Finding the right lug width is the first step to ensuring your Artem strap fits perfectly, secure, balanced, and made to look as though it was built for your watch.

How to Measure Your Watch’s Lug Width

March 28, 2025

Before selecting a new strap, you’ll need to know your watch’s lug width. This is the internal distance between the two lugs, the metal extensions on your watch case that hold the strap in place. Choosing a strap with the correct lug width ensures a precise fit and prevents unnecessary wear to your spring bars or case.

Illustration showing a wristwatch with arrows marking the lug width. The distance between the inner sides of the watch lugs. A ruler below the watch indicates where to measure across to determine the correct strap size.

For those who prefer a quick overview, here’s what you need to know.

Quick Summary
Comparison of the two popular methods for finding your watch lug width.

Method What you’ll need Best for
Method 1: Search Online Watch model number and Google search Quickest and easiest if you know your model number
Method 2: Measure Manually Vernier caliper or ruler Most accurate if your model number isn’t known

Watch Video

Learn how to measure your watch’s lug width using either your watch model number or simple measuring tools. This short video walks you through both methods step by step.

Method 1: Search Online

If you know your watch’s model number, the easiest way to find the lug width is by searching it online.

  1. Find your model number.

    It’s usually printed on your warranty card, authentication papers, or engraved on the case back.
  2. Search the model online.
    Type your watch’s make and model number followed by the words “lug width” into Google.

Example:
“Omega Speedmaster 310.30.42.50.01.001 lug width”
The correct lug width will often appear in the search results or official documentation.

Screenshot showing how to search a watch’s lug width on Google. The example query reads “Omega 310.30.42.50.01.001 lug width,” with labels identifying the brand name “Omega” and the model number before the words “lug width.”

Method 2: Measure Manually

If you can’t find the information online, measuring is simple and precise.

Option A: Using a Vernier Caliper

  1. Open your caliper and place the jaws inside the lugs.
  2. Close them gently until they touch both inner sides.
  3. Read the measurement in millimetres (mm).

Option B: Using a Ruler

  1. Align the ruler’s zero mark with one inner edge of the lug.
  2. Read the measurement across to the opposite inner edge.

Note:
Lug widths are usually whole numbers like 18mm, 20mm, 22mm, or 23mm. However, if your measurement is not close to a whole number (i.e. 20.5mm), then please contact our team and we’ll help you find the best fit.

Selecting the Right Artem Strap
Once you know your watch’s lug width, selecting your Artem strap is easy:

  • If your watch’s lug width measures 20mm, select a 20mm Artem strap.
  • Artem straps are available in 18mm, 19mm, 20mm, 21mm, 22mm, and 23mm lug widths.
  • If your lug width is not a whole number (for example 20.5mm), contact our team and we’ll help you find the best fit.

Understanding Lug Width and Buckle or Clasp Width
When browsing Artem straps, you’ll often see sizes written as two numbers, for example, 20/16mm.

This notation represents:

  • The first number (20mm): The lug width, the distance between the lugs of your watch case where the strap attaches.
  • The second number (16mm): The buckle or clasp width, the width of the strap at the end where the clasp or buckle connects.
Diagram showing how watch straps are measured for lug width and clasp width. The straps are labelled with arrows indicating lug width at the top and deployant clasp size at the bottom. A Loop-less™ deployant clasp on the right is labelled with its internal clasp width for reference.

Why Lug Width Matters

Getting the right fit is about more than just appearance. A properly sized strap keeps your watch secure, prevents movement that can stress or damage spring bars, and maintains the clean, tailored aesthetic Artem straps are known for.

Artem team

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