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Recently, during a rather absurd evening involving a really sh*tty club and free bottles of Grey Goose, I found that I had somehow misplaced my cellular phone.
For the next two weeks while battling with my insurance company about their obligation to pay for a new one, I was completely phoneless. And surprisingly, I found that while not being able to call my roommate or receive text messages from my BFF was disheartening, the most annoying thing about not having a phone was that I never knew what f*cking time it was. During my time of mandatory cell abstinence, I commented on this fact to my mother. Her response was thought-provoking.
“Why don’t you get a watch?”
A watch? The last time I had a watch, I was in sixth grade. It was a gift from my parents for my twelfth birthday and on the face was an image of Elmo whose arms ticked away the minutes. At the time, I thought it was the sh*t and all my ladyfriends agreed, but when the leather straps crumbled the following summer I was pretty well over it and I’ve never felt the need to get a new one, Elmo-themed or otherwise.
Which leads me to ask the question, are watches obsolete? In this age when everyone has a phone that they have on their person more or less at all times, is there really a need for watches? The only people I can think of who do have watches are people like my mom and grandma who grew up in the Dark Ages before Verizon existed, and even they have the option of telling time with their phones. It would seem that their insistence on wearing watches stems from a deep-seated habit of looking at their wrist when someone asks the time as opposed to rooting in their pockets.
So what purpose, then, do watches serve? Are they merely nostalgic relics of a simpler time? Or are they still relevant in some way? While ruminating on this topic, I noticed a very interesting trend; in every high-fashion magazine I read, at least 1/5 of the advertisements I saw were for watches. And not Elmo watches either – we’re talking gold and tiger’s eye Gucci, platinum and Swarovski crystal Patek Philippe, white leather and diamond Fendi, all costing thousands of dollars.
Which led me to construct this theory – watches have become the ultimate status symbol. Think about it: watches are essentially frivolous, somewhat rare, and even the least fashion-savvy individuals recognize that a watch is an accessory that commands respect. People who wear watches are people who have places to be and things to do. People who wear watches are people who own furniture and never have to ask their parents to help out with the rent. People who wear watches subtly but proudly sport them on their wrist as a testament to their status as Grown-Ups.
At the age of 22, I will fully admit that I have not reached the Watch Wearing stage of life. But at least I now have something to aspire to.
11 Comments
I know a prefer a watch, A) because I don’t have to root in my pocket and/or bag to find the time, and B) because I can check it discreetly in class, cell phone- not so much.
The only reason I don’t wear one anymore is because I realized I was stressing myself out immensely by always having to know the time. I function much better on an internal clock.
On the whole, I agree that watches have become a status symbol- like a piece of jewelry, but for some reason I don’t find fancy watched attractive at all. They’re like nice bracelets you just stick the time into, what a stressor (for me at least).
I wear a watch at work because I’m a veterinary technician and I need it when monitoring surgery and getting pulses. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t wear a watch. In fact, even when wearing one, I don’t even look at the time, just the seconds.
I have a watch for discreetly looking at it during class but also when I am actually on the phone with someone not having a watch is annoying.
I leave my phone off most of the time because I have a prepaid plan and only use it for emergencies and vacations, so for me, having a watch is a matter of practicality.
I started wearing a watch about two years ago when I started working at a department store. There were only about 3 clocks in the entire place, not counting the ones on the registers. When you work in retail, and customers totally suck, you want to know how long it is before you can get the heck out of there.
Even though I’ve since stopped working at said department store, I do find it nice to have a way to discreetly check the time during class. Also Target has the cutest watches….
I like the left style. My sweet heart I met on richmatchmaking.com has ever baught me one.
I agree they have become obsolete. I have a watch and I love it but It needs a new battery and it’s just not a priority for me right now to buy a new battery. However when I started working at Urban Outfitters they told all of us to get watches because we are not allowed to have phones on the floor. And if we don’t want to miss our break (which would seriously, no joke, be the end of the world)then we need to know what time it is and there are no clocks! I sneak my phone onto the floor anyways since I don’t really have the spare 10 bucks for a new battery.
I’ve pretty much worn a watch since childhood. I actually have quite a few watches. I much prefer being able to glance at my wrist than have to root around in my pocket for the time. Plus I really like watches and the different shapes/styles they have. As a man it’s probably the only accessory/piece of jewelry I actually wear.
Watches are much more convenient that pulling phone out of a pocket or purse. Since you are so young, you probably don’t know about “pocket watches”. They became obsolete when wrist watches were invented. Cell phone is the high-tech equivalent of a pocket watch. Just not that convenient. And, I don’t appreciate the sexist comments about Mothers and Grandmothers. Doesn’t your Father or Grandfather wear a watch? Why did you choose women for a derogatory example?
The advantage that watches have over phones is the second hand.
At my college, I am in the emergency medical service and when taking pulses or counting respirations it is important to be able to look at your wrist at the same time so you know how much time has elapsed.
But, despite the awesomeness of my pink cupcake watch, it is true that I only wear it during my shifts
i’ve honestly worn a watch ever since fourth grade, i dont know how people can function without a watch. i know that if i’m rushing out of my house and forget my watch, it’s pretty much the end of me only because a cell phone is such a mission to look for in your purse.
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