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Are Wristwatches Starting to Fade?

By Rain Noe - March 7, 2011

in Object Culture

I'd recently heard that high school kids don't wear watches anymore. A gross generalization to be sure, but the gist of the argument was that everyone uses their cellphones as timepieces and watches are viewed by the younger generation as superfluous.

Baby boomers, on the other hand, never can seem to get over those Dick Tracy comics they read as a kid, where the titular detective used his timepiece as a talkie. So once again we have a hi-tech watch concept being advanced, this time by Hewlett-Packard and Fossil. The MetalWatch concept, presented by HP's CTO Phil McKinney, below, is intended to be the "aggregation point" for a variety of technological tools we use: E-mail, social networking, printers, etc. Unfortunately the video seems aimed squarely at the Boomer generation, as it's a lot of talk with none of the de rigueur images, renderings, or video that typically accompanies a product concept:

So what do you think, is this something we'll see in the future, or is the watch starting to lose its relevance?

And by the way, if it is true that the younger generation sees watches as a lapsed technology, the name "Fossil" is not doing that company any favors.

What time is it?

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SPN

13 years ago

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To state that wristwatches are fading is sort of comparing it to petrol cars and print media. there is some truth to it but I feel each will stand the test of time weather its from the vintage connoisseur to curious consumers, we tend to hold on to relics of the past no matter how advance our technology gets. Besides cell phones are becoming more and more homogeneous, where as wrist watch gives you a window of an individual personality.
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lady c

13 years ago

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My Brother is 12 and has just raised money to buy his second watch which he wears to school proudly. For him it is more style than function and possibly influenced by a dancehall musician who mentions the accessory in his song.
I rarely wear my watch but when I do wear my Casio (!) I get compliments and plans seem to fall into place: On those days I'm not late for work of late back from lunch.
Watches will always exist as functional jewellery if nothing else.
In my everyday sketch book, weirdly, there seems too be a watch doodle on every 4th page.

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Alex (24)

13 years ago

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I love wearing watches, I wore the same one for about 8 years up until about a year ago when it broke. At the time I wasn't in an entirely brilliant financial situation so I didn't splash out on a new one immediately, so I relied on my phone for the time. Really didn't take long for me to miss having the time on my wrist at all times. Taking my phone out of my pocket is just a hassle. I'm also quite picky with watches, just picking up a cheap Gshock or Casio timepiece isn't for me.
Finally picked up a new watch last month and barely take it off. I sort of agree with Hannah saying that it's jewellery for us guys, but at least it's functional.
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Hannah

13 years ago

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I never wear a watch, I did when I was a kid but I guess for the last ten years or so when I've had a phone, I've had no real need.

I agree with the comment above, they are more like jewellery for men.
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Scott

13 years ago

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When my watch's battery died, i just stopped wearing it because yes... i always check my phone for the time. That was... wow i don't know how many years ago.
Couple that with the embarrassing fact that at the age of 35 a lifetime fondness for digital watches has left me wholly unable to tell time quickly.

i think watches still count as jewelry for men. When i can finally afford a nice one, i'll wear it proudly. But i'll still have to check my phone to know what time it is.
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Juan Cano

13 years ago

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Is it waterproof? That's all it matters.

I have a watch, and I'm 39. G-Shock. Watches are definitely on their way out, and in 20 years people will be wearing them again because they will be vintage and cool. My kid's 15, no watch, doesn't want one.

Terrible video.
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