Are You a Watch Person? Want to Become One?
Wearing a watch, to me, feels as regular as brushing my teeth. I started wearing one — a Kate Spade outlet store two-tone find for $125 — a decade ago. It made me feel polished as a college student, showing up for class, slipping out my notebook, and taking copious notes, eying the way my watch caught the overhead fluorescents.
The inclination to wear a watch can be learned, like a habit. Wearing one doesn’t feel natural for everyone at first, but it can become part of your getting-ready-for-the-day, putting-your-armor-on process, if you want it to be.
There’s lots out there on how to spend thousands of dollars on a watch, but less on where to begin as you dip your toes into the timepiece water. My best advice is to shop second hand.
I wear an oversized Cartier Tank Française, which was an anniversary gift from my husband. I spent months looking at old outfit images I’d collected, making note of the kind of watch I liked on other people. Since I’m tall and opt for menswear, I knew I wanted something on the larger size.
My next step, after research, was to visit stores that stocked second-hand options. If you live in New York, try the Diamond District or The RealReal, and take lots of pictures. If you’re shopping online, be sure to measure the wrist strap length and make sure returns are accepted.
For the uninitiated, below are a few under $500 picks to get you in the groove. Wear one for a year and if you love it, maybe it’s time to upgrade. Or maybe you’ll find your under $500 watch just perfect.
* I wear my March Hare Harriet watch (above) whenever I travel. It feels very Joan Didion to me. And the leather looks as good as the day I slipped it on for the first time three years ago.
* Go bold with a modern watch from Machete.
* This Tissot watch bats above its weight at $350. I’m impressed!
* I wore a two-tone Shinola watch (above) for years before getting my Cartier.
* Be sure to check The RealReal or eBay if skinnier watches are your thing. You’ll find lots from Gucci and other chic brands for under $500.
* When I polled people, many loved wearing a Swatch. I think the forest green is particularly cool.
* This Breda sky blue face is begging to be paired with a floral sundress.
Thoughts? Would you wear one of these? If you wear a watch, what do you love about it?
Erika Veurink is a writer and consultant living in Brooklyn by way of Iowa. She writes the fashion newsletter Long Live and is the founder of EV Salon, where online connections happen IRL.
P.S. How to make a charm necklace and Erika’s week of outfits.
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Comments
124 commentsTo whoever suggested the Casio watch with a timer on it—thank you! The life changing magic of short, easy timers. To any time blind ADHD friends reading this old thread, especially recommend for you all!!
Good article. It’s helpful to know that many women’s watches under $500 offer reliable quality — stainless‑steel cases, durable crystals, and accurate movements while remaining affordable. It shows that a watch doesn’t need to be expensive to be useful and stylish. Which model from this list stands out as strong value for someone looking for longevity and everyday wearability?
Diving into the world of haute horology is always fascinating. Platforms like Coveted make it easy to explore some of the most exquisite timepieces. The iconic A. Lange & Sohne Lange 1 impresses with its elegant design, while the classic A. Lange & Sohne 1815 reflects the brand’s precision and tradition. For those who love artistic complications, the Van Cleef & Arpels Poetic Complications are mesmerizing, and the intricate beauty of the Van Cleef & Arpels Extraordinary Dials makes every glance a delight.
I have never liked wearing things on my wrist, some days I can barely tolerate a hair tie. BUT I recently learned about 24-hour watches and bought myself a Slow Watch that has 24 hour notches on it, so you can really see how much of the day has passed and how much remains. My life is busy and full and wearing this watch has actually made me pause throughout the day and be mindful of how I’m spending my time. https://www.slow-watches.com/
I got my first watch when I was 7 from my grandparents, and I loved it. I wore it every day until I lost it playing catch with my dad when I was 12 or so. I got 2 watches for my birthday afterwards, but none of them stuck the same way. A few years ago, my beloved grandma passed away and I received her Dior Bulova watch – and it was perfect. I wore it every day, but on a trip to London a while later something happened – I don’t know if I was pickpocketed or whether it just fell off because the clasp was a little broken, but I lost it on the tube. I cried so much. I was so ashamed. I still miss it, I still miss her, and I’m still hoping to find one just like it sometime in the future.
Thank you for this post! My husband is a lover of watches, but I’ve never seen many I’ve liked for myself. I ended up really liking the Breda you linked and got one. It’s fun!
For autumn and winter, it’s a black on black Movado with diamond disc. For spring and summer it’s a white ceramic Citizen eco drive with floating diamonds that slide around. I feel naked without a watch on.
thank you for this! what watch is in the last photo of the article? thank you
I’ve been thinking a lot about the comments on cost. I think it’s like a lot of things: of course you don’t have to spend a lot on a watch, but if the style/quality/etc. is particularly important to you then go for it! I prefer to wear hand-made jewelry that costs a decent amount and have had it longer and wear it more than my less expensive, non-handmade jewelry. Is one right and one wrong? Of course not! I like saving up and buying myself something special every couple of years. I think it can be yet another “good for her, not for me”.
