The question we answer most often isn't "what does it mean": it's "will it fit." Here's everything, once, so listings can stay short.
Measuring Your Wrist
Wrap a strip of paper or soft tape around your wrist, just below the wrist bone where a bracelet would sit. Mark where it meets, lay it flat, and measure in centimeters. That's your wrist size: no adding, no guessing. The fit math below does that for you.
Fit: Snug, Comfortable, or Loose
| Fit | Add to wrist size | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Snug | +0.5-1 cm | Doesn't rotate. Sits still |
| Comfortable | +1-1.5 cm | Slides, doesn't fall. Most people's choice |
| Loose | +2 cm | Drapes toward the hand. Statement look |
A standard men's elastic strand at 18cm fits wrists of roughly 16-17.5cm in a comfortable fit, which is why most of our adjustable listings read "18cm (est.) adjustable." If your wrist is under 15cm or over 19cm, tell us before ordering and we'll confirm the piece can be re-strung to size.
Sizing questions on any listing: measure your wrist and message us before ordering. Re-stringing to size is routine.
Bead Size, in the Hand
Bead diameter changes both the look and the fit math:
- 6-8mm: classic strand. Flexible fit, many beads, subtle presence.
- 10-12mm: the everyday statement. Visible on the wrist, still easy under a sleeve.
- 15-20mm: few beads, big presence. Fits tighter for its size since large beads take up wrist circumference. A "wrist mala" of 13× 18mm beads wears closer than the number suggests.
Mixed-size pieces (like a strand of discs punctuated by large lanterns) wear truest to the comfortable-fit row: measure as usual.
Wearing and Layering
- One statement strand needs nothing else. Two quiet strands layer well. Three is a decision.
- Stone against wood scratches the wood. Order your layers hard-on-outside.
- Elastic strands roll on over the hand rather than stretching wide. Rolling preserves the cord.
When to Take It Off
Showers, sleep, and gym sessions are hard on cord and elastic alike, and the care pages for each material add their own rules (see Caring for Your Piece). Ten seconds off the wrist is the cheapest care there is.
Related: Malas 101 · Statement Pieces · Storing Jewelry · Caring for Your Piece