There are few accessories that are as iconic and have as much history as the wristwatch. Whether in the heat of battle, the cool of an elegant gala, or any exciting activity in between, few pieces are as versatile and universal as the watch.
Throughout its history, watches have been associated with class and sophistication. Whether worn under a suit and shirtsleeves or proudly displayed with sporty or casual attire, a watch makes a statement about the values of its wearer.
Whether you want an understated watch that expresses a formal sensibility or one that gives a bold hint of an adventurous nature, there are a variety of case and band styles available, with the latter often interchangeable to some degree to express yourself exactly how you want.
Over the course of nearly a century, watches have undergone enough stylistic changes that anyone can find one that suits their personal taste and wardrobe.
Whether you are looking for a modern watch or a vintage one, a sleek watch or one with lots of added features, there’s a perfect balance of form and function for everyone.
The latter is the perfect segue into our second reason:
Although many cite “style” as the first characteristic of watches, the fact remains that the accessory was born out of a very real need to tell time accurately.
Many watches today have additional features, called complications, such as a stopwatch or a tachymeter, which can be used to measure speed over time. Other watches, such as pilot’s watches or diving watches, may have built-in complications and a design adapted to their usual operating parameters.
Some professions and recreational habits require special watches. Are dress watches mandatory for you to appear at high profile occasions? No, but they certainly help you make the impression you want.
Sports watches, on the other hand, combine style and function for those who need them most. These watches are usually tested to be more water resistant than their regular counterparts.
Diving watches, for example, have additional features that improve the functionality, readability, and durability of the watch underwater. Some pilot watches have special glass to ensure functionality at different altitudes.
It’s no secret that watches have a rich heritage. The first wearable watches appeared in the late 15th century and were worn around the belt or neck. These devices were very inaccurate and could not measure minutes or seconds until a few centuries later.
Even when the problem of size and accuracy was solved, the pocket watch was the norm for men. Wristwatches did exist, but they were only used as a fashion accessory for women. Wristwatches for men were initially used for functional rather than fashion reasons.
Improvised wristwatches first appeared during the Boer War by tying pocket watch cases to the wrist with a piece of string, and during World War I, mass-produced men’s watches for soldiers were common.
These watches differed most from their modern counterparts in two unique ways: First, these watches often featured protective covers that concealed most of the watch glass, which increased protection but limited readability. Second, the dials of these watches were coated with radium to increase luminosity.
These early mechanical watches were more for function than style, but soon after wristwatches came into vogue as a fashionable, radium-free accessory for men and women alike. When you wear a wristwatch, you commemorate a history as complex as the craft of watchmaking itself.
From the beginning, watches have been prized for the intricate mechanics that make them work. Even quartz watches, with less complex electrical mechanisms, retain their visual appeal.
Craftsmanship, however, is where mechanical and automatic watches shine the most. Modern quartz watches may be slightly more accurate than their predecessors, but they lack the complex inner workings of their predecessors.
Unlike quartz watches, which run on batteries, both mechanical and automatic watches use a complex system of gears and springs to function. They may have partially transparent cases or case backs to showcase this element of their design.
This internal craftsmanship is one of the main reasons why watchmakers and watch connoisseurs are drawn to these types of watches. The components of mechanical watches are so small and complex that special tools are required to make and repair them.
Few accessories require as much attention to detail. When you invest in a handmade watch, you are rejecting fast fashion and instead embracing a tailored tradition that values high-quality, long-lasting accessories.
The strength of a watch lies in the power it gives, even though it takes up very little space on your wrist. Regardless of how simple or complex your outfit or wrist is, wearing a watch adds an eye-catching accent to any outfit.
It adds an understated elegance to a suit and tie, and a watch can also add a touch of sophistication to an otherwise casual outfit. With a watch, you can also check the time in places where it would be inappropriate to take out your phone, such as the theater.
Unlike other accessories or clothing, a watch is not just something you wear on your wrist. A watch is an investment. If you care for it properly, your new watch can last generations and turn into a valuable antique that you can pass down to a child or loved one, or a sentimental gift to mark an important milestone.
Antique watches gain their appeal and prestige from their age as well as their condition, but only if you care for a watch and pass it down through the generations can it become an heirloom. In addition, a valuable watch can be engraved with important initials or a special date to add a tangible piece of family history to your wearable.
The piece becomes more than the sum of its parts when imbued with the sentimentality and connection that only history can provide.
For better or worse, technology has permeated every aspect of our lives. Computers are now on our desks, in our phones, in our cars, and on our wrists. Many use phones today for the reason watches have become so important: To check the time.
Regardless of how much the proliferation of smartphones has improved people’s lives, some may want to reduce their screen time or rely less on their phones for daily activities. Extensive phone use can have a negative impact on happiness and stress. Most of all, worrying about protecting your phone can get you down during physical activities or in the water.
Wearing a watch offers a more stylish way to tell time while ensuring you only use your phone for the activities you deem necessary.
Just like a well-polished pair of shoes or a perfectly fitting tie, a watch is an eye-catcher in any context. Since a good watch is an investment, wearing one shows that you take pride in your appearance without appearing vain.
With less than a third of people wearing a watch every day, having a piece of jewelry on your wrist helps you stand out as a fashion-conscious person in an increasingly savvy world. A watch also sends the message that you value your time enough to want that information available at a glance.
A good reason to wear a watch is a deceptively simple one: watches tell the time.
Analog watches, in particular, tell the time in a way that is quickly lost on us. In no small part because of the strong visual element associated with the face of a watch, the idea that time passes in analog takes on a significance that digital simply cannot match.
On a digital watch, the minutes tick on with the simple change of a number, without any visible sense of progress. With an analog watch, the circular movement of the second, minute and hour hands lends weight to the time of day.
Not only does it remind us to be productive with the time we have, but it also reminds us that we have the remarkable power to lose ourselves in time for a while: Try not to worry about the pressing demands of our work, our phone, and social media.
A watch offers luxury, beauty, and legacy, and all it asks in return is that we occasionally pay attention to the time and allow ourselves a moment of time that is not controlled.
Sources:
A Brief History of the Wristwatch I The Atlantic
The Stress of Constantly Checking Your Phone I Verywell Mind