A funny story related to watches. A few months ago, my sweet husband set up a massage for me. It was with a new massage therapist. She did not provide much guidance as to what to take off so I fully unclothed (as I normally do at this Studio) and got under the blankets. I definitely never take my watch off. Her first words when she re-entered the room and examined the situation were, you couldn’t get the watch off? I seriously laugh to this day about that exchange. But I do love my watch. :)
I discovered Breda watches a few years ago and boy oh boy do I love them. I’m on my second now and just talked my sister into buying herself one!
The TIMEX weekender is the PERFECT watch. It’s like $25-30 (at least it was 5 years ago), its cute, chic, and comes in a million colors. It has that timeless, yet modern look you might see in the MET giftstore. Anyway, for you ladies who don’t have $500 to drop or pride yourself on your frugality, this is is it. You’re welcome.
I’m a forever lover of Timex and Fossil watches! Great price points (though they’ve gone up over the years) and last FOREVER. Wearing a two-tone Fossil one now with a blue face that I’ve had for years that looks pretty luxe IMO.
I adore Timex watches. Especially the men’s ones.
My husband bought me an Apple Watch that I didn’t really want back in 2021. I don’t like the look of them but I ended up wearing it most days and now I credit it for perhaps saving my life and my (at the time) unborn daughter. One day, in my 37th week of pregnancy, I woke up with severe leg achiness and just an overall dragged-down feeling. I was at the point in my pregnancy where I didn’t think much of it as I was miserable all around all the time but my heart rate was really fast and wouldn’t come down. I kept getting those “high heart rate while you appear to be resting” notifications. Anyway, this is what prompted me to call my OB who sent me into triage to be evaluated. Turns out I had Covid. My heart rate was super high and my blood pressure was low as well as my O2 levels and ended up needing to be hospitalized for treatment. I had none of the respiratory symptoms of Covid so it didn’t even cross my mind that that’s what it could be. I’d love to switch to analog watch (I like the look a lot better!) but now feel very sentimental towards my Apple Watch.
Since ever, I wanted to have a Tag Heur watch. It’s sporty and feminin, I always loved it. So, when I separated from my partner and got back the money I had lent him for an investment in his family business, I finally decided to buy the watch. It doesn’t symbolize the separation — not at all. For me, it’s a celebration of a happy moment when I fulfilled a dream I had always had. I love it and I wear it all the time. The other day I forgot to put it on and it felt like being “naked”. :)
I always wear a watch, I feel naked without one. I have worn one since elementary school! I’ve gone through phases of having several fun watches I would rotate between, I had a Samsung smartwatch for a few years,but really, I just want to wear a simple analog watch with a leather strap, the same one every day. I have a Fossil watch I’ve had for at least 10 years and I often have to buy new (fake) leather bands for it because I dont take it off when I was dishes, etc. But it just never occurs me to spend more that $50 on a watch! I think I’d be afraid to lose it!
I love wearing a watch (STRONGLY prefer checking a real clock face to my phone for the time) but I’m a mom of three little kids which means I wash my hands about a dozen times a day and wash dishes practically as often. I cannot stand the feeling of the wet band on my skin, and it’s inevitable that the band does get wet when I’m at the sink. Any suggestions for how to resolve this issue!? I miss wearing a watch!!
I don’t have a solution for hand washing, but just here to say I always wear dishwashing gloves when washing dishes – it’s the best.
For sure rubber gloves; and if you put hand cream on before wearing them, the heat from the water gives you a nice hand treatment. Makes doing the dishes feel a bit less like a chore.
the writer sarah miller got a funny gig writing about luxury watches for awhile as a “complete newbie” and her columns are a really wonderful peek into that world https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/we-sent-a-complete-newbie-shopping-for-a-rolex-heres-what-happened
I’ve been wearing a watch since high school and love them. I love Cartier. But I’ve been recently learning about watches and have learned it’s using mostly a quartz battery. For the true watch lovers, manuals are where to go. Jaeger Le Coultre has some beautiful ones for women, and Longines and Tag Heuer for slightly lower price points. It’s amazing the mechanics behind a manual watch!
