A common question we receive is, “Which hand should I wear my watch on?”

The general rule of thumb is to wear your watch on your non-dominant hand. So, if you’re right-handed, wear your watch on your left. And, if you’re left handed, wear your watch on your right. Wearing your watch on your non-dominant hand means it is less likely to be bumped, jostled, and nicked throughout the day, thus will be safer from damage.

I’m Right-Handed, Can I Still Wear My Watch on My Right Wrist?
Yes, while the above is a general guideline, it’s by no means a hard-and-fast rule. Some people simply find wearing a watch on one wrist over the other to be more comfortable, regardless of their handedness.

One thing to consider is that most watches are designed with the crown on the right-hand size of the watch case. With 90% of the population being right-handed (thus wearing their watch on their non-dominant left hand), this is meant to make the watch more comfortable for people who wear their watch on their left hand, so the crown is not digging into you when you flex and stretch your hands and wrists.

However, there is a category of watches known as “Destro” (Italian for right) that feature the crown on the left side of the watch case for people who wear their watch on their right wrist.

How Tightly Should I Wear My Watch?
Regardless of which hand you choose to wear your watch on, you’ll want to ensure the fit is correct, particularly how tightly your watch should fit. Your watch should not slide up or down more than an inch on your wrist. If your watch slides more than that, it simply looks too big and sloppy. If your watch is pinching your wrist, it can be uncomfortable for you to wear and can put unnecessary strain on the bracelet or clasp.

A proper ring should slide onto your finger fairly smoothly but resist just slightly when you take it off. If you feel like the ring is difficult to remove or is too easily sliding up and down your finger, you may want to get your ring resized by a jeweler.

Before you head to the jeweler’s, wear your ring for a few days to see how it feels over time. Your fingers will swell and shrink throughout the day and based upon the weather, so you may find it fits perfectly in the morning and too tightly at night.

Resizing a ring is usually very inexpensive, between $50 – $100, far less than the cost of a too-big ring that falls off your finger. Some jewelers may even offer free resizing, particularly for engagement rings purchased through them.

Here are your different options to making your ring larger or smaller for the perfect fit.

Is It Better to Have a Ring Too Small or Too Big?
If you’re in between sizes or shopping for a loved one and don’t know their ring size, opt for the larger size. It’s easier for a large ring to be resized smaller than a small ring to be made bigger.

Resizing a Ring to Make It Larger
You may have heard of jeweler’s stretching a ring’s band to make it larger. However, we strongly advise against this method as it tends to distort the shape of the ring and weaken its overall structural integrity.

The most common means to enlarge the ring size is to add metal to increase the band’s circumference. In this process, the jeweler will snip the ring’s band (or shank) and insert a small piece of metal between the two cut ends to expand the ring’s size. The ends are soldered to this new piece of added metal. Then the whole ring is smoothed and polished for a perfect finish.

Resizing a Ring to Make It Smaller
Similarly, to make your ring smaller, a jeweler will snip the ring’s shank and cut out a small piece from the band. After this part of the band is removed, the two ends are then soldered back together. The jeweler will then clean the ring for a smooth and brilliant finish.

Rings That Cannot Be Resized
Unfortunately, not every ring can be resized. Particularly thin bands, eternity bands, or bands set with delicate and inset stones cannot be resized through either aforementioned resizing method.

However, if your ring is too big and cannot be properly resized, you can try a ring guard. A ring guard is a rubber of plastic tube that wraps around your ring’s shank to effectively make it smaller and sits on the underside of your finger where it will be fairly inconspicuous.

Ring guards or plastic resizers are not considered a long term solution to fixing your ring size problem. We suggest discussing your options with your jeweler to safely modify your ring for a better fit.

The smartest way to ensure your ring fits is to know your ring size before you buy. To determine a comfortable and appropriate ring size, check out our ring sizing guide here!

Main image courtesy of CHANEL.

Here we break down the different purposes subdials can serve on particular watches, including the chronograph and moon phase.

Chronograph Subdials

The most common subdials are found on chronograph watches. In the most basic terms, a chronograph is a stopwatch. By pressing the pushers on either side of the watch case, the wearer can activate the chronograph seconds hand or stop watch functionality.

A chronograph’s subdials are sometimes referred to as “registers” that keep track of the total elapsed minutes and hours timed with the chronograph. Another subdial also measures the seconds, down to 1/10th of a second for added accuracy.

The subdials are meant to improve the overall readability of the measured elapsed time by breaking down the seconds, minutes, and hours separately. By adding up the figures you read in the subdial, you can calculate how much time as passed since you started the chronograph.

Power Reserve Indicator Subdial

Some mechanical watches (which rely on a mainspring to power the watch) will have a subdial that reads out how much stored energy the watch has left before it stops running.

