According to the English dictionary, a watch is a small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one’s wrist.
The question about which wrist a watch is supposed to be worn has been here for a very long time and the honest answer is, it depends. If you are a righty and do all your things mainly using the right hand, then you should wear your watch on the left hand, and vice versa.
Much as you can choose to wear any type of watch anyhow and on any wrist you choose, there are watch rules that nobody has probably ever told you about.
Here are some….
The right watch for the right occasion
Watches are like shoes or clothes. Just like you wouldn’t wear jeans, t-shirt and sneakers to a wedding ceremony, it is not appropriate to wear some lousy watch on an expensive custom suit or an expensive luxury watch on basketball shorts and a t-shirt or jersey. A watch, like any other accesory, should enhance your outfit.
Wear the watch before the wrist bone
The most proper way to wear a watch is by placing it behind the wrist bone. It should neither lie on top of the bone nor in front of it. This is mainly because if worn past the wrist bone, it limits the mobility of the wrist and it could cause a lot pain and discomfort throughout the day.
Watch must fit right
This requires no explanation. A watch must be fitted to the size of your wrist. It is a bad idea to wear a watch that is loose and looks like it is soon going to fall off your arm. This creates the impression that you borrowed it. Which explains why many people opt for leather and rubber straps. It is because they (straps) allow for adjustment to one’s wrist size.
Size of your watch
Just like clothes, you want your watch to suit your body shape. There was a time when oversize watches were on vogue. Apart from attracting a lot of unnessecary attention, those massive dials also made people’s (especially the skinny ones) look way smaller.
If you are a dude with a small wrist, it is advisable you don’t go for that huge G-shock watch. Stick to watches between 36 and 38mm in size. On the flip size, if you are a big dude, you don’t want to wear a watch that looks like your little brother’s.
Watch should function and tell accurate time
Stroll through Kampala city and randomly check whether everyone wearing a watch actually has a functioning watch. The results could surprise you. This habit has even been exacerbated by the mobile phone era. How many time-measuring devices must someone carry?
No matter how expensive or cheap your watch is, it better be functional. Not only functional but it should be set to tell the correct time.
While the role of the watch has evolved with time, to becoming a fashion accessory, their primary role is to tell time and that will never change.
Looking at your watch can be disrespectful
As noted earlier, the primary importance of wearing a watch is for the owner to keep track of time. However, it also matters when you choose to check the time. In some circumstances – say while talking to your girlfriend, boss, business partner among others – this can be interpreted as disrespect.
If you were meeting with your boss or work supervisor then you constantly kept peeping at your watch, they (boss or supervisor) might take it that you feel like they are wasting your time or that your time is more valuable than theirs.
Know where to wear your watch
Luxury watches are expensive. For example a Rolex will cost you between $7,000 (Shs 26m) and $12,000 (Shs 24m). Carrying such asset (which is as valuable as a Toyota Harrier) can be risky depending on where you are. Your watch, just like any other valuable accesories, could potentially make you a target for robbers and thugs.