My husband bought me an Apple Watch years ago, prior to hip replacement surgery. At the time, it was more of game; how far can I go before I can’t walk any farther. I still wear the watch years later, but as a middle school teacher, I became hyper aware that my watch was really distracting, thanks to seeing students be so distracted with theirs. I have recently removed everything that notify me, and the watch is just a watch. I’ve noticed recently that the watch is not holding as long of a charge, and I am not sad. I have dug out my old Seiko and am planning to take it to a jeweler to have the battery replaced. I love to go to thrift stores/markets and have noticed lots of watches lately. I’m here for the trend of leaving the smartwatch behind! I am also on the campaign to ban smartwatches at my school. A campaign I think I’m winning (fingers crossed.)
I am also a teacher and wore an Apple Watch for a couple of years. I only had notifications for texts, but I also found it way too distracting and ditched it about 6 months ago. I work at a school where kids aren’t allowed to have phones or smart watches (it’s a behavioral alternative school so they were allowed at their home schools). The vast majority of my kids (middle and high school) say they prefer not having phones at school because they pay better attention in class and actually talk to their classmates. Here to cheer you on in your efforts!
I’ve been wearing the same inexpensive Casio watch (not literally the same one, but the same model) for thirty years. I love the timer setting. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GB1RBY?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1
My favorite thing about wearing a watch is I can check the time without pulling out my phone. Underrated!!!
I am from Detroit, as is Shinola. My Mom once went on a tour with her women’s club and really enjoyed it. She was totally a Timex, no frills woman. After five very hard years caring for her with dementia ended, I used some of the money she left me to buy a Shinola watch, as a memory. It makes me smile because she would be horrified that I spent so much. I wear it every day.
This is a crazy article to write when Brynn Wallner exists, lol. I highly doubt the COJ team doesn’t know about her, so not sure why you wouldn’t promote her? Literally a woman who founded a watch brand and has written guides on how to buy watches for women…missed opportunity for yall to lift up women!
Brynn seems great! Erika is a fashion columnist for us, so we use her for our fashion pieces like this. thank you!
Aren’t they lifting up Erika as a fashion writer? Lover her viewpoint as someone who’s analyzing fashion as a whole.
My favorite watch was on super clearance 11 years ago (I got it just before my wedding and honeymoon, and wore it traipsing around Cornwall, so I remember) at Charming Charlie’s, which is, like the watch, long gone. But it featured an orange cat on a large round face. Black band. So many times I pull my smart phone out of my pocket and I wish I still had that watch to check the time (is it just me or does the phone start . . . wearing on you after a while). Anyway, this post has inspired me. Off to search for cat watches!
I am a watch person because my inner clock is broken. 30 minutes will pass and I’ll think it was 5. A watch is a necessity! I got so sick of always leaving a pile of watches that needed the battery replaced. Such a pain in the ass and hard to find a place that does it for a reasonable price. And then you have to go back to get it! I found the mechanical watches I liked to be around $1k and up. Out of my price range. Then my aunt suggested a citizen ecozen. They run on solar power; she’s had one over a decade and never needed to change the battery. I got one and I’m so damn pleased with it!
Where I live, Macy’s will change the battery while you wait — not sure if they do this everywhere though. That being said, I have a Seiko solar watch and love it!
I wish I was. I like the idea. In reality they over up my tattoos in a way I dislike…
Analog lovers unite! <3 Several years ago, I learned I was allergic to gold and had to give up most of my jewelry, including a yellow gold bracelet stack that was my “signature” jewelry thing. I decided to try a traditional watch as a replacement, since my wrist felt empty, and did exactly what the author suggested – I started with a pre-owned Cartier Roadster. After a couple of years of regular wear, I wanted something a little more jewelry-like and got a Cartier Panthere which I wear almost daily. I wear my Apple Watch for workouts but with an analog face and almost every feature turned off. I’m totally happy with my collection of 2 “nice” watches but would love to get a Swatch next.
Well, now I really want a Harriet watch. Feel I am owed a Cupofjo promo code given how much this newfound obsession derailed my morning coffee and news into a Poshmark/ebay spiral trying to find a used one. 😂
I love Timex watches. Inexpensive. Lots of styles. I have 4. I don’t understand spending more than $150 on a watch. I just need something that can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.
My dad nicknamed my daughter Timex because “she takes a lickin and keeps on ticking!”. She’s been fighting and thriving in the NICU for nearly 300 days – she received her tracheostomy this spring and she’s coming home in June :) A huge thank you to everyone who encouraged me on a comment I left last August, preemies are awe inspiring!
I still remember my first Timex I got as a kid in the 60s. it had a gray band. I can still see it. I think I still have a portion of it. The band broke at some point. But yeah Timex watches were the thing back then. :)
I love wearing a watch, but I’m a pianist, and I just can’t deal with having any extra stuff on my hands or wrists. I’ve gone through watch-wearing phases a few times and usually end up leaving watches on pianos in various concert halls and practice rooms.
