"Timepieces " Topic

Another of my many hobbies is a small collection of vintage wristwatches. Since the wearing of watches is declining due to the advent of cell phones, I wanted to know how many wargamers have stuck with the old fashioned way.

Do you,
A. Collect watches
B. Wear an analog watch
C. Wear a digital watch
D. Don't wear a watch

I like analog watches that tick--no batteries. My favorite watch is an Oris-self-winding, square w. silver case & white numerals.I also have a Hamilton wind-up that I used in the army-actually keeps better time that then Oris. I have an Elgin rail road watch that belonged to my grandfather who was a conductor in the Rock Island RR. I wind it daily. I still have to check pulses & you can't do that with a cell phone. I don't like the jump of a battery powered second hand & prefer the sweep of a mechanical hand.

I don't actively collect watches, I just sorta ended up with a bunch of them.

I can't wear a wristwatch at work, so I have a digital watch slung from a "beener" (caribiner) clip, attached to a belt loop and usually kept tucked in a pocket.

I also use the beener clip digital watch for hiking and that sort of thing.

Otherwise, I have a couple of old Timex wind-up wristwatches from the 1970's I use frequently as well as my Dad's old Elgin wristwatch which probably dates to the 1950's.

I do have some nice digitial watches, as well as some cheap digitals, but the batteries don't seem to last very long in any of them. I keep a small stash of spare batteries in case I need to use one of the nice watches for a wedding or something.

Jack is struggling through a bus station with two huge and obviously heavy suitcases when a stranger walks up to him and asks "Have you got the time?" Jack sighs, puts down the suitcases and glances at his wrist. "It's a quarter to six," he says.

"Hey, that's a pretty fancy watch!" exclaims the stranger.

Jack brightens a little. "Yeah, it's not bad. Check this out" – and he shows him a time zone display not just for every time zone in the world, but for the 86 largest metropoli.

He hits a few buttons and from somewhere on the watch a voice says "The time is eleven 'til six" in a very West Texas accent.

A few more buttons and the same voice says something in Japanese.

Jack continues "I've put in regional accents for each city". The display is unbelievably high quality and the voice is simply astounding.

The stranger is struck dumb with admiration. "That's not all," says Jack. He pushes a few more buttons and a tiny but very hi- resolution map of New York City appears on the display. "The flashing dot shows our location by satellite positioning," explains Jack.

"View recede ten," Jack says, and the display changes to show eastern New York state.

"I want to buy this watch!" says the stranger.

"Oh, no, it's not ready for sale yet; I'm still working out the bugs," says the inventor.

"But look at this," and he proceeds to demonstrate that the watch is also a very creditable little FM radio receiver with a digital tuner, a sonar device that can measure distances up to 125 meters, a pager with thermal paper printout and, most impressive of all, the capacity for voice recordings of up to 300 standard-size books," though I only have 32 of my favourites in there so far" says Jack.

"I've got to have this watch!" says the stranger, "I'll give you $5,000 USD for it!"

"But it's just not -"

"I'll give you $15,000 for it!" And the stranger pulls out a cheque book.

Jack stops to think. "OK," he says, and peels off the watch.

They make the exchange and the stranger starts happily away.

"Hey, wait a minute," calls Jack after the stranger, who turns around warily.

Jack points to the two suitcases he'd been trying to wrestle through the bus station.

"Don't forget your batteries !"

I haven't worn a watch since I got my first cellphone.

I hadn't worn a watch for years -- I generally used a PC or mobile. But about 6 mths ago I got a nice watch as a leaving present from work and have worn it pretty much every day since, but not particularly because I need to know the time more.

The only time (!) I find I want to know the time a lot is when travelling on public transport, so you need to be at the right platform / stop / gate at the right time.

Pocket Watch needs to be included on the list. Both Digital like The Monsterous Jake's beener watch or the good, old fashion pocket watch and chain.

I have not worn a wristwatch for years, ever since I left the corporate rat race. Now I rely on my cell phone or the clock in my car, otherwise I just don't worry about the time. I have been know to wear my grandfathers watch and chain on formal occasions.

Tom

Four analogs but they're aren't a collection. It would never have occurred to me that my emergency communication instrument could tell time. I really hate a lot of current and projected technology.

Not a collector – but faithfully wear a watch.

Currently on the wrist, a Swiss Army with a leather band. The worst watch? A Movado with a black face, can't read it at night.

Still in the corporate rat race, but ditched the cell phone six months ago,true freedom.

Cell phones don't work where I live. There's about an eight-mile radius around my house that's a dead zone.

I used to carry one as an emergency backup, but it was too expensive and I never used it so I dropped the service.

I don't have cell phone AND I don't wear watch.

I've got two dress watches that I have never worn…one is "too pretty" to be taken out of the box, and the other is just kinda "eh"…not my style.
I've got a miliary watch that I wore during Gulf War I. The band is filthy with sweat stains, oil, and blood from a friend of mine. I don't wear that anymore.
I keep time with the cellphone, but when I do need a watch, I have my old standard pocketwatch right here on the desk.

D. Don't wear a watch

I want some large old watches to bust up for the gears. I want to use them for VSF gaming.

CP Belt, try flea markets. I found an old pocket watch for $2 USD around a year ago. I did not buy it because the face was badly chipped, but something like that would be great for your needs.

I have an antique pocket watch that belonged to my uncle ands my dad's is safe with my sister. Now mostly I rely on cell phone, car clock, or wall clock at work.

I have my father's pocket watch in my waistcoat pocket right now. Mostly I use my wife.

Pete

Do you,
A. Collect watches

Collecting watches is really a different subject to whether one wears or doesn't wear a watch, so I'll split that off to a secondary poll.