[starman]

Just a thought. Discuss.

[Stogieman]

Are watch sales down or something? A quick Google search didn't bring up anything.

[osiris]

I think so... Everything I need is on a cell phone - except a tachometer (which I rarely use anymore thanks to GPS). I have a drawer with about 6 or so decent watches in it that have remained untouched for quite some time.

[BasketofPuppies]

I would think so. You don't see nearly as many people wearing watches as you used to. Yet there are still a wide, wide variety of watches available in all sorts of price ranges and styles, so apparently phones are not huring watches that much.

Against my better judgment, I seem to be turning into a watch collector. Last month I bought a third watch, a Movado Classic Museum with a lizard skin strap. It tells time no better than some cheap Casio or Timex watch, yet it is the most expensive item I own that is not a computer or that I cannot fit inside or sit on.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Yeah, I would think so.

Edit: Dang, might have been a nice poll.

[Cold Warrior]

Mods can add polls to threads. starman - let me know if you would like one added, along with what questions (if beyond the basic yes/no).

[chichow]

Depends on what you define as the watch industry.

I mean you can pick up a nice watch for 50 dollars or 20,000 dollars.

Despite being tied to a cell phone (or crackberry), I still find it easier to check my wrist rather than the cell phone.

[SSharon]

For years I checked my phone for the time, but I have noticed that everyone around me still wears a watch and every lawyer and law student I know does the same. So yea, I got a decent watch when I got married more to fit in with society than to tell time.

[slpdLoad]

The majority of people I know, when asked the time, will check quickly on their cell phones.

Then again I stopped wearing a watch when I started using my MBP.

[Andy8]

I have never owned a watch before.

[JohnM15141]

I dunno, its kind of like asking "are watches ruining the Sun Dial industry?"

[Eug]

Well, the fact that a very accurate and half decent looking watch can be purchased for under $20 can't help either.

[MacosNerd]

I recall seeing a news story on this a while ago. Basically people are not buying watches anymore except for the very expensive (and then its more for the look). While people my age continue to buy watches, the younger generation just use their cell phones. The reporter did a quick unscientific poll and found most of the kids and young adults did not wear a watch but old farts like myself did.

[Eug]

Actually, I don't wear a watch now either, 99% of the time.

I do own one though, and a sundial too.

[Kenneth]

I'm under 30 and cannot leave home without wearing my watch. Guess I need something to tight up my wrist during the day.

[lavar78]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

While people my age continue to buy watches, the younger generation just use their cell phones.

That's what I've seen as well. The vast majority of the young (22 or younger) people I know (and I know a lot of them) all use their cell phones.

Personally, I like watches.

[Jawbone54]

No worries here. I hate wearing watches.

Just ask someone who is younger than 20 what time it is. $50 says they whip out the cell phone, even if they're wearing a watch.

[BasketofPuppies]

Originally Posted by Eug 

and a sundial too.

Don't you realize that you're hurting the stick in a pot of dirt industry by buying a sundial instead?

[zro]

Cell phones are usually OK for telling the time... until you need to see the clock while on a call. I actually stopped wearing a watch but found myself asking the other party what time it was while on a call. I'd feel like such a dumbass. Like my big brother always used to say, "Time to get a watch."

Originally Posted by Kenneth 

I'm under 30 and cannot leave home without wearing my watch. Guess I need something to tight up my wrist during the day.

OMG that last sentence is just dying to be fixinated.Bait?

[chichow]

Yeah but ask those 22 yrs olds once they start working

even if it is in a starbucks ... and see if they start wearing a watch then

[red rocket]

Maybe I’m too old, but I am having a hard time visualising any serious or socially sensitive scenario where it would be preferable to pull out a mobile than to look at your wrist watch.

I might start using a mobile phone to tell the time when they bring out one that looks like a quality wrist watch. (Frankly, I don’t understand why there aren’t any phones on the market that at least resemble those 1980s calculator watches. Even the buttons are the same size as on a lot of modern mobiles.)

[Apemanblues]

Originally Posted by BasketofPuppies 

Don't you realize that you're hurting the stick in a pot of dirt industry by buying a sundial instead?

No more than the stick in a pot of dirt industry hurt the Shamen who could read the sky industry.

[Eriamjh]

Cheap watches are becoming irrelevant, like cassette tapes. Replaced by something else that many already have (phones). Why carry both?

Someday, iPods will be irrelevant, too.

[thirsty]

Watch is more than a just about telling time.
It's a piece of Jewelry as much as a bracelet is, with the benefit of telling the time.

It could also be classified as a fashion statement. But certain Mobile/Cell phones are all about making Fashion statements as well.

personally my watches are my only Jewelry, thats why i have 4. Essentially it's not all that different to women and the multitude of different Rings, Bracelets and Neck chains they may were.

