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Aren't watches anachronistic, though? It's basically a fashion statement rather than a functional timepiece; we're surrounded by devices that can tell the time

Aren't watches anachronistic, though? It's basically a fashion statement rather than a functional timepiece; we're surrounded by devices that can tell the time for us. A watch's only purpose is wealth/fashion signalling. I haven't worn a watch since I started carrying a cell phone and it perplexes me why they are still so popular.

bigiain 8y ago
"I can see by my watch, without taking my hand from the left grip of the cycle, that it is eight-thirty in the morning. The wind, even at sixty miles an hour, is warm and humid. When it’s this hot and muggy at eight-thirty, I’m wondering what it’s going to be like in the afternoon." -- zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, robert m. pirsig For some people, there are some times when a watch is _way_ more useful than that phone in their pocket... (Also, I can trust my 1962 vintage mechanical watch to not be silently tracking me and selling me out to advertising companies...)
- ValentineC 8y ago
  > I can see by my watch, without taking my hand from the left grip of the cycle, that it is eight-thirty in the morning. Not having to rotate my arm to see the time was one big reason I got an always-on transflective LCD smartwatch (mine's the Amazfit Bip) instead of say, an Apple Watch.
- screye 8y ago
  I think the OP was talking about quality differences on watches than the utility of a watch itself. A 10$ watch does everything the $1000 watch does. The $990 are purely a fashion statement. The quartz being low quality doesn't affect the usability of the watch in anyway. If anything, the cheap digital watch with silicone straps is the e most comfortable and fuctional of all watches. This is unlike clothing, where the 300$ suit or jacket does often have genuinely better fit, comfort and lasts longer.
ghaff 8y ago
>It's basically a fashion statement For some. I like having a watch on my wrist where I can glance at the time rather than taking out my cell phone. I do have an Apple Watch but, especially when traveling, I often just wear a $30 Timex because I don't need to charge it. I see a lot of cheap watches in the store so I'm guessing I'm not alone. A lot of people these days also wear fitness bands of one sort or another. I suppose you could consider those fashion statements in their own right.
Nasrudith 8y ago
There is a marginal bonus - not having to fish out your phone. You appreciate it the most when you have cold weather or an environment where pulling out your phone is forbidden or inappropriate. It is perfectly viable to go without of course The wrist watch for men started being acceptable in WW1. Before it would be a matter of ridicule because it wearing a clock on your wrist was for women! The sheer ruggedness of the situation and making pocket watches less practical shed the stigma - nothing girly about a leather strap in muddy trenches in a hellish stalemate of a war.
- bigiain 8y ago
  > There is a marginal bonus - not having to fish out your phone. There's a non-marginal privacy bonus - not having to take your phone with you...
theothermkn 8y ago
> Aren't watches anachronistic, though? This is perhaps the best pun ever to appear on HN. I hope it was intentional!
- joncrane 8y ago
  I didn't form the sentence with that in mind, but once it was formed, I recognized it and left it! Especially since fancy watches are called "chronographs."
bartread 8y ago
> Aren't watches anachronistic, though? > I haven't worn a watch since I started carrying a cell phone and it perplexes me why they are still so popular. That very much depends on the person. I started wearing a watch again because I wanted to spend less time futzing with my cellphone, which has worked. Secondarily, it's jewellery, so I do tend to match my watch to my outfit as a result.
AndyMcConachie 8y ago
I wear a watch because I don't always have my phone on me. Also, sometimes I need to check the time in front of people without them noticing. Just to not appear rude. A watch is perfect for that.
siruncledrew 8y ago
What’s humorous is when there are people who wear watches as a fashion accessory that can’t even read the time on them, so pull out their phone to check the time anyway.
- joncrane 8y ago
  This is amazing.
dwd 8y ago
A watch is practical anywhere you can't use your phone. Any water sports or even being caught out in the rain comes to mind. I wear a Citizen Eco-drive and get that naked feeling if I ever leave the house without it.
parliament32 8y ago
I found the opposite to be true: Like you, I used to think I didn't need a watch when I always had my cell phone. Then I started wearing a smartwatch for other reasons (activity tracking) and I realized just how much I missed having the time accessible right on my wrist. It's hard to imagine if you haven't experienced it recently but the difference between 1) fishing in your pocket, pulling out your phone, hitting the button, looking at the time then putting it back, and 2) turning your wrist 45 degrees is enormous. I can look at the time even when I have both my hands full, I can check when it's raining without getting my phone wet, I can start a timer without unlocking my phone and hunting for the Clock app... it's really been an eye-opener for how much better a watch is than a phone.

