Watches Aren't Dead
They just mean something different now
When I spot someone wearing a traditional watch today, I almost always do a double-take. In our era of Apple Watches, smartphones, and lifestyle tracking devices, there's something intriguing about choosing a classic timepiece. Is it a quiet rebellion against our all-consuming digital world? A purely aesthetic choice? Or maybe there's a story there – an heirloom passed down through generations?
Most of my watch education comes from movies, where timepieces serve as powerful character markers. Back to the Future among countless other classics had significant watch moments. The gold Rolex Day-Date watches flashing throughout New Jack City, Robert DeNiro's Piaget watches in Casino, or the status-symbol watches that defined American Psycho’s materialistic bubble.
Wesley Snipes' iconic two-tone Datejust in Blade. And of course, every watch in every James Bond movie, ever. These cinematic moments shaped my understanding of watches as more than mere accessories – they're statements, stories, symbols.
Speaking of New Jack City, there's been a return of that bold vintage yellow gold style, alongside the surprising comeback of classic Casio and Citizen watches. There's something deliciously nostalgic about seeing these retro styles return, mixing luxury with street cred in a way that feels both fresh and familiar.
I am no watch collector or connoisseur. My own watch history is scattered: memories of my grandmother's delicate bracelet watch, which she'd always adjust with manicured nails; my adolescent tomboy-phase Fossil with the brown leather strap; a Michael Kors with interchangeable faces that felt like peak sophistication in my 20s; and that black Opening Ceremony bracelet watch I acquired in my early 30s that I still wear despite its dead battery. One of my first-ever Pinterest pins was a dainty red Ferragamo watch with a red face and band that I never bought — the one that got away.
I'm attracted to how people style classic watches today, especially when layered with other bracelets or over opera gloves when they're doing the most. With fashion watches, it's like any other accessory: pick one that matches your mood or outfit.
But for investment pieces? Take your time and choose something that speaks to both your current style and the one you're growing into, your holistic style self.
I noticed that I’m increasingly drawn to watches that either work as elegant arm candy or have a playful twist—whether it's a surreal face design, a pendant hanging from a chain, or a charm bracelet.
My latest fixation? Ring watches. They’re like these secretive timepieces disguised as cocktail rings. There's something magical about checking the time with just a glance at your hand, even if squinting at that miniature dial isn't exactly practical.
In a world where phones keep time, wearing a watch is no longer a necessity. It's a choice, a statement, a little piece of personal history on your wrist. March is barely here, but I’m already scouting my Mother’s Day watch list. Here’s some inspo for you too. 😉
Next-level
Dreamy
Treat yo self
High style without the high price
Watch ish I’m loving
All the watches of Mad Men — this was more fascinating than I thought it would be
A guide to watches under $500
An oldie but goodie.
I’m late to the watch party but a luxe watch PR girlie I was on a press trip with broke down why traditional watches would never compete with digital watches. They are status symbols and each brand speaks to a person’s personality. It was fascinating listening to her breakdown what a gold Rolex means vs a Hublot and others.
The gold Casio! So nostalgic, i still have mines, i purchased it from eBay over a decade ago.