Are watches old school?

[Letsgodiving]

I've seen many references here on TRF to the fact that the younger generation relies on their cell phone to tell the time. I have have never really bought into this but I was out at a sports bar tonight and virtually everyone under 35 years old did not wear a watch. I have never paid attention to this in the past but it is true! The "younger" generation seems to be turning their back on watches.

Not only did they not wear a mechanical watch but they didn't wear a watch period. Not a Casio, Seiko, not even the latest fad watch of the day.

What to make of this!!

I have always relied on a watch and I must admit I have always assumed that wearing a watch is a given but I see that is not the case.

Is it the end of our beloved Rolex? I certainly hope not but my sense is that the hey-day of the mechanical watch may be up for rough time. That, of course, has been said before!

What are your thoughts?

[shedlock2000]

In life, i have found there are certain kinds of people who apprieciate fine things in life, whatever form this may take. While the street hanging gangs of youths may rely upon the latest blackberry to play with the time on.

Those of the younger generation that respect the engineering and skill that went into the design and production will always enjoy the higher end watches. Rolex has nothing to worry about.

Also as the watches demand quite the dollar value, it will always be a case where a certain part of the sales will be due to status symbol as well as 'shes wearing, hes wearing' thing.

Never fear, quality will outlast fad.

[FBender]

Most of the music clips still have artists wearing a watch

[Beef]

Mike, I think that watches will be around pretty much forever. In some form, anyway. In addition to being tools to tell time, they do other things. Several companies are working to integrate communications devices (cell phone or text devices) into a wrist unit= Dick Tracy. There will always be people who appreciate quality as stated by shedlock. Unfortunately, mechanical watches are less in demand and fewer people are learning to make them. So ultimately, there will be much less of them. In some way, I think that Rolex's recent intro of very expensive watches in very limited numbers is a tactic to position themselves for this future. Now Rolexes are expensive, but most people (in the industrialized world) can aspire to own one. It may take a while and some discipline, but do-able. That's not as true about some of the even higher end watches. I think Rolex is trying to move into a more rarefied market to compete in a time when they can make fewer watches, yet retain market value. Definitely a long term plan, but one, IMHO, that will work. And then again they may start making cheap plastic watches that double as garage openers.

[harvey]

considering myself still young (mid 30s)... when not wearing my rolex... i do rely on my mobile phone for the time but, then again i use it for text, music, camera, email, video, gps etc etc its become the new tool of a newer generation.

[dopeymuppet]

I'm only young but I've more or less always worn a watch. I think there's something cold and boring about looking at the time on a phone. A watch is something more "alive" so to speak. The other thing of course is that until the age of about 18, you don't really care what time it is anyway!

[Trurolexer]

Well...we must admit it, we're already old now!!! lol!!!
OLD SKOOL ROCKS!!!

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Might sound like old school (might sound like something else? ...wait for it!) but I feel naked without my Rolex on my wrist.

[Trurolexer]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Might sound like old school (might sound like something else? ...wait for it!) but I feel naked without my Rolex on my wrist.

Ditto!!! 1000% agree with Bo!!!

[pwrslider]

I do double check the correct time on my cell every now and then...but when I'm on vacation...( or holiday for those across the pond...) my rolex is the only thing I take....and a book...and some sun screen.....and.....well you get my drift.

[swatty]

I think we talking about the generation gap. Its real and is here now. Does this mean our Rolex's won't be worth a fortune as was posted in another thread today. no one will want them in 30 years time.!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tony-GB]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Might sound like old school (might sound like something else? ...wait for it!) but I feel naked without my Rolex on my wrist.

I totally agree

[joe100]

A watch is timeless. Watches were cool before school even had a name.

[bwalkerVintage]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Might sound like old school (might sound like something else? ...wait for it!) but I feel naked without my Rolex on my wrist.

Same for me too Bo.

[Tools]

Maybe they leave their watches at home because they don't want to immediately be picked out as someone who hasn't yet "made it"

Nothing is worse for today's youth than to be found out as a poser..

[Gedanken]

Frankly, I think that mobile phones are terribly inelegant objects - I associate them with rushing about and having to listen to the meaningless life story of the loud halfwit at the next table. They're simply tools with neither grace nor charm. Besides, has anybody heard of a mobile that's classic in the same manner as a DRSD or a Paul Newman Daytona? An old mobile phone's simply a relic that's only fit for the rubbish tip because it doesn't have the latest capabilities.