GMT Subdial

Popularized during the 1950s when commercial air travel was a growing mode of transportation, GMT watches allow you to keep track of a second time zone. Typically, the second time zone is set and read via a rotating GMT bezel and a GMT hand. However, select GMT watches will actually feature a GMT subdial were the second time is displayed instead.

Moon Phase Subdial

Unlike the other subdials on the list which feature numbers, the moon phase subdial features a depiction of the moon through an aperture (or window) that tracks the phase of the moon (i.e. new, waxing, crescent, full, etc.)

Day of the Week Subdial

Another less traditionally thought of but still classified as a subdial is the day of the week subdial. Similar to the moon phase, the day of the week appears through an aperture on the main dial and reads out the respective day. One watch model that prominently features a day of the week subdial is the Rolex Day Date.

We recommend removing all your jewelry before jumping into the shower. We know it can be so tempting to leave your stud earrings in or Love bracelet on but here is why bathing with your jewelry on is not a safe idea and the ways in which it can dull or damage your fine jewelry.

Water won’t damage precious metals but it will negatively affect their luster.
We often recommend cleaning jewelry with warm water with a drop of mild dish soap. However, prolonged exposure to water (particularly hot water) can leave your jewelry looking dull.

Steam will cause silver to tarnish faster.
If you love to turn your bathroom into a personal sauna, be sure to remove all your jewelry beforehand. Silver jewelry tarnishes when it is exposed to moisture and sulfur in the air. Humidity and the steam generated from your hot shower will act as a catalyst, causing your jewelry to tarnish faster.

Soap and water can wear away gold plating.
Commonly found on affordable pieces of fine or higher-end costume jewelry, gold plating is when a very thin layer of gold is electroplated on top of another less expensive metal (usually copper or silver). This allows jewelers to keep costs low by not crafting an entire piece of jewelry out of precious gold.

However, gold plating is an incredibly thin (sometimes as thin as .5 microns which is even smaller than the width of a human red blood cell at 6-10 microns). Therefore, it’s easy for the abrasive chemicals in your body wash to also scrub away at the gold plating, too. Read more tips on how to clean and care for gold jewelry here.

Your soap will leave a residue on your gemstones, leaving them dingy and less brilliant.
As resilient as diamonds are, it’s not a good idea to leave your stud earrings or rings on while showering. Soaps, oils, and lotions tend to leave a film on diamonds, effectively dulling their sparkle. While this won’t affect the diamond’s integrity, you will need to have your item deep- or steam-cleaned which is tedious and increases the changes that a stone may be come loose over time.

Moreover, particular gemstones, like pearls, are incredibly delicate by nature. Harsh chemicals (like the ones found in your shampoo or body wash) are likely to irreparably damage your gemstone jewelry so it’s best to remove them before jumping into the shower.

Main image courtesy of Ali Heiss.

Here are five traditional watch brands that are combining their historical watch knowledge and aesthetics with advanced technology to create some of the leading (and most stylish) Smartwatches on the market today!

Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch

Frederique Constant was the pioneer of luxury Smartwatches and was the first brand to combine traditional Swiss watch design with Smartwatch technology in what they dubbed the Horological Smartwatch. By looking at it, you’d never guess this classic-looking watch houses Smartwatch technology.

The Frederique Constant Horological Smartwatch pairs with your Smartphone to track your activity and monitor your sleep cycles. Newer versions will also vibrate to alert you of incoming calls.

TAG Heuer Connected

TAG Heuer has long been recognized as a “gearhead’s watch,” first appealing to automotive enthusiasts and now gadget lovers in general with their TAG Heuer Connected Smartwatch, designed in collaboration with Google/Android. While the dial looks like a traditional TAG Heuer dial—modeled after the TAG Heuer Carrera, subdials and all—it’s actually a screen that can display Google Maps, music, Google Translate, and Google Fit. The TAG Heuer Connected even offers voice commands.

The TAG Heuer Connected includes an incredible range of customizable features; you can select and swap virtually every part of the watch from the color of the second hand to the watch lugs and strap material.

Movado Connect

Movado’s aesthetic and signature “high noon dot” were inspired by the minimalist Bauhaus movement of the 1920s and 1930s, giving Movado’s collection a very sleek and futuristic appeal that extends to both their traditional and Smartwatch designs.

The Movado Connect dial features Movado’s iconic dot and can display text messages, caller ID, appointment times, emails, music playlists, social media push notifications and Google Fit activity levels.

Breitling Exospace B55 Connected

Since its inception in 1884, Breitling has prided itself in developing precision watches, particularly for pilots and divers. So, when this historic brand tackled Smartwatches, is aimed at enhancing its premium, core chronograph technology with… Well, modern technology.

