Messages: 24284 Location: Palm Harbor, Fl
Registered: October 2003
My Watch of the Year...
Fri, 05 January 2018 22:14
I'm going to break the theme and instead of posting my STOC I'm going to post the watch I've worn for most of the year. My collection hasn't changed much over the past three years, but this watch has been stuck to my wrist since April of 2017 as it fills needs that I have in a watch that no other watch in my collection has. It keeps me on time and on top of things needed for my job. It makes me more productive than I have ever been with reminders for things I need to complete. It reminds me of what I need to pick up at the store when shopping as I will forget to write it down on a list after walking out of the room where I found I need something. It has also helped me lose 20+ pounds thanks to it egging me on with challenges where I earn a silly digital badge.
So without further ado I present to you My Watch of the Year:
My Apple Watch series two has been the watch stuck to my watch since buying it this past April. It only comes off of my wrist is when I charge it at night, when I shower, and when I mow my yard. It has proved to be my most recognized watch in my collection as I've had people from 9 to 80+ ask me if "is that an Apple Watch?". It is also my most scratch resistant watch as I've banged it into so many things that would leave marks on my luxury Swiss watches, but it walks away the same way my G-Shocks do thanks to the sapphire crystal and DLC coating of the aluminum case.
I know most watch collectors here won't consider it as a watch as it lacks a "soul", it's "basically quartz watch", or because it's an "extension of my cell phone", but given the basic definition of a watch is "a timepiece worn typically on a strap on one's wrist" this qualifies as being a watch. My wife has given me the green light to get other watches I've been interested in, but in the end I can't pull the trigger as I know deep down that I won't wear them due to my Apple Watch. In fact the series three of Apple Watch is interesting, but like iPhone new releases it will take a major update to make me realize that I need to part with some hard earned cash as I have personal need for the update.
Yes in five years or less this will be an obsolete piece of technology and won't be be passed onto my son, but I have watches that will fulfill that purpose. At this point I can't see buying any new watches other than future Apple Watches, given they keep making them, as for me it is the perfect watch for my everyday needs required of my watch. In the end what more can we ask of watch?
Messages: 9426 Location: Long Island, NY USA
Registered: January 2005
Interesting. I went the other way.
Sat, 06 January 2018 00:15
Fathers Day gift that was first one I ever gave back for return in 30myears of fatherhood. A watch I have to charge nightly is not a watch to me. It is a computer. Or, electronic device that I care not to maintain.
My X-33 and Evo have given me enough of electronic pleasure this year past and in years to come.
Enjoy your piece as you haves plus some. ;-)
It's nice to be important; but, it's also important to be nice!
Messages: 639 Location: Norcal Pen., coastside
Registered: October 2004
Sounds like you made the jump...
Sat, 06 January 2018 00:30
...that many have made before with the quartz revolution: Moving from an antiquated technology to the most up-to-date technology. Not my cup of tea, but I'm glad you've found what you were looking for.
Messages: 6107 Location: NJ
Registered: November 2003
Interesting Post
Sat, 06 January 2018 05:52
And one that I would think would generate a lot of comments. I don't have one nor have I ever tried one on but I have seen a ton of them on wrists everywhere. I get it! In truly thinking about it though the Apple Watch is no watch at all. It just happens to be an electronic device that can give you the time and occupies a place on your person where a watch was formerly worn. We can call it a wrist device, a wrist pad, a wrist monitor, a wrist computer, etc., as it does so much more as you explained in your post. Giving you the time or literally telling you the time (if it has that function like Siri or Alexa) is just one of its hundreds of capabilities and, to me, does not make it a watch. The real question might be - are the two compatible? As long as it occupies real estate previously occupied by what might be considered a slide rule one day, our friend the "watch", the answer my be no. But as technology evolves and changes the way we wear and use our technology, there might yet be a place for the watch. Time will tell!
Messages: 662 Location: Dallas
Registered: February 2010
Why not wear both?
Sat, 06 January 2018 08:58
Why deprive yourself of the joy of a regular watch? Wear your Apple Watch in one wrist and a regular watch on the other!
I see more and more people wearing both a watch and a fitness tracker. Both my wife and daughter wear their Apple watches in the right wrist and a watch for telling time in their left, so maybe it just seems normal to me. If the thing is truly an extension of your phone, why not treat it that way? Now, I am an Android guy with no desire to get a smart watch, so maybe I am unqualified to even post this controversial question.
I am interested in your position of view.
Remember, beer has food value, but food has no beer value.
