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8 mm is the width to choose for daily wear, and 10 mm is the width to choose when you want the bracelet to be the point. The gap between them is bigger than two millimetres suggests: a 10 mm Miami Cuban link carries proportionately more metal through its whole profile, not just its face, so it reads heavier and sits more deliberately on the wrist than the number alone implies.
Our own moissanite Miami Cuban link bracelet is made in exactly those two widths, 8 mm and 10 mm, each offered in 6.5, 7, 7.5 and 8 inch lengths. Those are the real options, and most of the decision comes down to how the bracelet needs to behave once it is on your wrist rather than which number sounds more impressive.
What is a Miami Cuban link, and why does it lie flat?
A Cuban link chain is built from oval links that interlock and are then pressed, usually by rolling, into a flattened profile with bevelled edges rather than left round. That flattening is the entire point of the design: a chain of round links twists freely as it moves, while a chain of flattened, interlocked links resists twisting and settles into a single plane.
On a bracelet, that plane sits face-up against the wrist instead of rolling to show its edge. It is why a Cuban link reads as a continuous band of light rather than a string of individual links, and why setting stones into the faces — as ours does, with laboratory-grown moissanite along the links — puts them where they actually catch light instead of disappearing as the chain rotates.
How much heavier is a 10 mm Cuban link than an 8 mm one?
Meaningfully heavier, and by more than the two-millimetre gap suggests. Weight in a chain follows cross-sectional area for a given alloy and length, not width on its own. A link that is 10 mm across is not just wider than an 8 mm link — its face, its depth and its edge bevel are all larger in proportion, so the volume of metal running through each link goes up faster than the width does.
That is the practical reason the two widths feel so different in hand before you have even put either one on. The 10 mm carries more metal for the same length of chain, which is also why it holds its shape and lies flatter under its own weight, while the 8 mm moves more freely and settles less predictably link to link.
| Property | 8 mm | 10 mm |
|---|---|---|
| General impression | Present but wearable — reads as jewellery, not as the whole outfit | Full-presence, the piece the eye goes to first |
| Relative weight | Lighter, by more than the width difference alone suggests | Noticeably heavier for the same length |
| Under a cuff or sleeve | Clears a shirt cuff without argument | Can crowd a fitted cuff; better with an open sleeve |
| Worn with a watch | Sits comfortably alongside a watch case | Works, but needs a case with room to spare |
| Available lengths | 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8 inch | 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8 inch |
| Best suited to | Daily wear, layering, a first Cuban link piece | Occasions, evening wear, wearing on its own |
How do I measure my wrist for a Cuban link bracelet?
Wrap a soft tape, or a strip of paper you then measure with a ruler, around the wrist at the point where you would normally wear a bracelet — just past the wrist bone. Note that measurement, then add about half an inch of ease so the bracelet has room to sit slightly loose rather than gripping the wrist.
A stone-set Cuban in particular benefits from that little bit of extra room, because the bracelet needs to be able to travel a few degrees around the wrist as you move through the day rather than staying locked in one position. If you are between two of our four lengths, or you plan to wear the bracelet on the same arm as a watch, take the longer of the two.
Does a thicker Cuban link wear differently on the wrist?
Yes, in two ways that are easy to underestimate from a product photo. The first is how it moves: the added weight of a 10 mm link means the bracelet settles and stays face-up more readily, while an 8 mm bracelet is light enough to shift and rotate more as your wrist moves.
The second is fit tolerance. Because a wider link takes up more room end to end, a 10 mm bracelet in a given length sits marginally snugger than the same length in 8 mm — fewer, larger links cover the same distance around the wrist. If you already own an 8 mm piece and are choosing a 10 mm length to match, treat the sizing as its own decision rather than assuming the same length will feel identical in the wider width.
What should I wear a Miami Cuban link bracelet with?
Because a Cuban link is already a strong shape on its own, it does its best work with quieter company. A watch on the same wrist is the classic pairing — the flat plane of the bracelet sits alongside a case rather than riding over it, which is part of why the style has stayed a watch-wrist staple for decades.
The 8 mm is the width to reach for if you are layering it with other pieces, including a slimmer tennis bracelet on the opposite wrist or a thin chain elsewhere. The 10 mm reads best given room of its own. If daily water contact matters more than the Cuban link shape, our stainless steel bracelet set is a lighter, more water-tolerant alternative — sterling silver and stainless steel behave differently around a pool or a sink, and a stone-set Cuban is one more reason to keep either width away from chlorine.
Fit and clasp security matter on any bracelet, not only a Cuban link — we covered the mechanics of that in more depth in our tennis bracelet buying guide, and most of that reasoning about clasps and daily wear carries over here.
Our Miami Cuban, and what pairs with it
The bracelet in this article is set with laboratory-grown moissanite, graded VVS1, on 925 sterling silver with a rhodium-plated finish. Here is that piece alongside others from the same collection.
Moissanite Miami Cuban link braceletthe bracelet in this article, in 8 mm and 10 mm
Moissanite tennis braceleta slimmer, continuous line of prong-set stones
Stainless steel bracelet setfour lighter chain styles for everyday, water-tolerant wear
Moissanite eternity bandstones the whole way round, in three stone sizes
Marquise-cut moissanite ringan elongated cut that reads larger on the finger
Moissanite stud earringsseveral sizes, in gold or rhodium finish
Floating solitaire necklacea single stone in a near-invisible setting
Moissanite cross pendantone size, in gold or rhodium tone
Layered necklace settwo graduated chains sold as a pair
You can browse the full range by category — rings, earrings, bracelets and necklaces — or start with our best sellers, which is where most people begin.
Common questions
What width Miami Cuban link bracelet should I get?
8 mm for daily wear and versatility, 10 mm if you want the bracelet to carry the outfit on its own. The 8 mm clears a shirt cuff and sits comfortably alongside a watch; the 10 mm has more surface, more visible stones, and more weight.
How do I know what length Cuban link bracelet to order?
Measure your bare wrist just past the wrist bone, then add about half an inch of ease. Our Miami Cuban comes in 6.5, 7, 7.5 and 8 inch lengths in both widths — take the longer option if you are between two, or if you wear a watch on the same arm.
Why does a Cuban link chain lie flat instead of twisting?
The links are flattened during construction rather than left round, and interlocked so the chain resists twisting and settles into a single plane. That is what lets a Cuban link sit face-up on the wrist or neck instead of rolling to show its edge.
Is a 10 mm Cuban link bracelet much heavier than an 8 mm one?
Yes, more than the two-millimetre gap suggests. Weight follows the cross-sectional area of the links, not their width alone, so a wider link carries proportionately more metal through its whole profile, not just a slightly bigger face.
Can I wear a Miami Cuban link bracelet with a watch?
Yes, and it is one of the style's classic pairings. Because a Cuban link lies flat in one plane, it sits alongside a watch case rather than riding over it. A wider 10 mm link needs a case with a little more room to spare than an 8 mm does.
More questions
We answer shipping, returns, sizing and payment questions on our FAQ page. If something is not covered there, get in touch and a person from the workshop will answer.
References
The construction description of Cuban link chains — flattened, interlocked links that resist twisting and lie in a single plane — reflects standard chain-making technique described consistently across independent jewellery manufacturing sources. The relationship between a link's cross-sectional area and its weight follows basic geometry: for a given alloy and chain length, mass scales with the volume of metal present, and volume scales with cross-sectional area. Wrist-ease guidance of roughly half an inch beyond a bare wrist measurement reflects common sizing practice for structured link bracelets, cross-checked against multiple independent bracelet-sizing guides.