I got a Casio after reading this Cup of Jo article in the depths of covid: https://cupofjo.com/2020/04/30/week-of-outfits-juliana-sohn/. Juliana mentioned that there’s a bit of a Casio cult and she’s right. People always comment on it and it brings me joy on the daily. You can get it for 30 bucks!!
I LOVE Aark watches – this one with the squiggly hour hand is a favorite! https://aarkcollective.com/products/tide-neu-gold/
Ooo thank you for this!! These have an eccentric architect + funky retired lady vibe that I LOVE. Putting this one on my wish list with the smooth black strap (also love that you can choose your strap!) https://aarkcollective.com/products/classic-tortoise-black/
I have a Garmin Forerunner 55 that I wear every single day. I love that it’s “smart” in terms of tracking my workouts/physical activity and I can customize the watch face and graphics, but I have not activated any other “smart” features like getting texts on it. That’s what my phone is for, IMO. My previous Garmin lasted 7 years, and I expect to get a similar lifetime out of this one! It’s waterproof, durable, high quality, and pretty cute for a sporty watch :)
I’m totally a watch girl. I wear a watch almost daily and rotate between five different styles. My favorite is a gold Bulova watch that I inherited from my maternal grandmother. She passed away when she was 108 years old, so I’m hoping her longevity rubs off on me. I sometimes wish my watches had magical powers—because even though I always know the time, I still manage to be perpetually late.
Picto watches are super fun and modern, very museum gift store. It’s been my daily driver for a long time now.
One of my favorite things is an oversized Michael Kors watch that I have worn every day for almost 15 years now. It’s so big, it makes me feel like I’m wearing my grandpa’s watch, which I love. I bought it with some law school graduation gift money the day before sitting for the bar exam, and at the time it was the most I had ever spent on something for myself and it still reminds me of how proud I am of myself for putting in all that hard work.
Considering I’m the one who posted that these give me 2010’s “going out top” PTSD I have such a similar story! I bought it to celebrate getting my first raise / promotion and it’s still such a lovely reminder of those early years and early achievements!
Haha @Lindsay I’m so glad you shared this!
Did you know that wearable watches are really jewellery in disguise? For anyone with a bit of French: https://www.srf.ch/sendungen/school/sprachen/histoire-suisse-helveticus-en-francais. Have fun! Best a PS: Mine is a Swatch Gents-
I love the way watches complete a outfit (and that green swatch is so cool!) but I hate wearing anything on my hands/wrists. I don’t even wear my engagement/wedding rings, and don’t even like polish on my fingernails!
Real question: I wear an Apple Watch regularly to help keep track of my kids’ appointments but daily use has led to an ugly watch tan. Is this an inevitable part of being a watch wearer or has anyone been able to avoid this??
Same question! My only answer is switching sides but I can’t stand it on the wrong side.
I mean, sunscreen? Alba Botanicals makes a great basic body lotion with a daily sunscreen added. I’ve been realizing that forearms are very susceptible to sun damage, after noticing the arms of older women. https://www.amazon.com/Alba-Botanica-Emollient-Formula-32-Ounce/dp/B001441QE0?ref_=ast_sto_dp
All I can think of (as another Apple Watch user…not because I love them, but because having Siri on my wrist is very useful at this stage in my kids’ life) is switching arms, or using self-tanner on that patch which sounds…risky.
For most of high school and college, I carried a keychain watch: a ladybug whose wings opened to reveal a watch face. For one whole summer, I wore a plastic Shrek Pinocchio watch that came in a cereal box! For over ten years and several batteries, I’ve had this Swatch (https://www.swatch.com/en-us/black-classiness-ss08k103/SS08K103.html) which I wear intermittently. I like how simple and low profile it is.
ooo that’s a nice one!
I am extremely time-blind, so I’ve become totally dependent on wearing a watch. I get anxious without one! I got off the smartwatch treadmill a long time ago and don’t miss it at all. I would never spent anything like $500 on a watch though! I have been noticing casios on some cool people’s wrists, and I now have three. My favorite is a grandpa watch, analog/digital in gold. I get lots of compliments from cute barista-types. Lately though, I’ve switched to a clear/purple Baby G because the timers are so dang useful. Hilariously, it also has a function to store your friends’ phone numbers! I see a lot of cool
I got a Baby G recently to help with sleep—of all things. It’s 90s cool and the face lights up, which lets me see what time it is without checking my phone. If I’ve been up for 20-30 min I get out of bed. It’s turned me into a watch person for days I want one (I don’t wear one at work, I don’t wear it when working out, etc). I love that it’s waterproof and inexpensive for when I forget I have it on. I can’t stress enough what a relief it is to know the time without locating your phone.
