# Wristwatch on bottom of wrist? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 28, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331 "2004-07-28T22:12:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/1 "2004-07-28T22:12:41Z")
I saw some guy today wearing his wristwatch so that the face could be read by looking at the bottom of the wrist rather than the top. My curiosity about this habit was piqued once again, so I figure I’ll ask here: Why do people wear wristwatches this way? I know, less than a cosmic subject, but I have this intuition there may be an interesting story behind the customary and uncustomary manners of wristwatch orientation. Doing a little experiment just now, I can’t really say there’s much of an advantage, as far as convenience goes, to wearing it one way or the other. My watch doesn’t feel quite right on the bottom of the wrist, but since I’ve worn my watch on the top as long as I’ve had one, that’s not realy much of a surprise. So, what’s the deal with wristwatches and how we wear them? Is there any good reason for wearing a watch one way or another? If not, why do we mostly wear then with the face resting above the top of the wrist? And if not simply for the purposes of individual comfort, is there any practical rationale for occasionally wearing a watch in the opposite manner? (PS - A search of the site didn’t come up with anything - hope this isn’t a redundant thread). ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/2 "2004-07-28T22:23:44Z")
I occasionally adopt this method when doing activities that may result in the watch glass being scratched (mixing it with the car engine for example) but where I don’t want to remove the watch as I am likely to forget it and leave it behind. Otherwise I think it is just a personal preference/comfort thing. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/3 "2004-07-28T22:30:11Z")
I started wearing my watch this way because I didn’t like the size of the watch face and only wanted a narrow band encircling my wrist. That points kinda moot since I now wear a big bulky heart rate monitor but I’m still used to wearing my watch that way. I think my watch faces to get scratched more easily on the bottom of my wrist tho’… ---
**Author:** ![Yesterdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/d07c76/32.png) [@Yesterdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yesterdog)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/4 "2004-07-28T22:40:48Z")
I have heard stories that some people where it this way becuase it reflects their personality such as an arrogant individual thinks that it is his time and non one elses…or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![SnakeSpirit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snakespirit/32/7271_2.png) [@SnakeSpirit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakeSpirit)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/5 "2004-07-28T22:55:16Z")
I’ve done it both ways. In my case it was all practicality. As a kid I started wearing it the “standard” way, so everyone could see what a neat watch I had! Then when I got more active outdoors, rock climbing, snake hunting, rock hunting (never tried snake climbing, though), I wore it on the inside cause I was less likely to scratch the crystal. Then when I got a job as a furniture mover I moved it outside again since my wrist was always up against boxes, refrigerators and sofas. Then when I went to VietNam it went back inside, for several reasons, protection of the crystal was one, and avoidance of having the sun reflect off the crystal and spot my position was another. After VietNam it stayed inside for no particular reason, except for habit, even though it’s harder to see the time that way. Then I got a solar-powered watch and it wouldn’t get enough charge inside, so I’m outside again. S¬ …^ ---
**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:** [July 28, 2004, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/6 "2004-07-28T22:59:33Z")
When I wore a wristwatch (I use a pocketwatch these days) I wore it face-in, pretty much for the reason **Yesterdog** detailed. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![zephyrine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/35a633/32.png) [@zephyrine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zephyrine)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/7 "2004-07-28T23:35:57Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > When I wore a wristwatch (I use a pocketwatch these days) I wore it face-in, pretty much for the reason **Yesterdog** detailed. 😃 When I wore a watch I wore it face-in too, partly because my father did (he claimed it stopped it getting scratched), and partly because I was a showoff who wanted to be different. After a while it just became habit. Now I don’t wear a watch at all because I’m so arrogant I KNOW my time is more important than other people’s. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/8 "2004-07-28T23:41:17Z")
When I’m working, I used a particular machine that makes turning the wrist inconvienent (don’t ask). So, then I flip my watch over. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/9 "2004-07-28T23:58:38Z")
Crystal protection for me. A watch on my wrist is _exactly_ the same height as doorknobs and I cracked more than one crystal on 'em (So I’m clumsy). Later on, when I was working in a casino, it was handy for checking the time when writing a jackpot ticket. I’m a southpaw and it was easier to do a small roll to the outside rather than a larger roll to the inside to read the watch. DD ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/10 "2004-07-29T03:04:38Z")
