I’ve always been torn between whether I like watches or not. On the one hand they are a constant reminder of time running out and seem to speak of humanity’s need to have everything in life planned out. On the other hand (or should I say wrist?)(terrible joke.) they are a unique fashion accessory and speak volumes about the person wearing the watch.
To older generations, watches were an indispensable piece of technology and decorative watches were a sign of wealth. Now with cell phones and ipods it seems we don’t need watches anymore.
Is it about what they stand for? Is it about what they say about us?
I confess I’ve always loved it when someone in a movie threw a watch out the window or into a sink full of water. It was the ultimate rejection of worldly standards. It said fuck you to the corporate world, the working world and welcomed being late in all of its natural glory.
Though if you think about it – being late isn’t any fun. Whether you are late to school, work or with your period its not actually enjoyable at all. (Though it might be argued that a watch would not help with late periods – which is a valid point.)
So now that we have realized that living life in this century requires some amount of time watching does that make watches cool?
Indie kids with their over sized plastic watches seem to think so. Rappers with their diamond crusted watches seem to think so. Business men with unobtrusive black watches seem to think so. My mom with her walmartish nurseish watch seems to think so.
I think I might be beginning to come round. I’m still not sure though. I feel like getting a watch would be a big step in the “growing up” direction. It all started with pushing my own cart at the grocery store, now i have credit and debit cards with my name on them (and no not the type you get in the mail that read : your name here). (Though i do have a few of them too). I now have bills that come in the mail every month (something I used to long for as a kid) and while none of this is very new – every new addition shocks me all over again.
I think I may put off getting a watch for a while. Firstly because I don’t actually need one. And secondly because I haven’t yet decided my “watch style”. When I do, maybe I will go out and buy a watch. Until then I will continue to question what watches mean, and what they say about their wearers.
An interesting subject, one I have too been thinking about lately. I also haven’t decided whether I like watches or not. I would like to say fuck you to the corporate world but I have found that during the working week, not wearing a watch doesn’t make me less conscious of time – it just makes me more conscious of not knowing what the time is.
It’s not really a growing up thing as I’ve worn a watch since I was 11 years old and miraculously, despite the years and a few spins through the washing machine, I am still wearing the same one. Therein lies the problem – that watch wasn’t didn’t suit me when I was 11, and it still doesn’t suit me now. So I am in the market for a new one. Unfortunately, the only watches I can find that are quirky enough to catch my eye are the cheap ones at flea markets, and having one of those would probably be as instrumental to telling the correct time as simply drawing the watch’s face in Sharpie on my arm.