It was during World War I – soldiers tired of fishing around their pockets to find the ubiquitous pocket watch started wearing it on a bracelet on their wrists.
Until then, a watch worn on a bracelet was considered strictly women’s fashion.
Initially ridiculed by the public as a silly trend – wrist watches soon became the norm as their practicality made pocket watches obsolete.
Some might argue that wrist watches are slowly becoming obsolete.
Why should a modern man wear a wrist watch when he could easily consult his phone for a quick time-check?
1. Watches are convenient
Phones don’t keep you punctual. Watches do.
I don’t need a watch because I have a phone, is a common response from a generation who are now questioning the adverse effects of constant cellphone use. Fishing for a cell phone on regular occasions just to check the time looks desperate.
A quick glance towards your wrist is a much classier way to keep tabs on time during a date or a meeting. Not to mention how rude it would seem to your companions if you pulled out your phone during a conversation.
On other occasions where it’s advisable to leave the phone concealed – like the beach, a funeral, a wedding, a watch is a much more subtle and convenient way to check time.
2. Watches are functional
Any item inspired by the military has a functional use. Wrist watches included.
Wrist watches were first used in the 19th century by the military to synchronize maneuvers during war. Since then, specialized watches have been used in the depths of the ocean by divers and high up in the sky by aviators.
One of the big advantages of a watch – especially over a smartphone – is how long it can operate in the field. Many watches are made to either be self powered through motion or use a small amount of energy from a battery. Think years of maintenance free time telling…..compare that to a smart phone’s 8 hours!
A complicated watch is designed with features beyond the basic function of displaying the time and date. Such a functionality is called a complication. Two of the popular complications are the chronograph, which allows the watch to function as a stopwatch and the moonphase complication, which displays the lunar phase.
3. Watches provide simplicity
The best watches don’t use the latest technology. They are powered by ingenious mechanical clockwork technology that predates electricity. So when your cellphone runs out battery – you can trust the technology that keeps running on your wrist.
When you wear a watch – it’s less likely you will fall back on your phone as a distraction. Often, checking the phone for time results in a rabbit-trail of activities including checking every messenger app, email and Facebook.
When you need to keep track of something as important as time – a unique device to measure and manage it is justified.