My dad wore his that way for so long that we made sure the funeral director had it turned in when we buried him. I wear mine that way, mostly because wearing it on top irritates my hand when I reflex my wrist (and I do that a lot, being a typist and all). ---
**Author:** ![Spezza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Spezza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spezza)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/11 "2004-07-29T03:10:43Z")
I do believe, or so my sister tells me, that it was a mod thing in the 60’s/70’s England. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/12 "2004-07-29T04:21:36Z")
I thought people did it because they had one too many embarrassing accidents with spilling the drink in their hand when someone would ask for the time and they’d flip their wrist over without thinking and switching the cup to their other hand first. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/13 "2004-07-29T04:26:33Z")
The U.S. military instructs personnel in the field to wear their wristwatches facing inward. It reduces the chance of reflections off of the crystal. Some ex-military people continue to wear their watches in this manner. Others copy them. End of story. We’ve done this before, too: [What is the point of wearing your wrist watch down?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=237951) **LSLGuy** summed it up best in that thread: > [@LSLGuy](#): > > The US Army teaches folks to wear the watch with the face on the inside of the wrist. > > 1. As others have pointed out, it reduces the likelhood of bashing the watch on soomething and breaking it. > > 2. More importantly, it shields the watch crystal from view by the enemy. On a sunny day a piece of glass can act as a mirror, and a bunch of soldiers trying to slink hrough the bush may be unwittingly signalling their location with their watches. That’s Very Bad for their health. A watch face on the inside of the wrist is a LOT less likely to flash in the first place, and the reflections tend to be more into your body or towards the rear, rather than outside & ahead where the bad guys likely are. > > They also have fabric watch bands that have extra flaps which cover the entire watch and are secured by velcro. That completely eliminates flashes, but then you have to make niose to read the time, which can also be bad for your health when sitting ambush or doing other stealthy activities. > > And despite what someone said above, a lot of tactical events, attacks, etc., start at a very precisely pre-arranged time. All stealth is lost once the noise begins, but up to that moment everyone is tiptoeing and whispering and hiding and waiting until their watch says exactly 0803:00 or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/14 "2004-07-29T04:35:08Z")
Moved to IMHO. - **xash** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/15 "2004-07-29T04:39:00Z")
My watch tends to rotate outward on its own during the course of the day–not enough to slide around the inside of my wrist, but enough that I have to either adjust it or hold my arm _really_ oddly to get a good look at the face. I imagine if I had to read my watch very often, it would be a lot simpler to just wear the thing on the inside so I could read it easily no matter how much it had slipped. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/16 "2004-07-29T05:45:19Z")
I always wore mine on the inside because it was easier to look at the time. With the way I right, my hand is on it’s side, so the watch is facing me. Also, it prevents the face of the watch from digging into the back of my hand when I’d flex my wrist. But weird. I’m right handed and wear my watch on my right wrist. So, you may want to ignore my reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/17 "2004-07-29T05:46:41Z")
When I wear my watch (infrequently) I wear it with the face turned inside. It’s one of those great big honkin’ Casio G-Shock watches and the case has these big plastic protuberances sticking out at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions (or where they would be if it weren’t digital, ha ha). If I wear it the “normal” way, every time I flex my wrist to check the time those bulges jam right into the back of my hand and it hurts like crazy. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/18 "2004-07-29T07:12:40Z")
I wear mine to the inside also. Two reasons, it’s more comfortable for me. And I’m a klutz, I’m always bashing my knees, or hands, or something against something else (usually something else that’s hard). So I’m always afraid I’m going to smash it. ---
**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/19 "2004-07-29T11:52:22Z")
I once read that it came from workers (carpenters maybe?) wanting to keep an eye on the time as the end of the workday neared, but didn’t want to be obvoius about it to the boss. Turning their watch inward allowed them to protect the face and to sneak a peek at the time without being branded a clock watcher. I can’t remember where I read this, it may have been here, or at Snopes, and I can’t honestly remember if it was the debunked theory or not, so take that with a few grains of salt. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331/20 "2004-07-29T13:43:30Z")
I read a description of a character once who wore their watch inward, and it stated that she wore it “like a trucker”. So perhaps truckers adopt this style so they can see the face while their hands are on the wheel? I don’t know, but I liked the description enough that I wore my watch that way for a couple years after I read it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wristwatch-on-bottom-of-wrist/257331.md?page=2)