In Defense of the Wristwatch

Technology has a fascinating life cycle.  Over a varying period of time, most inventions that were initially considered radical and revolutionary eventually slide into a unique category of items we routinely take for granted.  For example, it’s safe to say that people from a century ago greeted the first batch of vehicles that rolled off the assembly line with wide-eyed marvel, yet none of us have probably ever looked at our cars and thought of the level of ease it has injected in our lives.  Of course, there are some aspects of former technological wonder that face a far worse fate than suffering transparency – they become obsolete; relics of a time and space where things weren’t as portable, or progressive, or as efficient as they are now.  As the stack of VHS tapes that are presently collecting dust in a dark corner of your garage could attest to, this can be a rather cruel fate for an invention, especially for one that may have been heralded as a game changer when it initially burst into life.

For the most part, this latter endgame does not necessarily have a home in the world of fashion.  The clothing trends that come, go, and come back over time are a direct reflection of style and taste, and not necessarily because some designer at the Christian Dior studios has suddenly come up with a groundbreaking way to wear a hat.  However, it would seem that the advances of technological awesomeness has wandered into the world of the wardrobe and has threatened to nab the wristwatch and drag it into the darkness.

These days, if you ask a friend for the time, there is an excellent chance they will whip out their cell phone and look at the digital readout.  Because mobile devices possess the ability to keep track of hours and minutes, more in more people simply do not wear a watch.  In fact, these folks may not even own a watch anymore.  This is an alarming development in the world of fashion, since about a decade ago, most of these people may well in fact felt utterly naked if they left their home without a timekeeping device snugly clasped on their wrist.  

Yet a funny thing has happened to the wristwatch on the way toward its doomed trail of becoming obsolete.  The good looking ones – that is, the ones that don’t look like the flimsy plastic neon thing that your teenage son or daughter may be wearing – has evolved a status symbol of sorts; one whose presence right above the hand has the potential to boast a sense of culture and refinement.  When virtually everybody wore a watch, it was quite easy to overlook the elegance that a stylish gadget could possess.  But since fewer and fewer people are stepping out with this formerly indispensible part of a wardrobe ensemble in tow, its visual enticement as a near-novelty of sorts draws a sharper focus onto its potentially sleek design.  And much like a finely tailored suit or a spectacular pair of shoes may serve as an outward symbol of inward sophistication the savvy individual can utilize all the newfound attention that can be given to a watch to conduct these same feelings.

At first blush, this mindset may look a bit novel.  However, the fashion revolution relating to watches is in all likelihood not exactly new.  Some ninety years ago, everyone was walking around with pocket watches.  Judging by the intricate details you may have seen on these devices while visiting an antique store or an estate sale, it’s safe to say a healthy chunk of these hand-held tickers was rather beautiful.  Yet it’s not that far-fetched to think that back then, their widespread usage meant even the most exquisitely designed ones grabbed precious little attention.  It is also easy to conceive that the invention and subsequent popularity of the wrist watch in the 1920s caused the stunning ornate beauty and craftsmanship of the suddenly passé hand-held timekeeping devices to practically leap out at people as their usage became rarer.  In fact, a pocket watch’s status as a symbol of refinement seems to still hold true to this day, and will until the day a nation of hipsters comes along and co-opts the devices in their painful quest for irony.  Fast forward to the 21st century, and the advent of digital time readouts on peoples’ mobile phones has essentially demoted the wristwatch to the same uncommon status that pocket watches were bumped to on their account.  And much like the seemingly archaic time-keeping device from way back when have become virtual symbols of artistic style and cultural elitism, the same could very well be said about watches, if not now then certainly within a few years.  

If you own a good looking wristwatch – one that looks like you spent more than $100 on it, at least – know that when you slip it on, you are putting on an article of clothing that now speaks very highly of your character and sense of style, and not just something that keeps track of minutes and seconds.  If the convenience of technology has caused you to cease wearing one, it may do you good to go out and invest in one that looks slick and elegant.   You may not be able to simultaneously update your Facebook status on it, but you will certainly gain several rather important style points.

By Rich Manning