Wait, somebody makes women’s jeans that button toward the left? I just checked my small but well-loved jeans collection, and it’s not Levi’s, Lee’s, Wrangler’s, or Gloria’s.
Not saying no jeans designer ever reversed the fly on their women’s styles, but as far as I know the classic jeans all use the original guy-type closing.
Why fix something that’s not broke? 
I’ve never heard it called anything but a watch pocket.
Personally, I don’t carry my pocket watch anymore (although it fits fine in that watch pocket), but I find that the watch pocket fits my little Motorola cellphone perfectly.
If my cellphone is in one of my other front pockets, I can’t easily get it out when sitting in a car wearing a seatbelt. Also, if I carry it in my left front pocket, it’ll be scratched up by my pocketknife and loose change. If I carry it in my right front pocket, it’ll get scratched up by my keys. In the watch pocket, it’s all by itself and easy to reach.
And I’m with Sierra Indigo. The word “pocket” now looks misspelled. I hate when that happens. And I don’t think I’ve ever typed the word “pocket” so many times in a few paragraphs. whew
When I used to carry a watch pocket I never put it in that pocket because I always felt that pocket kinda scrunched upwhen I sat, potentially damaging my old watch.
Re: change pockets, no one has commented yet about the fact that many dress and casual pants/shorts have a little divider in the right front pocket. I always understood that was for change, tho I don’t really understand how it works. Instead, it just seems to drive me crazy, making it harder to get a handle on whatever I might have in that pocket.
Just saying - I don’t know which came first, the jeans or dress pant small pocket. But it seems plausible that they might have similar purposes.
And now for something completely different… I recently attended the Quebec Museum of Civilization’s exhibit on Gold in the Americas. In the section on the California and Yukon gold rushes, our guide mentioned “Levis’ dungarees” and how they were sold to the prospectors. According to her, the little pocket was for holding gold nuggets. I have no idea if that’s true or or just a colorful tale, but I would imagine that the rough-and-tumble types who wore the original blue jeans would have little need for a pocket watch.
I think of it as a pill pocket. I’ve occasionally kept a couple ibuprofin in there, in case I get a headache when I’m out and about.
I keep tons of stuff (well not at the same time mind you) in my watchpocket. My old non-smartphone cell fit in there nice and snugly, and now I have a small pocketknife and my keyless entry car remote in there too. It’s not bad for holding a Zippo lighter either so one doesn’t have to resort to the “biker holster” thing and still not worry about burning ones sensitive areas with overfilled lighter fluid.
I don’t like to carry a lot of stuff in my front pockets if I don’t have to, it makes my jeans bulge out on the sides and I think it looks bad. I’m all about a clean break on the front of my pants, So I’m always trying to use the watchpocket to hold as much as I can. I’ve seen jeans that didn’t have it, but I won’t buy them. That’s a dealbreaker for me.
I measured the antique pocket watch given to me by my grandfather (Kevbo, it’s also an Elgin!) – diameter 1 7/8"
Then I measured that funny pocket on a pair of Levi’s 550 jeans. Distance between the brass rivets – 3"
Even if finger fat takes up 1/2" next to each rivet, that still provides ample space to get the watch in and out.
So, we’ve clearly established that it’s a watch pocket, but no one actually carries a pocketwatch in their watch pocket? :>
I’ve always used it as a chapstick/condom/cell phone pocket, depending on the occasion. I’ve never heard of it used for change, personally.
Emergency guitar pick pocket.
They just get left in there, go through the wash, whatever, just waiting for that rare opportunity when I need a pick. Like almost never.:smack:
Si
I have a few pocket watches – all standard size – and they fit in there easily. That’s the standard size for a pocket watch. For some reason, you’ve been seeing oversized ones.
People often think of old, 19th century, bulky, pocket watches.
Okay, so we’ve established that the small, or 5th, pocket was originally for pocket watches. But I’ve noticed quite a variation in size, and I’ll admit that on one or two of my jeans, maybe a small pocket watch could fit in the watch pocket. But on a couple of pairs, the 5th pocket is so small that I can barely slip a finger in it, and my fingers are not all that fat. I can’t believe that’s for a watch, certainly not a phone, and no more than a few coins that I wouldn’t be able to get out without taking thepants off and shaking them upside down. Why is it some of the 5th pockets are that small??
Hard to believe no one to this point has mentioned what it’s REALLY used for: it’s for a pocket knife. I don’t go ANYWHERE without my good ole Swiss Army Knife and that’s what goes in that little pocket. I’m so used to carrying it there that I’ve actually had three (!) confiscated at the airport when I’ve accidentally forgotten to remove that little devil that is almost a part of me. The pocket is the perfect shape and size. How could this thread have gone on so long without the truth coming out? Ok, Mods, you can close it now.
At this point, I think they’re more or less decorative on many “designer” jeans. People expect there to be 5 pockets on jeans even though no one uses them, much as we expect there to be cuff buttons on suit jackets.
I dunno, I kind of like CC’s pocket-knife explanation.
Ahem. Post 46.
But a locking knife is a far safer tool than a Swiss Army, but that’s an entirely different thread.
My bad.
Yes, but you said you kept a bunch of other stuff in it along with it. Some of my 5th pockets are way too small to keep much more than one very small knife.
My daily carry “I’m just going to work” knife is a small 2 inch Buck style folder that fits easily in there with my keyless fob, but if I’m out in the woods or what not then it’s this, which most certainly does not go in the watchpocket.
Add me as another who’s always heard of it as a watch pocket.
Personally, I find it to be just the right size to hold a Zippo and a Xikar cigar cutter, at least on the cheapo K-Mart jeans I tend to buy.
