Why do you wear a watch?

[Groundhog66]

I read a statement in the shoutbox recently, and it makes me wonder...Why do you wear a watch?

"A wristwatch says: I am a full-grown adult; I am worthy of your trust and, by the way, your lust. If you have a watch on your arm you are, in the most literal sense, a man with a mission: You have appointments to keep, places to be, responsibilities."   saul


Do you think this is the public's perception, or does it really not matter in this day and age? Perhaps we now live in a society, where watches are merely a fashion statement?

[Mr.Jones]

Well, part of it is a statement: "I still care about the good old mechanical timepieces, even if you all only use your mobile phone to tell you the time."

But mostly I like the look of my watches on my wrist. So it's a jewelry thing, I guess...

[Dr.Godzilla]

Watches are fashion statements today. I know some people who wear broken watches. I am not kidding, they wear a watch that doesn't work simply to show that they are wearing a watch. My boss, for instance, picks up whatever automatic laying around and wears it in the morning without even setting the time

[Deleted]

I wear a watch(s) because I like the idea if a precision micro machine on my wrist; that it displays the time/day/date is just a bonus.

[Groundhog66]

May 17, 2015 9:10:30 GMT -8 Mr.Jones said:

Well, part of it is a statement: "I still care about the good old mechanical timepieces, even if you all only use your mobile phone to tell you the time."

But mostly I like the look of my watches on my wrist. So it's a jewelry thing, I guess...

Fair enough, I completely understand.

May 17, 2015 9:12:23 GMT -8 Dr.Godzilla said:

Watches are fashion statements today. I know some people who wear broken watches. I am not kidding, they wear a watch that doesn't work simply to show that they are wearing a watch. My boss, for instance, picks up whatever automatic laying around and wears it in the morning without even setting the time

That's crazy, and not something I could ever do. I set my automatics to the second, every time I put one on...

May 17, 2015 9:13:13 GMT -8 @penguinbce said:

I wear a watch(s) because I like the idea if a precision micro machine on my wrist; that it displays the time/day/date is just a bonus.

Very understandable.....I guess it's that same appreciation, that got most of us into this hobby to begin with.

[doomguy10011]

I wear a watch for the following reasons.

Habit. I have been wearing a watch ever since I got a Lorus Mickey Mouse quartz at age 6. I feel odd if I'm not wearing a watch. It's like a phantom limb sensation if I look at my wrist and find that nothing is there, because I habitually look every now and then to check the time.

I love machines. I find the nature of mechanical watches and also to an extent analog quartzes to be fascinating. The way so many different parts come together to form one functioning piece is interesting to me, analogous to the way our organs work to keep us functioning.

[sdoocms]

I have worn a watch since I was 20 years old. I bought it because I did not want to be late for work.  I still wear it because I still want to be on time and it's easier then digging out my phone.

[trandy]

May 17, 2015 9:13:13 GMT -8 @penguinbce said:

I wear a watch(s) because I like the idea if a precision micro machine on my wrist; that it displays the time/day/date is just a bonus.

This.

There's something comforting to having that purring (or ticking) device attached to my arm.

Back in the day my father told me you could tell a lot about a man by his watch and his shoes.

[iwaddell]

I've worn a watch since the age of 7yrs. So always felt a little off balance when not wearing one. Hence 9 times out of 10 got one on.
But now it's more a fit for purpose item. G-shock is my fitness or working on the farm watch. It takes a beating but never let me down.
The others are a reflection of my mood or a special event.
Plus I've never gotten into the habit of checking my phone for the time. Think it's my 'child of the seventies' mentality. A phone is a phone. Even though I use mine as a mobile office. But not for time keeping.
I'll probably edit this post tomorrow morning as I'm half asleep.

[lordflagpolecrabtree]

Because I can

Definitely both a jewellery thing and a time telling tool. I do sometimes check the time on my phone but much prefer to look at what's on my wrist.

[mar52]

I've always loved watches.  They make a fashion statement and tell time, both!

