Yesterday my watch strap broke. Today, after a day of not wearing a watch in what must be years; I’ve decided I kind of like not having something strapped to my wrist. It feels liberating. Trouble is, I still like to know the time.
Does anyone know of any sensible time-keeping devices that would work as an everyday, practical alternative to a wristwatch? And I don’t mean something that looks like my great-grandfather handed it down.
(I’m sticking this in GQ, cos I’m after a factual answer. But I’ve a feeling in may turn IMHOish. Mods do what you see fit.)
I had to stop wearing my wristwatch about three months ago due to a ganglion in my wrist (caused, IMO, by the massive heavy Storm watch). It was rather disconcerting at first, but now I use a) clocks on shops and other buildings, or b) my mobile phone.
I too, stopped wearing a wristwatch a couple years ago. For me, it was because I have sensitive skin and any kind of strap (metal, cloth, leather) made my skin itch or develop eczema. Problem is, I’m a time freak, always needing to know the time.
If I was male and had pockets, I’d carry a regular wristwatch in my pocket. In fact my dad has been doing that for over 10 years. But female clothing (other than jeans & dockers) rarely have pockets.
So, I make sure I have a few time-telling devices around - I carry my cell phone in an easy-to-pull-out pocket of my purse; I rely on the computer clock while working; I have a tiny keychain “watch” that I clip onto my backpack while hiking or traveling; and I have a clock visible in every room in the house.
I carry a wristwatch with a busted strap around in my pocket… I also have a palmpilot, pocketPC, blackberry pager, and electronic personal organizer, all of which have timekeeping functions.
cell phone is a good option if you use one regularly (as in it’s always at hand). Otherwise, I’ve been using a pocket watch for years. Nothing big or fancy but I like it. You could also just carry a regular watch just not on your wrist. (On a loop, pinned in place, attached to clothing or bag, etc. You get the idea).
There are a couple of guys at work that have recently been wearing a watch that clips to a belt loop. It looks like a wristwatch buy only has a half band with a swivel clip that attaches to your first belt loop. It appears quite convenient and has easy accsess. I have been thinking of getting one because I can not stand to wear one on my wrist. They both said they got thiers at Wal-Mart.
Larry Niven, in his story “Cloak of Anarchy”, posited a guy with a digital watch tattooed on his wrist. Some embedded circuitry powered the tattoo so that it functioned as a watch. I want one.
I have both a pocketwatch and wristwatch, but since I started carrying a cell phone, the pocketwatch seemed redundant, since I could more easily whip out my cell phone and read the time.
But the newer cell phones, like the one I just got a couple of days ago, have a clamshell design that means you have to open it up before you can read the time, so now I have a good excuse to start carrying the pocket watch again.
I carry a Swiss Army pocket watch, which is a nice companion to my SA pocket knife. Rugged, sharp looking, nice features; nothing grampish about it. It is also available with a leather belt pouch.
