Digital Generation Rediscovers Analog Wristwatches

Hugh Pickens writes "As recently as a half-decade ago, time seemed to be running out for the wristwatch; the mechanical device was declared to be going the way of the abacus. But now the NY Times reports that the 'sundial' of the wrist is experiencing an uptick among members of the digital generation, particularly by heritage-macho types in their 20s and 30s who are drawn to the wristwatch's retro appeal, just as they have seized on straight razors, selvedge denim and vintage vinyl. 'A cool machine that is all moving parts has got to be intrinsically interesting to someone born into this generation,' says Mitch Greenblatt, an online retailer of design-forward watches who is seeing a surge in business, 'because there's just nothing like that in their life.'"

I don't understand

[eharvill]

I'm 36 and I own an analog wristwatch. I've owned several over my lifetime as well. My 5 year old son is familiar and will continue to be familiar with analog wristwatches as most everyone in his extended family wears one. How is this retro, unique or something terribly interesting because it has moving parts and is not digital? Watches have always been fashionable and (IMHO) will continue to be for all generations for the rest of my life. It's not like we're talking about 8-tracks, cassette tapes and to some extent vinyl for example. Those devices will definitely be retro to my kid as they have never (and probably never will be) a part of his life.

Re:Bring back the Pocket Watch!

[hal2814]

The pocket watch is back and these days it's more popular than the wrist watch. When you ask someone the time, what do they do? They reach into their pocket and pull out a device that has the time on it. The pocket watch is now almost exclusively digital and has a phone built into it but multi-purpose watches are nothing new either. Just ask Dick Tracy...

Re:News for hipsters

[JBMcB]

Currently on my wrist - a Timex Ingersoll reproduction with grosgrain band. Purchased about five years ago. Even tells the date.

Either wear a cheap, simple analog, or something vintage and cool - a 60's Rolex or Omega, or mechanical Seiko. Those can be had for a few hundred used, and will last decades.

Most of the new "fancy" watches are garbage.

Re:Sadly...

[Anonymous Coward]

I find that when I look at my analog watch it is easier for me to inherently know what time it is than it is for me to articulate the actual time when someone asks for it.

Re:Cell phones

[Pretzalzz]

You can check the time on a wristwatch without being obvious about it. The same can't be said for a phone. How do you explain to the person you are talking to that checking the time is seemingly more important than what they are saying?

In some ways it's a better representation of time

[willoughby]

When I look at a timepiece it's rare that I want to know what time it is. Much more often I want to know "how long since" or "how long until" something. An analog display gives me this info much more quickly than digital.

Re:Steam-punk appeal

[Anonymous Coward]

This is stupid. There's never been a time when the wristwatch wasn't a loved, fashionable item. That goes for kids to adults and everywhere in between (see: rappers). It has always been this way and it isn't going to end.

It isn't a masculinity thing. It isn't a Mad Men thing. It's just a decent timepiece thing that everyone has appreciated since forever.

Re:News for hipsters

[himurabattousai]

Cell phones are known for having other functionality as well as being able to tell the time. I've never seen the point of strapping a somewhat functional piece of jewelry to my arm when I have a small device in my pocket that tells the time, as well as doing a hundred or more other things that I find useful.

Allow me, tender age of 31 with a case of old-man-itis, to show the superiority of the wrist watch.

Steps required to tell time on a watch:
--Flick wrist.

Steps required to tell time on a cell phone.
--Dig through pockets, or worse yet, purse.
--Flip, slide, or otherwise turn on screen.
--Find clock application or tiny time display.
--Put phone back in pocket or purse.

I feel naked without a wristwatch on. As a consequence, I have a garish tan line on my left wrist even in the dead of winter. And I love analog for the sole reason of I think they look cooler.

Speedometers/Tachometers/etc.

[xded]

Speedometers in cars are analog exactly because of that: it takes no time to interpret analog hands/dials with respect to reading and understanding a 3 numbers figure.

And that's not going to change anytime soon since it's how our brain works. Numbers need to be made sense of, oblique lines don't.

(Besides, doesn't anyone feel that 4s representation in 7-segment displays is wrong?)

Re:Steam-punk appeal

[Daniel Dvorkin]

Carefully trimmed stubble is "masculine" in the same way as pre-stressed jeans, clothing with a Harley-Davidson logo, or a Tap-Out sticker in the back window of a pickup truck. It's for chronologically adult little boys who think they can buy manhood instead of just, you know, being men.

Re:Don't buy the macho routine with straight razor

[Duradin]

"I'll also add that it's easy to spot a strait razor poser as he/she will only have one razor, whereas someone who actually shaves with them every day (as I do) will have at least half a dozen in rotation to reduce the honing burden."

You should be touching up the razor before each use (and during use as necessary) so having multiple razors doesn't reduce the "honing burden". If you can't tell a freshly honed and stropped blade from one a few shaves old I dare say you shouldn't accuse anyone of being a straight razor poser.