Northwest Coast Bracelet Sizing Guide: How to Measure Your Wrist for the Perfect Cuff Fit

• Posted on 6 October 2026
• 0

How to size a Northwest Coast cuff bracelet: match the bracelet length to your wrist, allow for the opening, and get the fit right.

To measure your wrist for a cuff bracelet, wrap a soft tape measure or a strip of paper around your wrist where the bracelet will sit, then note the number in inches. Choose a bracelet whose length, measured along the outside of the band in inches, is about the same as that number. The opening at the back adds roughly another inch on top of the listed length, so you do not add it to your wrist measurement. Common women's sizes are 6 1/4 and 6 1/2 inches, and men's sizes start at 7 inches.

That is the short answer. The rest of this guide shows you how to read the measurements on our Northwest Coast bracelets listings, how width shapes the design, and what to do if you are buying a cuff as a gift and cannot measure the wearer.

Mathew Baker's silver and gold Bear bracelet is 1 inch wide and 6 1/4 inches long.

Why cuff sizing works differently

A Northwest Coast cuff has no clasp and no chain to lengthen. It is a single band of silver, gold or copper, engraved, carved in repoussé or onlaid with gold, then shaped into an open oval. You slide it on sideways through the gap and it stays put because it fits the shape of your wrist.

That open design has a history. According to the Canadian Museum of History, Haida silver bracelets were made and worn to display family crests in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when missionaries discouraged tattoos and Canada enforced the potlatch ban, which ran from 1885 to 1951. Bracelets could be worn openly and taken off when necessary, and a cuff today keeps that same open shape.

Cheryl, our founder, is Gitxsan of the Killer Whale Clan, and we work directly with the artists who make our bracelets. Our listings give the width and length of each piece, so you can size from real measurements instead of guesses.

How to measure your wrist

You need about two minutes and a soft tape measure or a strip of paper.

With a soft tape measure. Wrap a cloth sewing tape around your wrist just above the wrist bone, where most people wear a cuff. Keep it snug but not tight, the way a watch strap would sit. Read the number where the tape overlaps.

With a paper strip. Wrap it around the same spot, mark where the end meets, then lay it flat against a ruler.

That number, in inches, is the bracelet length to look for on the listing. Our listings use inches, and 1 inch equals 2.54 cm.

How to read the measurements on our listings

Each bracelet listing gives two numbers, usually written as width by length. The Bear bracelet above is 1 inch wide and 6 1/4 inches long.

Width is how tall the band is from edge to edge, measured across your wrist. It shapes the look of the bracelet more than the size you need.

Length is measured along the outside of the band, not the inside, and is given in inches. It should be about the same as your wrist measurement.

The opening at the back of the cuff is not included in the length. It adds about another inch, though it can range from 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches depending on the piece. For example, Mathew Baker's 1/2 inch gold Eagle bracelet is listed as 1/2 inch wide and 6 inches long, with a 1 inch opening.

The opening sits on top of the listed length: this 14 kt gold Eagle bracelet is 6 inches long with a 1 inch opening.

Width and design

Width also shapes the design. A 1 inch band gives an artist room for a full split design, like the Bear's head and paws Mathew Baker lays out across his cuff, while narrower bands often carry a single crest figure or a flowing formline pattern. If you are weighing a bold wide cuff against a slimmer one, our guide to men's vs women's Northwest Coast bracelets covers how width, length and design scale differ between the two.

Common bracelet sizes

Women's bracelets are most commonly 6 1/4 or 6 1/2 inches long, and men's bracelets start at 7 inches. Some artists make a wider range, and the opening adds about another inch to each of these lengths.

• Women's: 6 1/4 or 6 1/2 inches

• Men's: 7 inches and up

• Smaller sizes: Liam Baker's 3/8 inch silver bracelets also come in 5 inches for tiny wrists and 4 inches for baby bracelets

A domed band fits a little more snugly than a flat one of the same length, so if you are between sizes, the longer length may suit a domed cuff better.

Liam Baker's narrow silver bracelets are shown at 3/8 inch wide and 6 1/4 inches long.

How should a Northwest Coast cuff fit?

A well-fitted cuff stays put when you move your hand. It should not spin around to hide the design, slide down over your hand, or leave a red mark. Most people wear a cuff just above the wrist bone, with the crest design centred on the top of the wrist so it faces out when your arm is at rest.

How to put on a cuff without bending it

This is the step most people get wrong, and it matters for the life of the piece.

1) Turn your wrist sideways so the narrow part faces the gap.

2) Place the gap against the inside of your wrist, just below the wrist bone.

3) Gently roll the cuff over the side of your wrist until it sits in place.

4) Rotate it so the design faces up.

Reverse the steps to take it off. Never pull the ends apart to get it on. Each time sterling silver is bent, the metal hardens a little at the bend, and repeated flexing can weaken or eventually crack it, especially on hand-engraved pieces where the band is thinner in places. Taking a cuff on and off the right way also protects the finish, which our guide to caring for your Northwest Coast silver bracelet covers in detail, from cleaning to tarnish prevention.

Round wrist or oval wrist?

Wrists are not all the same shape. Some are rounder and others more oval. We can adjust the shape of your bracelet before it ships, so tell us which describes your wrist when you order. If the fit still is not right, contact us before making any changes yourself.

Sizing a cuff for someone else

Gift buyers make up a large share of our bracelet customers, often for graduations, weddings and milestone birthdays. If you cannot measure the wearer directly, try one of these:

• Borrow a bracelet they already wear. Measure it along the outside of the band, not counting the opening, then return it before they notice.

• Ask a family member who knows their size, or who can measure a cuff for you.

• Send us their wrist size. Contact us and we will help you choose a length.

• Order a custom bracelet. The artists who make our bracelets, including Mathew Baker, Alvin Adkins and Liam Baker, take custom orders, so you can choose the length, width, metal and crest. See custom jewellery by Mathew Baker for examples.

If you are unsure which crest to choose, our guide to Haida silver and gold bracelets explains common crest figures like Raven, Eagle, Bear and Killer Whale, and what they can represent.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know my cuff bracelet size?

Measure your wrist just above the wrist bone with a soft tape or paper strip. The cuff's length, measured on the outside in inches, should be about the same as that number. The opening adds roughly another inch (3/4 to 1 1/2 inches, depending on the piece), and a domed band fits a little more snugly.

What is a common bracelet size?

Women's bracelets are commonly 6 1/4 or 6 1/2 inches long, and men's bracelets start at 7 inches. The opening adds about another inch.

Can the bracelet be adjusted for my wrist?

Yes. Tell us whether your wrist is round or oval, and we adjust the shape of the bracelet before it ships.

Does a domed bracelet fit differently?

Yes. A domed band fits a little more snugly than a flat one of the same length.

Do you make custom bracelets?

Yes. The artists who make our bracelets take custom orders, and you can choose the length, width, metal and crest. See custom jewellery by Mathew Baker or contact us to start one.

Find a cuff that fits your story

Once you know your size, browse our hand-carved Northwest Coast bracelets by artists including Mathew Baker, Alvin Adkins, Liam Baker and Jay Simeon, or explore the full Northwest Coast jewellery collection for pendants, rings and earrings. If you are between sizes, send us your measurement and we will help you choose.