# What's The Alternative To A Wristwatch? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303 "2004-08-30T21:14:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/1 "2004-08-30T21:14:11Z")
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.) ---
**Author:** ![jdc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@jdc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdc)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/2 "2004-08-30T21:18:35Z")
Cell phone or PDA? ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/3 "2004-08-30T21:20:54Z")
What’s wrong with a pocket watch? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/4 "2004-08-30T21:24:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/5 "2004-08-30T21:26:00Z")
_looks at taskbar_ “It’s 4:25.” ---
**Author:** ![Aragowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/da6949/32.png) [@Aragowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aragowyn)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/6 "2004-08-30T21:26:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/7 "2004-08-30T21:31:07Z")
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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/8 "2004-08-30T21:35:44Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/9 "2004-08-30T21:39:05Z")
I’ve long carried a pocket watch. Fits in nicely with my three piece suits, that I typically wear every day. ---
**Author:** ![SatyrDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@SatyrDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SatyrDave)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/10 "2004-08-30T21:41:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/11 "2004-08-30T23:17:45Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/12 "2004-08-30T23:36:30Z")
> [@jdc](#): > > Cell phone or PDA? 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. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/13 "2004-08-30T23:57:58Z")
If you have time on your hands…oh, right, you don’t…try this…[http://www.exploratorium.edu/science\_explorer/sunclock.html](http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/sunclock.html) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/14 "2004-08-31T00:25:42Z")
For women, it’s not hard to find watch necklaces. As a retiree, this is where I get to snicker about folks who still need watches. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/15 "2004-08-31T00:37:37Z")
\*\* A Pocket Sundial?\*\* ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/16 "2004-08-31T00:41:55Z")
I’ve worn a pocket watch for decades. Not hard to find new ones that are as flashy as you want, or as understaed as you want. ---
**Author:** ![Balduran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cc9497/32.png) [@Balduran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balduran)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/17 "2004-08-31T02:05:25Z")
> [@SatyrDave](#): > > 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. That’s what I’ve got. 10 bucks at walmart. I love it. ---
**Author:** ![cybersnark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9e5f3/32.png) [@cybersnark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cybersnark)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/18 "2004-08-31T02:13:41Z")
[http://www.thelibraryshop.org/ringwatch.html](http://www.thelibraryshop.org/ringwatch.html) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/19 "2004-08-31T02:17:09Z")
I carry a [Swiss Army pocket watch](http://www.princetonwatches.com/shop/24720.asp), 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](http://www.princetonwatches.com/shop/24721.asp). ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303/20 "2004-08-31T02:24:30Z")
I stopped wearing a watch when I got a cell phone. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-alternative-to-a-wristwatch/262303.md?page=2)