The Fate of Watches

It's amazing what's become of the good old fashioned wrist watch.  It happens to be an accessory that I love and collect; a "must-have it" fashion item, at least for me. 

And that's exactly it, a fashion item and that's about it.

The other day I actually counted four occasions in one afternoon where someone asked someone else "what time is it," and instead of checking the watch they were wearing, they pulled out their smart phone.  In each occasion, it would have been easier to check the watch, but instead they looked at their screen.

Noticing this I actually asked and the response was, "the smart phone is more accurate."

Feeling a bit curious, I checked my watches that I wear on a regular basis and noted that many had the wrong time and many more had batteries that I died.  I didn't even notice.  Hadn't even changed the time for daylight savings.

Now surely, watches are not dead.  The magazines are loaded with advertising and all the celebs are still representing the big brands.  It's just that their usefulness has changed.  It's no longer about keeping time, it's about staying in style.  And I believe for a man, it can help to define a look ... help define your brand even.  The watch you wear can say a lot about who you are.

Nothing wrong with that, just an interesting evolution in our pop culture created by technology and our own personal sense of style.  Is this making room for a smart watch?

What's your experience?  Jim.

Jim Joseph
- President, Cohn & Wolfe NA
- Author, The Experience Effect series
- Professor, NYU
- Contributor, Entrepreneur