My greatgrandmother told me she could judge a man by his shoes and watch. There is a very subtle message you are sending to some individuals ' I don't wear a watch because I am not concerned with promptness or comittments.' Silly? Maybe, but so are ties and lapel buttonholes. Just show up at a job interview in designer jeans and $200 athletic shoes vs another candidate in a cheap, but clean suit and tie.
Chris,
That was then, this is now.
My last job interview was for a position as a network engineer at a Seattle based software company (not MS). I gussied up in a nice suit and tie. I shined my shoes and sported my best Seiko.
Imagine my surprise when I was the only schmuck there that looked like that. The rest of the staff was wearing tie-dye shirts, sandles, cargo shorts, tattos, body piercings, spiked hair, you name it. (no it wasn't dress up day). I don't think there was a watch among them. Most of the communications with my fellow worker began with "Got the time?"
I think I got the job 'cause they needed a token "freak".
(or maybe just someone with a watch).
Cheers, TR