Where have all the watches gone?

For so much of my life one of the first things I did was to put my watch on my left wrist. I can remember wanting a watch - all adults had them. It meant you were REALLY grown up if you wore a watch.

For my 21st birthday my mother gave me a watch. But I was so disappointed when I unwrapped it - it was Marcasite watch. I was SO upset - to me it was an 'old ladies' watch'. I returned it and swapped it for a more sleek, modern design.

No long after I was dating my husband-to-be he gave me a watch for no special reason. I really felt grown up and special. I was 25.

But now - I use my cell (mobile) phone as a watch, as my morning alarm, and other times I just look at the corner of my computer for the time.

Watches were handed down through families. My son has a pocket watch that was my uncle's. I have my Dad's watch. My Mother gave it to me, telling me it was the one he wore through WWII. That meant a lot to me, but I'll never know if that is accurate information or not, or even if it was his watch as I have found out that much of what she said was not based on facts. She wore the watch for some years, even though it was a chunky man's style. It's a wind-up watch, and works for about 24 hours.


A watch was once given at retirements and other special awards. To get an engraved watch was really special. I guess it's something I never saw as having an ending.