I must admit that when i'm on a Job, a take my watch of ( I'm a Home Theatre installer ) as it can get in the way, and the Clock on my iPhone is a quick solution when I don't have it on. Finish the Job and it goes back on though.

[PB2K]

So what does wearing NO watch tell about a person?

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by PB2K 

So what does wearing NO watch tell about a person?

That you're broke and have no fashion sense.
is what an asshole would say.

[PB2K]

ok. but we all know that upper brand watches (rolex, breitling, iwc) are 99% likely to be fake. So is having no 20th century watch and utilizing a 21st century telephone not just a show of technical evolution '?

[vmarks]

Timepieces were originally for those who could afford them. Then miniaturization and mass production made them more affordable for everyone.

Now they're jewelry.

[PB2K]

yes and that is just interesting because we all know that there is so much fake out there worn by pathetic people that we are not impressed anymore by the 'jewelry'.

edit : i like the digital compass-, manometer-, altimeter-, barometer-, gps-, tachometerwatches, they have something that is 21st century.

[Randman]

Just wait till the iPhoneiWatch comes out. That'll reverse any negative trends.

[paul w]

Until someone comes up with a way to tell time faster and easier than merely glancing at my wrist I'll stick with my watch thanks.

[hokie17]

I just look at my iPhone for the time. I stopped wearing a watch a year ago. Combination of reasons: 1) already have the time on the phone, 2) sensitive skin makes most watchbands cause my skin to break out in the summer heat.

I also don't have a fashion sense. I'm a tshirt and jeans guy.

[osiris]

Geez, I'm feeling peer pressure to get new batteries for my watches.

Once you go naked, it's hard to go back.

[calverson]

Originally Posted by hokie17 

I also don't have a fashion sense. I'm a tshirt and jeans guy.

I'm a tshirt and jeans and watch guy

In meetings, when waking up, when going to bed, I don't have my phone on me, but my watch will be there.

Ever been driving and had to pull your phone out of your jeans to just get the time?

[hokie17]

Nope. I have a universal dock mounted on my dash, aux in cable to my car stereo, and use an Apple remote to change tracks while driving.

[calverson]

Okay, and when you are showering?

[hokie17]

Who needs the time when showering?

[Dakar the Fourth]

More importantly, who the hell wears a watch while showering?

[calverson]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

More importantly, who the hell wears a watch while showering?

Okay while surfing.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by calverson 

Okay while surfing.

There's a cornerstone of the watch industry.

Edit: If you're surfing, chances are your schedule is relaxed enough that don't need to know the exact time.

[calverson]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

There's a cornerstone of the watch industry.

Edit: If you're surfing, chances are your schedule is relaxed enough that don't need to know the exact time.

Well since I have moved away from the beach I now wakeboard, and I do look at the time.

Agreed, it is not the biggest industry, and less and less people probably rely on watches these days, I still think that they have their use.

[Dakar the Fourth]

The last time I needed a watch was when I took a trip out of the country, and didn't take my cellphone. This is the only time I forsee myself needing a watch (and still I used on of the ones you hang from a belt loop).

[paul w]

Well if you with your crazy wild on-the-go lifestyle don't need one I guess it's settled.

[calverson]

'nuff said.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by paul w 

Well if you with your crazy wild on-the-go lifestyle don't need one I guess it's settled.

Yeah, where was I making any kind of statement like that?

Knee down, please.

[paul w]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

Yeah, where was I making any kind of statement like that?

Knee down, please.

I'm sorry I don't associate with poor people with no fashion sense.

Or... I suppose my stab at humor missed the funny bone.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by paul w 

I'm sorry I don't associate with poor people with no fashion sense.

Or... I suppose my stab at humor missed the funny bone.

Sorry, it got muddled up with some of the more bitter sarcastic remarks I've read on this forum.

And the smiley was added after I answered.

[starman]

Originally Posted by calverson 

'nuff said.

That it's hideously expensive?

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by calverson 

'nuff said.

I don't need a celebrity endorsement to tell me whether or not a timepiece is for me. My Citizen Calibre 2100 does everything the Tag does and more, including run on solar power.

I also have a Victorinox watch for work because it's rugged and easy to read. Otherwise, I use stuff like the Timex Camper (around $25) which tells time and that's all.

If I need a compass, I have a compass with me. If I need an anemometer or manometer, I take those with me (often very small-like the La Crosse hand held anemometer, on sale for$32.95).

[Railroader]

I pretty much stopped wearing a watch when I started carrying a cell phone all of the time. Seemed kind of redundant.

I have a pretty good internal sense of time. I am usually within 5 minutes even if I haven't seen a clock in hours. And I rarely need to know the time within a tolerance greater than that.