With the Breitling Exospace B55, Breitling effectively created electronic tachymeters and digital flyback chronographs. Breitling cleverly preserved its signature sporty design by converting the crown and pushers into toggles to scroll through menus.

Montblanc Summit 2

As the name implies, the Montblanc Summit 2 is a follow-up to the Montblanc Summit, the brand’s first Smartwatch, with some key updates to improve its overall functionality. The Montblanc Summit 2 is particularly distinguished for its large screen size (42mm) and attractive no-frills design.

Technology-wise, the Summit 2 includes Google Assist; Travel Info which is packed with international travel tips, tailored to your location; and Google Fit with a Workout Coach app that can measure your fitness level and track athletic progress over time.

The adage that you need to spend three months’ salary on an engagement ring is painfully outdated.

Where Did This Saying Come From?
The notion that you need to spend so many months’ salary on your engagement ring stemmed from a De Beers ad launched in the 1980s.

De Beers ran a series of “Two Months’ Salary” ads with tag lines like, “2 months’ salary showed the future Mrs. Smith what the future will be like,” that essentially put a monetary value on the emotional value of a couple’s relationship. The amount inflated over time from two months’ salary to three months’ gross salary; thus, we are left with the saying that you should spend three months’ salary on your ring.

How Much Should You Spend on an Engagement Ring?
An engagement ring budget is entirely personal and there really isn’t a hard-and-fast rule to determine how much you should spend. But, if you’re looking for a ballpark figure, Americans spent, on average, $6,351 on an engagement ring in 2017 according to The Knot’s 2017 Real Weddings Study.

We hope this all helped dispel the belief that you need to spend three months’ salary on your engagement ring and, if you’re looking for ways to save on your ring, read our tips for how to cut costs on your ring without sacrificing style or quality here!

Pearls are a classic jewelry style. However, because they are so timeless, pearls also get the bad rep as being “old-fashioned” or “stuffy” looking—thanks in large part to the preppy Jackie O. types of the 1950s who made them the accessory of ladies who lunch.

However, designers are bringing pearls back into fashion with modern designs, offering up fresh ways to wear this time-honored jewelry material. We round up some of our favorite pearl pieces and share tips on how you can find pearl jewelry that is perfectly on trend!

Organically-Shaped Pearls
Skip the perfectly rounded and symmetrical pearls and opt for pearls that are slightly imperfect for a more casual look.

Pearls with Mixed Materials
Cultured or man-made pearls are more resilient than their wild counterparts and can, therefore, withstand being paired with other metals in an elegant and statement-making setting.

Black Pearls
Flip the script on the prototypical white pearl and don a piece with black pearls.

Layered Up Pearls
A surprisingly fashion-forward way to wear pearls is to take a page from vintage Coco Chanel’s book and wear layers of pearl necklaces. Look for a variety of lengths, from high collar necklaces to sweeping ropes of pearls (36-42 inches long), to mix and match together for a dramatic and playful look!

Main image via Vogue Spain.

Industry-standard stipulates that you should have your watch expertly serviced every three to five years. Beyond five years, it’s likely that even a very small bit of damage (think dried up oil, a misaligned crown, or internal water damage) will balloon into more damage that will ultimately cost you big bucks to repair.

An Overview of Watch Servicing

To properly service your watch, a watchmaker will open the watch to clean and oil the components and inspect the internal integrity of your timepiece, replacing any damaged or weakened components. After the watch is reassembled and polished, the watchmaker will cross-check that your watch runs smoothly and correctly.

Watches that Need More or Less Frequent Servicing

While experts agree you shouldn’t let more than five years pass in between servicing appointments, there are a few types of watches—like vintage timepieces and ones that you wear less frequently– that should be serviced more regularly:

Vintage and Antique Timepieces

By nature, vintage and antique timepieces are incredibly fragile; their components are likely very worn and therefore more prone to damage. Therefore, it’s crucial to have any vintage watch serviced every two years.

To learn more about how to care for your vintage watch, check out this blog post on the topic.

Infrequently Worn Watches

Surprisingly, the more you wear a watch, the better. But if you have a watch that you wear only sparingly (a few times a month or less), you’ll want to have it serviced at least every 5 years. Never go more than 10 years before having a watch serviced as the oil can dry out completely or the components can rust.

Any Watch You Know You Damaged—Or Even Think You May Have

If you dropped your watch, got it wet, or incorrectly set it (it’s a red flag if your date window is misaligned or the date advances at the wrong hour), bring your watch to a professional.

Some other tell-tale signs that you need to have your watch serviced sooner than later are a crown that won’t fully close; a watch that no longer keeps accurate time; or if you can hear a sound inside your watch when you could not before.