It started with sleep. I wanted to know if I was getting enough. Then it was steps—how many did I really clock during office hours? Then came curiosity. Before I knew it, I’d bought a used Apple Watch for cheap, and was strapping it on opposite my mechanical daily driver.

And that’s how I became a double-wrister. At first, I felt like a bit of a fool. A smartwatch on one hand, a 38mm steel case on the other? Would people stare? Would it ruin the line of my shirt cuffs? Would horologists revoke my imaginary membership Instead, something else happened. I started to notice other double-wristers—at airports, in cafés, at events. Some were subtle. Others were not. One of the boldest? Franck Muller CEO Nicholas Rudaz, casually rocking a Crazy Hours and a Vanguard CX across both wrists when I met him. No explanation given. None needed.

As the lines between tech, utility, and aesthetic blur, the stigma around double-wristing is fading. And for good reason. It isn’t just a statement—it’s a surprisingly smart way to live. Here’s how to do it right.

Step 1: Give It a Day

Start simple. Pick one daily-driver watch and one smartwatch or fitness tracker. Wear them all day—mechanical on the left, Apple Watch or Garmin on the right. This is the most natural-feeling configuration; to make it easier, pick pairings with similar designs, weights and sizes. Left wrist: the heirloom, the flex, the story. Right wrist: the data centre. Together, they split your identity cleanly: form on one side, function on the other. (Just like the human brain?)

Step 2: Dial In the Sizes

Our dominant arms are used to handling more weight, so if your wrist feels off-balance or overloaded, refine the pairing. Try mismatching sizes—large and slim, chunky and dainty. A 36mm Datejust opposite a 45mm Apple Watch? Surprisingly elegant. A Fitbit Luxe and a Breitling Navitimer? Oddly charming. You’re not trying to be symmetrical. You’re trying to be comfortable.

Step 3: Know How To Dress Up

Next, test how you feel pairing different ‘levels’ of horology. Try combining a luxury mechanical with a smartwatch. This might be a Lange on one wrist and a plastic Garmin on the other. It feels indulgent, but not ridiculous—especially when the smartwatch helps close your rings and the mechanical helps close a deal. Match materials if you want polish—one of the best ways to do this is using the large variety of Milanese bracelets available for smartwatches. If you only have rubber options for fitness bands, try pairing your suit or shirt—it'll help keep the band inconspicuous and let the watch take over for formal situations.

Step 4: Play With Mood

Once you’re used to the pairing, make it personal. Go artistic—if you have a vintage salmon-dial dress watch, try picking out a digital watch face that's connected to art or vintage cues. My personal favourite is pairing an Omega Speedmaster or Omega x Swatch Moonswatch with the Apple 3D Moon watch face—it doesn't get more thematic than that. Another great example is using the data-focused 'Modular' watch face on the Apple Watch, with a sports chronograph—perhaps the new TAG Heuer Formula 1 Chrono? Fitbit's animated weather faces and any of the nature-themed Grand Seikos? The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. It’s not just two watches. It’s a curated gallery—on your body.

Step 5: Try the One-Wrist Stack

Feeling confident—or irritated at the idea of using both wrists? Put both watches on the same wrist. Sinn’s Dual Strap lets you do this with one leather band, placing each watch on opposing sides. Or try stacking a fitness band just above a slim mechanical on a bund strap. It’s chunky, yes—but also strangely efficient. Keep the thinner device higher up your forearm, and make sure the straps don’t interfere with one another.

Step 6: Know When to Swap Instead

Still not clicking? No shame. Instead, keep a watch sleeve in your bag for mid-day swaps. Products such as Montblanc's e-Strap allow for subtle tracking built into your mechanical’s strap. Or go full stealth: slip on an Oura ring and let your wrists breathe. This approach is great for those who want options—without broadcasting them.

Step 7: Own It

By now, you’ll have a feel for what works—visually, emotionally, functionally. You might find yourself wearing both daily. Or rotating based on mood. Or ditching the smartwatch entirely for a good old chronograph and a long walk. Whatever your path, the point is this: you’ve tried it. You’ve thought about it. And you’ve made it yours.

So, Why Do It At All?

Because in a time of identity layering—where a phone case, fragrance, or even a fitness app says something about who you are—your watches deserve the same freedom. You can wear a smartwatch for health, a mechanical for soul. One for urgency, one for ritual. One to nudge you toward the gym, the other to remind you of your father’s birthday. And if someone tells you it looks ridiculous? Just smile, check both wrists, and say: “That’s the idea.”