Is time running out for the wristwatch? BBC Wonders...

bumphrey hogart · Oct 29, 2010

I own 7 watches,all pre 75,all swiss, 3 omegas,2 zeniths,2 longines,part of my morning ritual is choosing the appropriate watch for that days outfit,as mentioned before it's the one piece of 'jewellery' we can wear.My watches are as important as my hats! I don't own a mobile phone,there's no reception in my village anyway.Choice:classy vintage timepiece or piece of plastic? I don't think there is a choice!

PADDY · Oct 29, 2010

Rightly or Wrongly - when I meet people there are a few things I immediately notice about them. One is footwear, the other is their wrist-watch. I dare say other's do the same.

For myself, I don't feel dressed until I have a nice mechanical watch on my wrist. Sure I 'love' my iphone (technology and vintage can cohabit - trust me! you just do it subtlely), but something about a man-made, real ticking heart of a mechanical watch that just 'looks good' on one's wrist, that sets me up for the day's events!

Have Omega; Panerai; Oris; Hamilton vintage and Cymus vintage - all mechanicals, all bar one pre-1970. (there's a couple of great Member's Watch Threads on-going, so give them a gander for some Time-Candy!).

David Conwill · Oct 29, 2010

I don't have to charge my wristwatch every night or risk being without it by two o'clock; and I rarely leave my wristwatch in the pocket of my robe. So a wristwatch wearer I shall remain.

-Dave

David Conwill · Oct 29, 2010

Oh, and I can't thread my wedding ring through my cellphone while I'm working on the car!

-Dave

Danny Ocean · Oct 29, 2010

I'm obviously missing a trick here, is there an alternative to a fine, hand wound/automatic, piece of swiss engineering?

Like many, I have a mobile phone, purely for work purposes, but could quite easily do without it. Yes, it has all the other gizmos and gadgets that Apple seem to think we cannot live without, and these are, apparently, detailed in the user manual (if I can ever be bothered to read it).

I wouldn't feel "naked" walking out in the morning, without the phone, but heaven forbid, I ever forget my watch, as I would have to make a swift return to the house to collect it.

Given the choice, I know which item I'd rather lose.

Danny O

JimWagner · Oct 29, 2010

My son is 30 and has never worn a wristwatch. He doesn't see the need since he has always had his phone with him.

I've always worn a wristwatch or carried a pocket watch. Always will, regardless of whether or not I have a cell phone handy.

There may well be some truth to the idea that wristwatches on on their way out. Those who have always worn them will likely continue to. If a significant number of the younger generation turns out to be like my son then it is inevitable that wristwatch sales will go down over time.

Geesie · Oct 29, 2010

B.J. Hedberg said:
A few years back when I was in retail management, my younger employees – fresh out of school – would say exactly the same thing. Of course they were all soon wearing watches when they learned the dress code forbade cell phone use during working hours for any reason, even for looking at the time! I always enjoyed enforcing that particular policy.

This, and I also spend a lot of my time working in places where cell phones don't.
Wristwatches will not go away as long as people need to know the time in remote locations.

Undertow · Oct 29, 2010

PADDY said:
Rightly or Wrongly - when I meet people there are a few things I immediately notice about them. One is footwear, the other is their wrist-watch. I dare say other's do the same.

Honestly, I thought I was some kind of obsessive compulsive jerk for this! Those are also the first two things I notice (unless they're wearing a hat, and they never are).

What kind of shoes are they wearing? Are they polished or tattered? Leather soles? Laced and how are they laced? Are they wearing a watch? What kind of watch? Does it match the rest of their outfit?

^^^^
Just a few of the split second things going through my head when I see someone.

Undertow · Oct 29, 2010

Honestly, I hate cell phones with a passion. Don't own one, don't plan on it. If someone needs to get a hold of me, they'd better be good at smoke signals or telepathy. If there's an emergency, it's survival of the fittest. If my .45 can't take care of it, and my hands are all busted up, and it's 40 below and snowing, and there's a pack of wolves following me... well, by god, I guess that's all she wrote.