[bsodmike]

The earliest watch I had was a TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) Michaelangelo wristwatch - think I got it when I was around 3years old. Over the years I've been though many Swatches and for the longest time had a very yellow G-Shock.

I then received a Tissot PRS200 Chrono (quartz) for my 18th birthday from Mom and a Tissot LeLocle on my 20th - which was my first mechanical, automatic.

For 25 years old, I am rather old fashioned; this may be why I seem to have trouble making friends in my own age group.

Not only do I love my timepieces, I also do feel naked without having one my wrist. I'm also into fountain pen collection, fine wines and oh do I love my single malts and cubans ;-)

[oneillba]

Simply, "No". I hope I never see that day that wrist watches fall out of popular favor.

[HDHNTER]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Might sound like old school (might sound like something else? ...wait for it!) but I feel naked without my Rolex on my wrist.

Same here, even sitting around the house I prefer to have one on.

[erwin]

I think this new generation's more focus on the new technology that's evolved ( iphones, gps ipods apple comp ) and watches for them is not really a necessity anymore!

[sea-dweller]

Funny. I've noticed this also. I work in an industry where the median age is 34-35, and most of the under 30 crowd doesn't wear watches. In fact, one 25 year old ask me recently - "you still wear a watch" ? I chuckled and said - "why, of course, I need to be at my appointments on time".

[jmjm]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Might sound like old school (might sound like something else? ...wait for it!) but I feel naked without my Rolex on my wrist.

x3 <-- that.

I have 2 Casios that I adore.... but man, they haven't got any wrist time in 2 years. Good thing they are solar powered and Atomic. It keeps time without any adjustment, and I just keep it beside my bed for "power failure" backups.

The day I stop wearing my watch for the sake of "fashion" is the day that underwear goes out of style. Even then, I'll keep wering my watch.

[Dalton]

[QUOTE=Trurolexer;580565]Well...we must admit it, we're already old now!!! lol!!QUOTE]
speak for yourself buddy, I'm gonna invest on getting some new hair, new pecs and hot young girlfriend. Get a new lease on life or something.

[Beef]

[QUOTE=Dalton;580907]

Originally Posted by Trurolexer

Well...we must admit it, we're already old now!!! lol!!QUOTE]
speak for yourself buddy, I'm gonna invest on getting some new hair, new pecs and hot young girlfriend. Get a new lease on life or something.

Hey, Dalton, you live in the factory outlet store for eternal youth. Go see my younger brother's best bud from grade school-college, Garth Fisher, Plastic Surgeon to the Stars. He'll supply everything but the girlfriend. Of course hot young girlfriends are available by the truckload, if your wallet biopsy turns up positive. Come to think of it, save what you were going to spend of the makeover and buy her a Rolex (or 3.)

[ziphe]

I am in the under 30 group (27) and I do the same thing. I would always check my cell phone for the time even when I’m wearing a watch.

But I do have the same problem as Bo, will feel naked without a watch. Almost never leave the house without a watch on, even I know I would be using my cell phone to tell time.

[scottschoe]

Watches are still alive and well in the young generation.

[meloncap78]

I have NEEDED a watch on my wrist since 2nd grade. I have no idea why this passion for timepieces came about in my young life but it did. Haven't been without one on my wrist since. Of course back then calculator watches were the thing!!

[jdc]

Well my oldest is 18 and he loves his watches, has a Casio at the moment and wants a Rolex sports watch!
My 17 year old wears my old 1950's bumper Omega and the youngest has a swatch watch!
I am a terrible influence on my children

[Dalton]

[QUOTE=Beef;580961]

Originally Posted by Dalton

Hey, Dalton, you live in the factory outlet store for eternal youth. Go see my younger brother's best bud from grade school-college, Garth Fisher, Plastic Surgeon to the Stars. He'll supply everything but the girlfriend. Of course hot young girlfriends are available by the truckload, if your wallet biopsy turns up positive. Come to think of it, save what you were going to spend of the makeover and buy her a Rolex (or 3.)

Or I can always get more toys for me. Screw the makeover!

[fear]

Watches are lame. Cell phone time forever!!!!

I kinda agree I don't see too many kids wearing watches. But tehre will always be a market. There's always a need. So far, I've not seen a runners wear cell phones to keep time.