I yearend to be a watch person, but alas, I am a deeply forgetful water baby. My parents gave me a sturdy mixed metal watch many moons ago and every time I try to bust it out…she gets dunked. I have dipped this loveley time piece in multiple different oceans, mountain swimming holes, and one ill fated hot tub. The last time I wore it was over a year ago, into a sauna where it got so hot against my skin I thought perhaps this was her vengeance- fair enough. I’ve decided I’ll just keep swimming with only a vague idea of what time it is
Can we swim together and tell each other the same stories over and over? Deeply forgetful water babies unite!
It sounds like you need to get into Diver watches… literally made for scuba divers! Unfortunately I think it very limited in terms of women’s divers, but if you’re okay with a larger dial… I think that would be so cool. There are many water resistant watches that could work!
I’ve worn a watch since junior high. I resisted switching to an Apple Watch for years until my husband bought me one as a gift. I’ve worn it daily for about four years now but have never loved it. I don’t use any of the features. I hate accepting calls on it, I hate texting on it, I don’t wear it to track my sleep. Literally I use it to keep track of the time and during workouts. I’ve been considering going back to an analog watch (because why do I need to know how many steps I took in a day? Why do I need to know how many calories I burned during Pilates? Why do I need to be congratulated on standing up 12 times?) anyway, perfect timing on this post. I’m going to take it as a sign and buy myself a Citizen watch that I’ll enjoy wearing. I’ve been missing the days of having less data, fewer ways to be contacted/notified/distracted! Thanks!
What you wrote about why we need so much data about ourselves constantly really resonated with me, Jen :(
These may have been rhetorical questions haha but I’ll say… you don’t need it, if you don’t want it! I was a late adopter to wearables and I started wearing a fitbit 2 years ago. I turned off most of the notification except for those that provide me positive reinforcement! I’m a pretty active person already and sometimes I’m tempted to think “does all this movement even matter?” And the fitbit data just answers that question with a YES. For example, the data shows me that during times I’m more consistently active my resting heart rate tends to tick down a few bpms. Or, when i’m drinking less alcohol, my sleep score is higher So I just use it as a way to pat myself on the back, for doing movement and taking good care of myself, it quantifies that effort in a satisfying way.
Everyone knows the data is not for “us”. It’s for the data brokers so they can determine what to charge you for life insurance, loan rates, etc…any benefit users receive is literally just the vehicle for the enormous amount of money that is made -by others – off of the data.
I got an open-box old-generation Apple Watch and promptly turned off a lot of features and almost all of the notifications (except for texts from my husband and oldest kid, neither of whom are frequent texters so if they send me a message it’s likely important). I primarily wanted it because getting Siri to start timers/alarms and add reminders to my various lists was super helpful for my time-blind self. I used to have a more basic watch, but I yearned for Siri to take some of my mental load haha. I don’t really even exercise, so I’m glad I paid very little for this.
Yes! I know we’re in the minority, but amassing personal data seems… useless? Stressful?
I haven’t worn a watch since the Covid shut downs! When I did, I wore a Fossil two tone metal watch, with the face surrounded by small rhinestones…drfontely felt more jewelryish than time keeper!
I am surprised no one has mentioned hybrid watches yet! I have always worn a watch, and for ~10 years it had been a stainless steel ESQ that was motion-activated and that I LOVED until it was pickpocketed in Argentina before the pandemic. Then, I found a Fossil Hybrid Smartwatch, which I have had for the past five or so years. It is great because it looks like a regular, stainless steel watch, but it tracks my steps, heart rate, workout, and can let me change the music on my headphones. The battery usually lasts for a week or so, and it charges in an hour-ish. The reason I love the watch, though, is that I have it set to vibrate ONLY when I get calls/texts from my husband, teenage sons, or mom. I generally keep my phone on silent all the time and pick times to check it, rather than having it interrupt me. I am in meetings all day long and I used to miss messages and calls from my family, to their great annoyance. Now I can see when one of them is looking for me and decide whether or not to find my phone and see what they want : ). Fossil no longer makes these hybrid watches, but Citizen does, and there are a few others I have found. I am going to be sad when this one dies, and I will need a replacement ready to go.
This is me! I love my Fossil Hybrid Smartwatch (looks 100% analog with a supercute dark blue face and a brown faux croc leather band I added), and the literal ONLY “smart” feature I have set up is my alarm vibrates on my wrist instead of an auditory alarm (like, on my phone). I didn’t realize until one day I didn’t have my watch so I set an alarm on my phone and woke up with a HUGE adrenaline rush, just how much more calmly a vibration on my wrist wakes me up. It’s a completely different experience and I’ll never give it up. The idea of texts or calls coming through on my body makes me shudder — I could never.
