Why a watch? (member with questions about watches)

I haven't worn a watch in a few years now. I've got the time in my truck, on my cell phone, my pager. GPS ... I realize that in a survival situation I won?t be able to rely on these. But why do I need to tell the time? Unless I?m meeting someone / making radio contact ? I?m wondering, what is(are) the use(s) for a watch? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

You can find directions using a watch (provinding you know where the sun is). Also in survival situation maintaing a cilvilized structure of life is very important. Having a schedulle will keep you organized and busy. Devoting certain amount of time to certain tasks would assure that everything is done.



<img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

For starters you can use it as a compass (anologue watch) if you learn how.
If you travel across time zones, you can work out your longitude. (again if you learn how)
If you know your walking pace, you can work out distance traveled. (or other speed)

You might actually need to know the time for some reason. You dont have to estimate from the sun, and you can tell the time at night.

If you have a radio and you are in a disaster, you can listen to the 3 oclock news when its 3 oclock, not wasting batteries listening to the radio all the time.( or any other important broadcast)

There are heaps of reasons and these are a few than flew into my head.
But it is your choice.

Yikes! Just don't wear it like Christopher Walken did...

Also keep in mind that the time on your cell phone is broadcast along with the signal. When the signal is working the time on most cell systems is from a GPS and nearly perfect. If the signal is not working ... you may get no time on your cell phone.

As mentioned, GPS time is about the best (most accurate) you can get, but you have to turn on the GPS to get it and that sucks precious batteries power.

When I envision most survival situations the car is not there too. Or, if it is, it may not be functioning correctly.

When I'm in the outdoors I use my watch to schedule my time, to make sure that sunset doesn't catch me unprepared for nightfall, and even to make sure I get up early enough to get in a good day's work.

Hahahahhahhaha "...the way your father saw it, it is your birth right..." LOL

I gave up on wearing a watch, I always manage to break them.

Iuse my watch constantly while hiking. It becomes my "odometer" and helps me keep track of my location. It must be said that I can also get along without it and that I also have GPS and all the assorted other goodies. However, knowing how long it took me to walk from one point to another helps when I walk back. I know in advance if I can get back to a particular spot before dark or should I stop enroute for the night.

Take a watch and pay attention to it. Very useful tool.

I also use it to schedule radio things like contacts (check in at 2:00 etc) and to listen to short wave broadcasts.

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.

I think my problem is I have real skinny wrists so regualr mens watches are all too big. I need to find a manly looking womens watch to get the smaller size <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Actually I agree with that sentiment. And it may be why I don’t wear a watch.

We all judge a man from his clothes & accessories. But what if he doesn’t have/wear any? It is a little disconcerting for the observer and he has to use other means to judge. Perhaps he will listen to what I have to say. Perhaps he will question me to get to know me better, and that’s good isn’t it? Or maybe I’m just dull/too poor to buy stuff/…

More and more these days we must go beyond our observations and preconceived ideas. Travel, emigration, cultures intermingle, our younger generations challenge the set standards we must look beyond appearances to distinguish friend, foe, ally, innocent bystander…

All this said and done, I might ask for a watch for Christmas!

The real question is... why NOT a watch?

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Without mine I feel like I'm missing something. And the more stuff I get done on time, the more time is freed up to play with my survival goodies.

I think you're getting overly philosophical here.

In our society, things are generally scheduled. Get a watch so you know what time it is and don't miss events or annoy people when you're late. End of story.

<img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Although in an urban setting like Montréal there are public phones about everywhere and you just have to lift the handset a little bit and you know what time it is... But yes, why not have a watch...

Frankie

I get a little tired of wearing a wristwatch sometimes. I don't want to rely on my cell phone since I don't always carry it, sometimes the battery dies, the carrier has been known to mess up the time signal, etc. And pocket watches in the size and style I see them in are silly unless I'm going to the opera (hah) or something. What I really want is a tiny plastic digital watch with a keychain lug, about the size of a Photon II, that I'd put on my keys along with the Photon. There are some cheap ladies' digital watches that are small enough for this purpose, but the case doesn't have the right shape. Someone ought to make something like that. Yeah, I know about the Swiss Army Brand keyfob watches. Those are huge. I want something about 1/10th that size.

Alright then!!! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> As I mentioned, in a civilized setting, I have the time on my cell, pager, truck, computer ?

In a survival situation, having the time will help me:

- structure my day,
- evaluate distance traveled
- coordinate/synchronize events with others (radio contact)
- know what time it is when awake at night!
- evaluate time to sunset?

Analog watches can be used to determine your rough position, directions?

I don?t like wristwatches but I am intrigued by the carabineer watch, something like this has it all.


from here America!

Unfortunately it's imported and I wonder about ruggedness. Anyone with knowledge about these ?

Timex has a line of similar watches that I saw in local pharmacy. Most likely on any of them you can ditch the compass but otherwise times movement is as good as any.

I don't like wristwatches either. I bought one of these a while ago:

Dakota Angler II Watch

Similar to the one you posted.

I loathe anything on my wrists. A $25 timex from WallyWorld, and a length of 10 pound test cotton twine to hold it as a pendant. I have to replace the twine every 6 months or so, but it is light enough that if gets hung up on something, a sharp jerk of my head will snap it easily enough. Just remember to turn your head so that the impact is onyour jaw, not your adam's apple. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> More likely, I'll just snap it with my hands, and I've actually done that a few time accidently.

If you wanted a really spiffy break away, I suppose you could use a bit of heat shrink.

"Clothes make the man.Naked people have little or no influence on society."- Mark Twain

The company wraps itself in the flag, plasters a nonexistent U.S. military unit on a product imported ( PC for chicom) and has the chutspa to sell it?

Hey paulr, here's a suggestion. 1) Get that digital lady's watch. 2) cut/file off the projections used for the strap attachment. 3) Visit the craft store and pick up some epoxy resin. 4) Fashion a suitable mold, and encase the watch in resin. 5) Drill a hole for attachment to key ring. Good for the life of the battery, but it is waterproof.

My father went through WWII in the Pacific, and finally graduated law school in 1948 on the GI bill. His first significant purchase was an Oxford suit. He always said that was the best money he ever spent.

I took it to heart. If I am not the best dressed SOB in the courtroom, I go shopping. It worked for him, and I think it has worked for me. Also, remeber that old movie, "Stay Hungry"?

I've actually gone to interviews with a watch on where the battery had long since died. I'd go through phases where I didn't want to wear a watch, but for an interview, I thought it was important to present a responsible image. If the interviewer happened to ask me what time it was, "Oh, it seems that my watch has stopped!" <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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

For my job interviews, I usually wear shorts, work boots, clean t-shirt, and a really big sun hat. And a hip-holster for my pruning shears. But then, I am a Gardener. I dress like a Gardener. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

surely a waterproof digital watch is a must. one scenario i've not seen mentioned is a powercut while you are in the shower. what do you do without the light from your watch? no problem at home possibly, but at work or the gym? could you find your locker or your way out (and even then you'd be naked). a power cut can also be the result of a more serious catastrophe. suddenly you are naked with no gear at all in an earthquake/flood/fire......

That's as cool as can be. Not a bad price, either.

You shower without a leatherman wave and at least a mini mag-light? What is wrong with you?

That's the reason they invented the business casual dress code.

Mine don't go in the shower.

But they are just outside the curtain. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Knowing the time can help keep you out of trouble, for example, by helping you catch the last bus home.

It may provide the first indication that you are in fact in trouble, for example, telling you that you've missed the last bus home.