Why Should I Wear a Watch? My Phone Tells the Time!

Way back when, people had to try to tell time using sundials, hourglasses, and even looking at the position of the sun to try and tell the time, so when someone made a pocket watch the world started to really change!  Shipments and travel would become more reliable, and people could run their farms and lives better.  Those early timekeepers weren't perfectly accurate yet, though. 

In 1801 Abraham-Lous Breguet invented the Tourbillon mechanism which would improve accuracy by counteracting the effects of gravity in certain positions, which ended up being really helpful for ship captains!  This is one of the most difficult complications a watch can have, which inherently makes it one of the most expensive, so not everyone could afford this technology, leaving room for improvement.

Around 1868 Patek Philippe created one of the worlds first wristwatches, forever changing timekeeping, and establishing themselves as a premier watch manufacturer, and although wonderful watchmakers, their timepieces still weren't perfect, and people around the world strove to improve their accuracy.

Webb C. Ball, an American, helped bring timekeeping to the next level as he worked to standardize train schedules around the USA, and even worked with Patek Philippe to establish what would later become and what we now know as COSC (Chronometre) standards.

Throughout the 20th century we saw great strides in watchmaking including Breitling creating one of the first chronographs for your wrist in 1934, and Rolex making the first waterproof watch in 1926.  

This is an industry that has a lot of heritage, and I just gave you a very quick and short history of watchmaking, but I didn't answer the question, did I?  Why should I wear a watch???

Well, my first response is WHY NOT???  A watch does more than just tell time, it tells a story; of you, of your sense of style, of your sense of history, of your sense of fashion!  How many times have you worn a smart watch and had someone ask you about it?  Likely not often, but you wear a timepiece, people will compliment it, ask you about it, and share stories about theirs! 

A watch is a keepsake, a literal moment in time.  It can commemorate a birthday, the birth of a child, a wedding, a new rank in the military, a significant business accomplishment, or maybe it was an heirloom handed down from generation to generation to generation. 

It can match your outfit, and bring it all together with your belt and shoes.  It can tell people your level of success, or show off your discerning taste.  It can just look cool, or it can be highly complicated. You're not always in a place where it's acceptible or OK to take out your phone, and then you might want to know what time it ends, even if you've only been there for 15 minutes.

I like seeing people wearing watches; especially young ones.  It shows taste, and an appreciation, and that they can easily put the phone down and be in the moment.  I'm obviously a "watch guy" so I notice everyone's wrist, but I bet you will too, now.  Not sure which watch to get?  Just go into any watch retailer and look.  I promise the staff behind the counter will be happy to take you around and help you try things on.  

When you ask me what you should get, then it's time to put on a pot of coffee because we're going to have a great conversation to figure out what will be the perfect piece.