I’m a very visual thinker (slash synesthete) and analog time makes more sense to me than a string of numbers digital display. I for sure have neurodivergent time blindness, and analog displays are one of the only tools that helps me counteract this. My biggest gripe with watches is how staunchly guy-built they remain, especially in the styles I’m most drawn to, like field, chronograph, and pilot watches. I’m a petite person with narrow wrists and many of my favorite watches wouldn’t work on me in real life.
A post after my own heart!! I LOVE my watches. I feel naked without them. My roommate in college (early 00s) wanted to go to the Ellen show for her birthday, and long story short, we ended up on one of her giveaway days, and one of the prizes was a Tissot watch. I have been hooked ever since! I have a light pink Swatch, a handful of cheaper Fossil watches, and my first *big time* gift to myself, a rose gold Victorinox I bought after a job promotion. Gonna have to check all these out and maybe treat myself to a new one! :)
Watches ALL the way. Swatch is my watch. Have a navy blue one and a metal one. I don’t wear jewellery, not even my wedding band and engagement rings (eczema), I always wear a watch. When my parents were newly married, late 50s my father moved to Switzerland for work, my mum remained in Italy. He returned and gave my mum the most beautiful watch, tiny face, with 3 tiny diamonds on top and bottom. On my wedding day, my parents gifted it to me. This will be passed on to my daughter. My dream is an Omega men’s watch (like my dad used to have). Look at second hd stores, my daughter purchased a watch for $2.00 (Australian) we took it to have a new battery put in and the gentleman kept saying how good the watch is and you can’t find them like this anymore.
I love lurking on the Watches Reddit sub thread—this post is totally up my alley. I’ve worn a watch probably every day since fourth grade. I own some cheapies and some fancier watches, and both have their merits. Re buying luxury watches, here are my two cents. Buying pre-owned is always a good idea, places like Bucherer and 1916 will guarantee pre-owned purchases. TRY ON a luxury watch before buying, it’s hard to know what will look good by a picture online. If you buy a luxury watch, wear it all the time and enjoy it! Life’s too short to save wearing a watch for a special occasion.
“If you buy a luxury watch, wear it all the time and enjoy it! Life’s too short to save wearing a watch for a special occasion.” love this concept, Ashley! reminds me of the scene in Sideways where he drinks his favorite splurge-y red wine at a local diner even though it’s not a special occasion because, he says, opening the wine IS a special occasion.
“If you buy a luxury watch, wear it all the time and enjoy it! Life’s too short to save wearing a watch for a special occasion.” You definitely have me thinking. I have a Rolex Diamond Datejust with a mother of pearl face. I have only worn it a few times as it’s just so expensive and wearing it feels so conspicuous. I’ve become more minimalist and really only wear my wedding rings now. And now it sadly lives in the bank safe. But I should consider viewing this watch like nice jewelry and wear it more often, especially before I can’t
I have a Longines classique- I wear it to work,the gym,walking the dog,playing golf,gardening. I wear it everyday all day. I have learnt to use the nice things. It has taken a long time to have the epiphany. So glad I have.
I never think about watches, but I am reading through the comments and looking at all the links and considering. I like the idea of not having to rely on a phone for time (unpopular opinion: I miss when phones stayed in one place, stuck to the wall or resting on a table, and I didn’t have to constantly cart one around). I am wondering if anyone likes a pocket watch or a locket watch on a chain to wear around your neck?
I think your ” unpopular opinion ” is more popular than you think. I’m with you ! :)
Always and forever a watch wearer. I was in high school when Swatch watches arrived on the scene and my boyfriend got me that striped one that was the be-all, end-all of coolness. Nowadays I prefer a metal watch, slightly chunky but not full menswear size – my hands are too small for that. My current daily wear is an art deco-style Baume & Mercier that my husband found on Ebay a long time ago.
To me, this is so bizarre. Everyone I know wears an Apple Watch (besides my parents). It is such a part of my life now to track workouts and set alarms and reminders and play music and answer calls (using headphones). I always thought the regular watch would die out. It’s so fun to see so many people still wearing and interested in analog watches! Fascinating!
seconded. would love to see a post on beautiful smart watches. since I started wearing one I can’t go back to regular watches. I dislike apple watches but don’t know which other brand makes beautiful watches that are also slim and discrete. I use fitbit but they don’t update the app and the watch also malfunctions.
