap width. A watch with a 40mm case and a 20mm strap width has a 2:1 ratio. This ratio is a rough consistency check: if the strap looks disproportionately wide or narrow for the case, the diameter figure may be worth double-checking.
If you have a watch you are happy with, note its diameter. When browsing a new piece at the same diameter from a different brand, expect a similar fit. When the diameter is different, the scale change is usually proportional to the stated difference in millimetres.
Our Cash-on-Delivery Process
Every watch we send out is paid for when it arrives - not before. You do not transfer money, enter card details, or make any payment until you have the watch in your hands and are satisfied with it. This means you take no financial risk on a watch you have not seen in person.
When the watch arrives, you check it against what was agreed: the model, the condition (new), the colour and strap. If everything matches, you pay. If for any reason it is not what you expected, you return it on the spot. We discuss what went wrong on WhatsApp and find a solution - whether that is a different model, or simply ending the transaction with no obligation.
This process has worked for several years and across hundreds of orders. The return rate is low, partly because we answer sizing and fit questions thoroughly before confirming any order, and partly because the photos and specifications accurately represent the watches. We do not photograph watches with techniques that make them look larger or more impressive than they are in person.
Order with Confidence
Message us with your wrist size and the model you want. We confirm the fit before you order, and deliver anywhere in Albania with cash on delivery.
Rruga Aleksander Goga · Durrës 2001 · Albania · +355 67 636 0510
Published by Iglisi Watch · Durrës, Albania · May 2026.