# Anybody Wear a Pocket Watch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 19, 2004, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-wear-a-pocket-watch/235306 "2004-03-19T23:09:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jellytoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@jellytoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellytoes)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-wear-a-pocket-watch/235306/21 "2004-03-21T01:44:46Z")
> [@Lord Vega](#): > > I found, at Wally World, of all places, a pocket watch in a leather case that hangs from your belt. No more fishing around in a pocket, scratching the case on your keys and whatnot. The watch is fully encased in a leather fob and if easily snaps open and shut for viewing. I got Mr. Toes one of these for Christmas. However it wasn’t from Wally world (our local Harley Davidson distributor) and there is a hole cut in the leather case for viewing. It slips right on his belt and he loves it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-wear-a-pocket-watch/235306/22 "2004-03-21T07:59:52Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I really like pocket watches…unfortunately, one must wear a vest in order to use one. You usually have a watch chain, with the end looped around a vest button. The watch is in your vest pocket. > With the decline of 3-piece suits, most men stopped wearing vests (a great shame). > Anybody think pocket watches will come back? 🆒 Your definition is too narrow. For years i carried a small pocket calculator that was optimized for time functions – multiple alarms and timers, and you could use all the mathematical functions with time, like “4 days, 22 hours, 14 minutes and 8 seconds minus 2 days, 3 hours, and 17 minutes”. I worked in radio at the time, and it was very helpful for calculating program times. I lost it and never found anything else quite like it. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-wear-a-pocket-watch/235306/23 "2004-03-21T08:14:50Z")
I have jewelry phobia and cannot wear rings, necklaces or anything metal that touches my body…I would be a really bad rap star. Ironically, one of my first jobs in LA was at a jewelry store in the Beverly Center. At least they didn’t have to worry about me stealing merchandise. I have several pocket watches…my favourite was designed by myself - all silver, mirror face, no numbers and black simple hands, and after it was completed, I proceeded to lose it a day later. I now have one of those Target/Wallyworld watches that have a nice belt clip and hang it on my jeans/work pants. ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-wear-a-pocket-watch/235306/24 "2004-03-21T11:51:26Z")
Used to carry a pocket watch, but that combined with my monocle and top hat threw my back out of whack, so I had to ditch them all… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-wear-a-pocket-watch/235306/25 "2004-03-21T22:22:09Z")
I have three pocket watches - one a gift for being best man, one inherited from Granddad, and one I bought. I usually wear the one I bought when I’m appearing in a court that has time limits on submissions. Since the barrister’s outfit includes a vest, I’ve got a pocket to put it in, and taking it out, popping open the cover and setting it down on the podium just feels classier than undoing a wristwatch and laying it down. ---
**Author:** ![Thylacine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thylacine/32/1143_2.png) [@Thylacine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thylacine)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-wear-a-pocket-watch/235306/26 "2004-03-22T00:21:06Z")
I hate wrist watches so I carry a pocket watch. I attach the chain to my belt (or beltloop if not wearing one) and carry in my pants pocket. The chain is designed for a belt rather than a button. I have no idea what I would do if I ever wore a dress or skirt but given that hasn’t happened once since I discarded my school uniform 23 years ago I suspect I am safe 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-wear-a-pocket-watch/235306/27 "2004-03-22T00:29:16Z")
Pocket watch? Considering my tendency to randomly bash the crystal of my wristwatch on hard, immovable metal objects, a pocket watch would probably make more sense. Are digital pocket watches that tell the time, day, date and year without pushing any buttons available? ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-wear-a-pocket-watch/235306/28 "2004-03-22T03:44:55Z")
Oh, and vests are not necessary for pocketwatches. Mine is attached to a belt loop on my trousers and kept in a front pocket therein. That “change pocket” on blue jeans–if it’s of large, old-fashioned construction instead of just ornamental–was not originally for carrying coins. It was where one could put a pocketwatch. Unfortunately, modern jeans usually make the pocket too small, so it resides in the main pocket. ---
**Author:** ![LtningBug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/73ab20/32.png) [@LtningBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LtningBug)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-wear-a-pocket-watch/235306/29 "2004-03-22T08:14:51Z")
I took the giant step half a year ago and got a pocket watch. I do have to agree, it’s very classy to attach it to a belt loop and drop in my pocket. It’s silver colored, with roman numerals on the face. The only problem with it is that it is somewhat inconvenient (versus a wristwatch), but this can also be good at times (e.g. when I shouldn’t be looking at my watch every two minutes). My watch is a hunter’s case watch, with the lid that pops open with a push button. Very suave (or geeky, I’m not sure which). > [@Lorenzo](#): > > Are digital pocket watches that tell the time, day, date and year without pushing any buttons available? 😕 What’s the point of a nice classy watch if you’re gonna ruin it with a digital face? 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-wear-a-pocket-watch/235306.md?page=1)