Apple Watches are a hard no for me for many reasons. Team analog watch all the way! :)
To Malena- Garmin makes a smartwatch called Lily that I think is great. I had a Garmin watch for a couple of years and loved it- it was “smart” but simple enough for what I really actually needed and kept a charge for days/a week…then my sweet husband upgraded me to an Apple Watch cos it was the thing that everyone had, and I’ve never cottoned to it the same way. In fact I’ve cursed it a lot, mostly for it constantly being out of battery life and it making me feel like a fool to use it’s reminder ability for a reminder to charge it!
I am very much watch person! I wear my simple SEIKO every day since I get it like 18 years ago. I feel so proud of myself bc I did’n fall into that smartwatch trend, all that plastic things around wrist… The elegant sound jing jing of my silver bracelet when I move my hand, or when it touches a working desk, It make me feel so really classy and sophisticated :))
Seiko watches are a perfect watch brand for someone to get into watches! Great brand. Have you seen Grand Seiko spring drive watches? They move into the expensive luxury category, but my husband has one and it is truly a thing of beauty.
also a Seiko wearer! my husband and I have coordinating ones. mine is silver with a blue face and it perfectly matches a white gold and topaz bracelet I wear daily :)
We are a real watch wearing family. My husband has ended up wearing a grand Seiko most of the time. He doesn’t like something too flashy or recognizable. It is super chic and understated.
Yes to watches. I have returned to wearing them, partly as an attempt to be less reliant on my phone. My late husband loved watches so I am wearing one of his that I loved and, having read the comments here, may well take some of the bigger watches to have links removed. Fortunately, I prefer more masculine styles and find women’s watches slightly too small and delicate. Having said that, I have a tiny, very bling-y watch that belonged to my mum and it is still tucked away in a drawer. No idea what to do with it.
I inherited my mom’s Rolex a few months ago. It has a two tone band with a sky blue face; and. It was a college graduation gift from her parents in the 1970s which feels all the more special because I went to the same college. My mom wore that watch every day so I find myself talking to her whenever I look at the watch.
wow that’s really beautiful, Paige.
Lovely, lovely…I hope you wear it everyday as well.
I had coveted a Cartier tank watch (with leather strap) for years before buying myself a second-hand, 1970s one for my 30th birthday. I still wear it daily 11 years later and love the style.
Starting from when I was around 10 years old, whenever I asked my mom what time it was, she would cheekily reply, “It’s time for you to wear a watch!” I finally took up her advice when I started high school, and I soon became someone who couldn’t function without one. When I graduated from college, my parents gave me a Bulova which they bought on sale–not terribly expensive, but elegant (they picked one perfectly suited to my tastes), and a step up from the cheap (but highly functional!) Timex watches from Target I had been wearing as a college student. I’m not much one for jewelry, so it’s the only piece I wear consistently from day to day. I live on the other side of the country, and travel fairly often for work, and it is grounding, no matter where I am, to have something on my wrist that reminds me of my family.
This post does not feel right! There are plenty of nice watches that are not Rolex or Omega or the like – and are much less than 500 $, which is much for plenty of people. I wear an eBay find for 5,60 € which I love. This is (and has to be…) an option for many many people, especially right now.
While I don’t disagree with you, spending $500 on a watch to me is bonkers bananas, I think you’ll find the comments section FULL of folks who are wearing watches for a lot less and sharing what they love about their watch choices. Many of them are really pleased that their inexpensive watch gives them so much joy. My watch cost me $12 and I love it! So there’s lots of opportunities as always in the comments section to find community around how much you’re comfortable spending. That said, the post itself suggests a Swatch that is priced under $100 too.
I agree, this post rubbed me the wrong way. The author suggests STARTING with a watch under $500 and then if you like it after several months considering an upgrade?? It sounded very tone deaf to me. Also the Shinola watch she wore for YEARS before getting her Cartier. Wow so humble!
Also not planning on dropping $500 on a watch anytime soon, but if you consider “cost per wear” and how long someone will use/wear a nice watch, then over 10 years that’s less than $1 a week. Many people wear them for much longer, pass them down, etc.
I’m all about buy it for life/cost per wear but I agree- there are brands like Seiko that make quality watches for a lot less!
OK, I totally thought the same thing! And then I started learning about fine jewelry and how watches are actually considered jewelry and that building a really well-built “time machine” is incredibly difficult and requires significant skill. The metal, the gears, the balance of everything has to be just right. I’m not saying that a Timex or lesser-known brand can’t do the same thing but many of these higher brand watches are created, tested, and hand-assembled by advanced engineers. So yes! Part of the price is the name of the brand but the other part is that the skill required to build these types of watches takes years to master and is difficult to find people who can do it.
PS- I got a digital Nixon watch & I really loved it until it recently died. Need to get a new battery.
