wristwatches

[Stanfordian]

Reading Margaret Drabble's length essay on Anthony Burgess in the TLS today, I came across her observation that no-one wears watches anymore. I was properly outraged (!) but then I considered that, as a teacher, few of my pupils wear watches. I have no doubt that this forum is representative of the entire country so merely ask if any of you wear watches. (Both I and Mr K. do, by the way). Are watchmakers doomed? We need to know.

In Berlin a couple of years ago I was to interview a famous mezzo-soprano that afternoon. My wife saw that my watch glass was cracked and said "you can see her wearing that watch, what will she think when she see it?" So I was quickly sent out to buy another new watch.

I'm not sure if the singer noticed my new £50 watch but it certainly couldn't compete with a Rolex which looked like it was platinum with diamonds around it.

[vinteuil]

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... some years back I finally wearied of the cost of replacing batteries for watches.

I managed to pick up cheaply this automatic watch, powered by your own movements : it is a skeleton, so you can see the workings, which is fun.

https://www.jacamo.co.uk/shop/rotary-gents-mecanique-automatic-skeleton-watch/ah975/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=8017#colour:,size:

I ca'n't imagine not having a wrist watch. (My poncey days of affecting a fob watch came to an end when I was still a teenager.)

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[Bryn]

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... some years back I finally wearied of the cost of replacing batteries for watches.

I managed to pick up cheaply this automatic watch, powered by your own movements : it is a skeleton, so you can see the workings, which is fun.

https://www.jacamo.co.uk/shop/rotary-gents-mecanique-automatic-skeleton-watch/ah975/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=8017#colour:,size:

I ca'n't imagine not having a wrist watch. (My poncey days of affecting a fob watch came to an end when I was still a teenager.)

.

Hmm. That's rather more than double what I paid for my Casio light-powered, shock-protected, radio-controlled, 20 bar water-resistant, multi-time-zone watch, though admittedly the model I have has increased in price by around 50% in the interim.

[french frank]

At lunch at the caff, I went on Watch Watch. Result: about 50% adults wearing watches. Two 20-somethings + their dad were watchless, but several 30-somethings-ish were watched.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

But who watches the Watchwoman?

[vinteuil]

Hmm. That's rather more than double what I paid for my Casio light-powered, shock-protected, radio-controlled, 20 bar water-resistant, multi-time-zone watch, though admittedly the model I have has increased in price by around 50% in the interim.

... o Bryn - I did not pay that price!


{ ... and is yours as pretty as mine? }



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[Serial_Apologist]

In absolute terms, perhaps not, but I would consider it a fairly basic 'skill'.
Not everywhere has digital displays (even stations might have a classc old analogue clock alongside the digital display boards), and I can't imagine that the costly overhaul of 'Big Ben' is going to change its display format.

Big Ben, brightly illuminated under its scaffolding, is currently looking far more impressive than it otherwise probably ever has done!

[Serial_Apologist]

But who watches the Watchwoman?

The neighbourhood watch?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The neighbourhood watch?

No - they've clocked off.


(Enjoying this, uct? )

[Padraig]

No - they've clocked off.


(Enjoying this, uct? )

Ticking off uct then, ferney?

But seriously! I don't have a watch. My father had a big gold watch and chain inherited from his father. His younger brother coveted that watch and swopped his own wrist watch for it. I eventually came into possession. I broke it in 1956 when I was a student and have not had one since. It's too late now.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ticking off uct then, ferney?

- of course not - merely winding him up (in a way that I hope he realises is not at all meant to be offensive, or in any way "snarky" - just downright annoying!)

[teamsaint]

No - they've clocked off.


(Enjoying this, uct? )

Should we be alarmed , at this time?

[french frank]

(Enjoying this, uct? )

[Contro-VERsial!] Seconds out, folks!!

[Serial_Apologist]

Should we be alarmed , at this time?

Yes, with everybody winding him up in this way!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yes, with everybody winding him up in this way!

#56, Jonesey!