Messages: 2937 Location: PA
Registered: November 2008
Even a quartz watch is a watch
Sat, 06 January 2018 12:16
to me.... It does, what a watch does, in the way, that a watch does it. A flick of the wrist, and it conveys information of time, our place in the progression of all things. A digital watch less so, but ok. The key to even quartz watches is the presence of design cues which, well executed or not, are a bit of personality.
The Apple watch will never be a watch to me.
I may buy one. I may wear one. It may replace all my watches (I doubt it, but never say never). But it is not a watch to me. It is a disposable smartphone, iPod ,computer, wrist-gadget.
Messages: 676 Location: New York
Registered: September 2007
Re: My Watch of the Year...
Sat, 06 January 2018 13:28
Glad you found Nirvana, but sad you need a computer to know that you need to move...
The only time I use my Garmin GPS watch is when I run ,otherwise mechanical all the way.
Never the less,enjoy it in the best of health.
Zsolt.
Messages: 226 Location: US
Registered: February 2005
Re: My Watch of the Year...
Sat, 06 January 2018 14:02
Interesting post, Damon.
Glad you are enjoying it.
I agree with most persons that it's not a watch. It's an instrument or device that does a number of things, to include indicating the time.
It's not my cup of tea, but if I'm gifted one I'll certainly take it for a ride!
Thanks.
Messages: 24284 Location: Palm Harbor, Fl
Registered: October 2003
With my job I simply cannot wear a watch on both wrists as one is likely to get bloody...
Sat, 06 January 2018 22:37
When I change wound dressings, or stick my fingers/hand in wounds or body parts that make normal people lose the last thing they ate, any watch band on my right wrist is guaranteed to walk away with fluid that will stink a few hours later. Most people I see wearing a watch and fitness tracker have a FitBit as they are slimmer and act more as a bracelet than the Apple Watch does. The only thing I wear or will wear on my right wrist is a silver Tommy Bahama bracelet my wife gave me years ago as silver is a heavy metal and resists growth of odd things I come in contact with daily.
Messages: 15 Location: Fiji
Registered: September 2004
Re: My Watch of the Year...
Sat, 06 January 2018 23:38
Great post Damon,
Guess what. I'm just like you.
Since March, 2017, I have just worn the Apple Watch. I realised its usefulness as I travel a lot and keep track of 3 time zones at once. It adjusts itself as soon as I land. It has all the useful features as you mentioned and more.
I have not worn my 15 mechanical watches since then. I liked it so much that in October I sold the series 2 and bought 2 of the series 3. A Hermès edition for work and business and a Nike one for training and sleeping. I do not have to worry about the battery going flat as 1 is always on the charger or fully charged.
I'm a stickler for accuracy and since wearing the Apple Watch, I have stopped looking at the GPS time to see if it is accurate or not..
This does not mean I have given up on my Mechanicals. I'm still working towards a White Gold Rolex GMT Master. That is 5 years away. Until then I will enjoy the Apple Watch and intend to upgrade every 2 years. Once I get the GMT, then I will decide what to do. I may wear both of them together:)
Messages: 1350 Location: Burgh
Registered: February 2006
Re: My Watch of the Year...
Mon, 08 January 2018 08:59
Great post, Damon. I own the series 2 as well and it is a useful companion. Frankly, I never understood the argument that the Apple Watch is not a watch. It is every bit a watch as the Casio calculator watch I owned back in the 80's, the Breitling Aerospace I used to own, and the Rolex, UN, and Zenith watches that I currently own. Just because it can be configured to do other things and because it is linked by Bluetooth to your phone does not disqualify it from being a watch. To each his own, and enjoy!
Messages: 2124 Location: Chicago suburbs
Registered: December 2003
Re: My Watch of the Year...
Mon, 08 January 2018 16:50
I have a watch like that too. Not an Apple Watch, but my "retro smart watch" my Casio DBC610. The features are so useful, it's hard to take it off. It reminds me of appointments and needs a battery only every 5-7 years. No charging.
But in the end, it's ugly, lacks soul, and I go back to using a mechanical wrist watch for timekeeping and jewelry and my smart phone for everything else.
I'd be curious to hear how often you wear that, compared to your mechanicals, and whether that trend will last.
Messages: 24284 Location: Palm Harbor, Fl
Registered: October 2003
Since this past April my mechanicals...
Mon, 08 January 2018 21:45
and other watches have hardly been worn other than a few hours. I wear a G-Shock when mowing my yard, a Bulova 262 KHz at night for bed, and other than that my Apple Watch is always on.