I don't ever want to pull my phone out to see the time.

Some watches are status symbols but I wear them for the precision time pieces they "can" be.

And...  if I don't wear one I'm always looking at my wrist!

[scubarob99]

May 17, 2015 11:53:46 GMT -8 trandy said:

May 17, 2015 9:13:13 GMT -8 @penguinbce said:

I wear a watch(s) because I like the idea if a precision micro machine on my wrist; that it displays the time/day/date is just a bonus.

This.

There's something comforting to having that purring (or ticking) device attached to my arm.

Back in the day my father told me you could tell a lot about a man by his watch and his shoes.

Funny my father would say the same thing... + pen & lighter.

Rob

[thianwong]

I think that it depends on generational habits. Most of us here are old enough to have experienced watch wearing as a tradition.
But for the generation brought up on the cellphone, watches are more a fashion statement (think the huge monstrosities of the NIXON brand!)
My stepkids don't wear watches - they are 25 and 26. They use their iphones!!!!!

[condor97]

I wear a watch to tell time and time things.

I wear a Seiko diver because it is a sweet piece of machinery with strong military ties and history/significance that I can descend to the depths of the ocean with, even though I never will. And it just looks cool.

[cobrajet25]

I have been wearing a watch nonstop since high school, and wore one off and on as a kid.  It is a reflexive habit for me to look at my wrist when I want to know the time.  I know a lot of younger people have the same habit of reflexively pulling their cellphone out to check the time. 

And for some reason they think this is MORE convenient than having a wristwatch??

For me, the wristwatch is the only accessory I wear.  I don't like rings or necklaces or anything like that, so I like to wear a nice, unique watch instead of a Casio or something.

[saul]

May 17, 2015 9:01:11 GMT -8 Groundhog66 said:

I read a statement in the shoutbox recently, and it makes me wonder...Why do you wear a watch?

"A wristwatch says: I am a full-grown adult; I am worthy of your trust and, by the way, your lust. If you have a watch on your arm you are, in the most literal sense, a man with a mission: You have appointments to keep, places to be, responsibilities."   saul


Do you think this is the public's perception, or does it really not matter in this day and age? Perhaps we now live in a society, where watches are merely a fashion statement?

Much as I would like to take credit for the line (esp about my watch worthiness equating to me being lust worthy) I lifted it from this piece.

tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/05/apple-watch/?hpw&rref=t-magazine&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=1

[Adrian-VTA]

It's pretty much the only kind of jewellery a guy can get away with now. Gold chains are a bit of a no-no, as are rings.

So that's why I wear one. 

It's also a point of difference now. I like to make points of difference all the time, it gets you noticed, which if you are trying to be memorable to people, that's how you do it. When you hand over your vintage watch for someone to try on their wrist, they say "WOW this is amazing" and they will remember you pretty much forever as "that guy with the amazing watch".

Note I also pretty much only wear shirts with French cuffs so I can use cuff links. People notice them. I like subdued, classy cuff links. I don't like beer brand cuff links, some poor old ladies watch movement cuff links or 8-ball ones.

[C4L18R3]

I wear a watch for two reasons:

#1 - To stare at and admire! My first watch was a Casio digital given as a gift from my parents.  Didn't matter to me what time it was, I just loved looking at it and staring at the stopwatch.  The first quartz ones I had also always made me smile with aesthetics being the biggest reason for me choosing a model.  The fact that I now have actual machines that interact with my movements is a plus.

#2 - To know the time.  I still haven't developed the habit at looking at phones or any other sources and I constantly rely on my wrist to know exactly what time it is.

[Deleted]

Because I nearly always have and I hate being late.

[normdiaz]

May 17, 2015 9:01:11 GMT -8 Groundhog66 said:

Do you think this is the public's perception, or does it really not matter in this day and age? Perhaps we now live in a society, where watches are merely a fashion statement?

I would guess that for the average person it would be a "fashion preference" without regard to "making a statement" and certainly not with an understanding or interest in the features/working of a watch. We are a minority here, IMHO.