I wear a wristwatch everyday. Always have, even as a young man.

Tomasso · Oct 29, 2010

JimWagner said:
My son is 30 and has never worn a wristwatch.......If a significant number of the younger generation turns out to be like my son then it is inevitable that wristwatch sales will go down over time.

I bet that even if it were a significant percentage (which I doubt) its impact would be offset by the effects of population growth and the demand from emerging markets (China, India, Russia, etc).

Richard Warren · Oct 29, 2010

Yeah, they said the same thing about the sundial, and I still have one.

scottyrocks · Oct 29, 2010

scottyrocks said:
I will continue to wear a wristwatch for the same reason I dont use either my phone or pocket watches nearly as much - because the wristwatch is so much more easily accessible.

I would also like to add that I will never wear a digital watch. To me, watches need faces. With hands.

piranha · Oct 29, 2010

Widebrim said:
:arated:

+1, also

bumphrey hogart · Oct 30, 2010

My youngest son is 13,I've always bought him watches,just cheap things because as a kid they get broken pretty quickly,last xmas he asked for a proper watch,he was 12 at the time,when I asked him what he meant by 'proper',he said'you know Dad,like yours,one you have to wind up,from switzerland'. He now owns a titus,not the best,but a bloody good start!

Shangas · Oct 30, 2010

bumphrey hogart said:
My youngest son is 13,I've always bought him watches,just cheap things because as a kid they get broken pretty quickly,last xmas he asked for a proper watch,he was 12 at the time,when I asked him what he meant by 'proper',he said'you know Dad,like yours,one you have to wind up,from switzerland'. He now owns a titus,not the best,but a bloody good start!

Hogart, that made me SMILE. How sweet they are.

I read about the decline of the wristwatch (if you wanna call it that) a few years ago, and I see that it's now reached mainstream media. I don't wear a wristwatch (pocket-wath for the win) so this doesn't bother me. I find it interesting though, that everything has now (more or less) come full-circle.

sfend002 · Oct 30, 2010

I stopped wearing a watch a few years ago. I use my iPhone exclusively. I do like nice watches of course but I do not wear one. The iPhone is a great device and I use it for the calendar, music player, phone, email, text, web, games, etc.

Maybe when I get chance to have something high end I will wear one again.

lrwalton · Oct 31, 2010

I reckon I'll always where a watch... even though I am a techno geek, I am also an anachronism.... where both a 1952 Hamilton mechanical watch or a 1914 Waltham 23 jewel Vanguard railroad pocket watch. In many ways I prefer the Waltham. Something about the human factor in the old mechanical timepieces.. My iPhone and iPAD are for everything else!

CopperNY · Oct 31, 2010

a nice watch is my only concession to "man jewelry".

and, as i have an unreasonable/irrational abject -hatred- of cellphones, very convenient.

that said, between my home/work computers, the firehouse whistles and/or church bells here, i don't -really- -need- a watch at all.

Smithy · Oct 31, 2010

CopperNY said:
a nice watch is my only concession to "man jewelry".

My father always says the only jewelry a fellow should wear is a decent watch and maybe, a wedding ring.

I agree with the old boy.

Edward · Nov 1, 2010

Spitfire said:
(Pulp fiction!!! -

Jinkies, a cell phone in the pocket would be much easier to get at than that!!

Richard Warren said:
Yeah, they said the same thing about the sundial, and I still have one.

lol That's exactly it. I have no doubt the popularity of the wristwatch will diminish over time, but it's not going to disappear. Sure, look at pocket watches - I would hazard a guess that in 100 years' time, wristwatches will hold the same position as pocket watches do now.

scottyrocks said:
I would also like to add that I will never wear a digital watch. To me, watches need faces. With hands.

I have a strict 'no quartz' rule - if it needs a battery, I'm not interested. This, of course, already rules out digital.

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