bigiain 8y ago

"I can see by my watch, without taking my hand from the left grip of the cycle, that it is eight-thirty in the morning. The wind, even at sixty miles an hour, is warm and humid. When it’s this hot and muggy at eight-thirty, I’m wondering what it’s going to be like in the afternoon." -- zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, robert m. pirsig For some people, there are some times when a watch is _way_ more useful than that phone in their pocket... (Also, I can trust my 1962 vintage mechanical watch to not be silently tracking me and selling me out to advertising companies...)

ValentineC 8y ago
> I can see by my watch, without taking my hand from the left grip of the cycle, that it is eight-thirty in the morning. Not having to rotate my arm to see the time was one big reason I got an always-on transflective LCD smartwatch (mine's the Amazfit Bip) instead of say, an Apple Watch.
screye 8y ago
I think the OP was talking about quality differences on watches than the utility of a watch itself. A 10$ watch does everything the $1000 watch does. The $990 are purely a fashion statement. The quartz being low quality doesn't affect the usability of the watch in anyway. If anything, the cheap digital watch with silicone straps is the e most comfortable and fuctional of all watches. This is unlike clothing, where the 300$ suit or jacket does often have genuinely better fit, comfort and lasts longer.

ghaff 8y ago

>It's basically a fashion statement For some. I like having a watch on my wrist where I can glance at the time rather than taking out my cell phone. I do have an Apple Watch but, especially when traveling, I often just wear a $30 Timex because I don't need to charge it. I see a lot of cheap watches in the store so I'm guessing I'm not alone. A lot of people these days also wear fitness bands of one sort or another. I suppose you could consider those fashion statements in their own right.

Nasrudith 8y ago

There is a marginal bonus - not having to fish out your phone. You appreciate it the most when you have cold weather or an environment where pulling out your phone is forbidden or inappropriate. It is perfectly viable to go without of course The wrist watch for men started being acceptable in WW1. Before it would be a matter of ridicule because it wearing a clock on your wrist was for women! The sheer ruggedness of the situation and making pocket watches less practical shed the stigma - nothing girly about a leather strap in muddy trenches in a hellish stalemate of a war.

bigiain 8y ago
> There is a marginal bonus - not having to fish out your phone. There's a non-marginal privacy bonus - not having to take your phone with you...

theothermkn 8y ago

> Aren't watches anachronistic, though? This is perhaps the best pun ever to appear on HN. I hope it was intentional!

joncrane 8y ago
I didn't form the sentence with that in mind, but once it was formed, I recognized it and left it! Especially since fancy watches are called "chronographs."

bartread 8y ago

> Aren't watches anachronistic, though? > I haven't worn a watch since I started carrying a cell phone and it perplexes me why they are still so popular. That very much depends on the person. I started wearing a watch again because I wanted to spend less time futzing with my cellphone, which has worked. Secondarily, it's jewellery, so I do tend to match my watch to my outfit as a result.

AndyMcConachie 8y ago

I wear a watch because I don't always have my phone on me. Also, sometimes I need to check the time in front of people without them noticing. Just to not appear rude. A watch is perfect for that.

siruncledrew 8y ago

What’s humorous is when there are people who wear watches as a fashion accessory that can’t even read the time on them, so pull out their phone to check the time anyway.

joncrane 8y ago
This is amazing.

dwd 8y ago

A watch is practical anywhere you can't use your phone. Any water sports or even being caught out in the rain comes to mind. I wear a Citizen Eco-drive and get that naked feeling if I ever leave the house without it.

parliament32 8y ago

I found the opposite to be true: Like you, I used to think I didn't need a watch when I always had my cell phone. Then I started wearing a smartwatch for other reasons (activity tracking) and I realized just how much I missed having the time accessible right on my wrist. It's hard to imagine if you haven't experienced it recently but the difference between 1) fishing in your pocket, pulling out your phone, hitting the button, looking at the time then putting it back, and 2) turning your wrist 45 degrees is enormous. I can look at the time even when I have both my hands full, I can check when it's raining without getting my phone wet, I can start a timer without unlocking my phone and hunting for the Clock app... it's really been an eye-opener for how much better a watch is than a phone.