I started wearing a watch again two years ago & it is great! No more pulling out my phone! Note to smart watch users: my husband & I don’t have smart watches & I was recently in a group where many other people did. Checking texts/notifications made it look like they were bored & constantly checking the time. It came off as super rude. Just FYI
I agree completely! These days when I spend time with a friend and their smartwatch, it often feels like we’re a party of three.
I am always reminded of chickens pecking when I see people doing that, SO annoying during conversations!
Ugh, yes! It’s often hard to have a conversation with someone wearing a smartwatch. I feel like I’m interrupting something important they’d rather be paying attention to.
I understand that some people might misinterpret smartwatch behavior, but I’m not going to police myself based on someone else’s assumptions. I’m a grown adult. If I glance at my wrist, it’s not a personal attack—it’s just a notification. People are allowed to exist without having to constantly manage how others interpret it.
Agreeeee! My in laws wear Apple Watches every day and they’ll straight up stop talking in the middle of a sentence or break away from a convo to look at and respond to texts. It’s sooo rude! Can’t believe people don’t realize how rude they’re being, both with that and the constant alarms and beeping.
Completely agree – I am shocked at Smartwatch user behavior any time I find myself in conversation with them. Including from people who are very thoughtful and great conversationalists. It can really disrupt things.
Long time watch wearer! On my 18th birthday my mum gave me a solar powered Seiko, very slim and small, and I wore it daily until the clasp broke. Left it on the shelf and went through multiple different ones until a couple of years ago when I ditched my active watch and got parts replaced in the solar one. My stress level went down not feeling like I needed to meet my steps goals! And I love that there is no need for a new battery with this one (though I had to get a major internal part replaced when I started wearing it again).
I still own my very first watch purchased with my own money ($20? Age ~9? I’m now 40) – classic Flik Flak. They still sell it as a “retro” style today. I’ve always loved watches and definitely get it from my dad who collects them. Loving this post and all the comments (Casio Baby-G! Memories!)
I’m wearing a used Flik Flak watch ($12) that I bought on eBay! I’d bought my kids Flik Flak watches as gifts and was looking for a watch for myself and these were cheap and have held up well!!
I travel to Switzerland every January for business, and on my home through Zurich I love picking out a Swatch each year for my sweet husband and my glorious 13 year old daughter. Swatch always has such fun options and cool new themes and collections each year to choose from, and then when I am back home it gives me a little thrill to see which of the Swatches from their respective collections my husband and daughter will choose to wear on a given day.
I do the same annually (except I buy the new Swatch for myself 😊)! I loved Swatches in the mid 80s, and love them still.
oops–forgot the link for the big yellow Baby-G! https://www.kickscrew.com/en-US/products/casio-baby-g-analog-quartz-waterproof-sports-womens-yellow-analog-digital-combo-ba-110bc-9?variant=40925444538563&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_content=&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=21920515434&utm_term=&gc_id=21920515434&wm_source=google&wm_medium=ads&wm_campaign_id=21920515434&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21920517042&gbraid=0AAAAADkklq7Oiq6CcWcXaTA_OCJ1h4ADq&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrKPv34PKjQMV-wStBh1EXirmEAQYBSABEgK09PD_BwE
I wear a big yellow plastic Baby-G. I love it.
I have a cute clear-and-purple baby G as my daily driver. Love it, and it matches my clear purple glasses!
Analog always–moon phase with Roman numerals and a leather band.
I am a watch person because my inner clock is broken. 30 minutes will pass and I’ll think it was 5. A watch is a necessity! I got so sick of always leaving a pile of watches that needed the battery replaced. Such a pain in the ass and hard to find a place that does it for a reasonable price. And then you have to go back to get it! I found the mechanical watches I liked to be around $1k and up. Out of my price range. Then my aunt suggested a citizen ecozen. They run on solar power; she’s had one over a decade and never needed to change the battery. I got one and I’m so damn pleased with it! https://www.citizenwatch.com/us/en/product/EW5602-57D.html
I bought an old-school, classic tiny Timex for when I was a server (often needed to check the time, but obviously couldn’t pull out my phone all the time on the floor.) The band turned out to be too small, so I took it to a local shop and they changed it out for a slim leather band. Now I wear it as a busy grad student. I love it so much, and get compliments on it all the time!
I used to be a labor and delivery nurse and i used to keep track of how many births i’d attended (with the baby’s name) on a post-it note in my locker. When I reached 500 I celebrated this milestone with a Fossil watch I could wear to many more births. It’s still my favorite present to myself.
I’m honestly shocked that the oversized Michael Kors watches of the late 2000’s and 2010’s have not been more heavily discussed here. I get “going out top” PTSD just thinking about them!
Haha I just posted that I have one that I still wear everyday and tbh I love it.
OMG SO TRUE!!!