A Note from the Editor:

While eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the commuter lounge the other day I heard a fellow commuter admit, “This watch doesn’t actually work anymore. I’m merely wearing it for aesthetic effect.”

How interesting, I thought. That even in the world of Apple Watches, the OG watches still have class.

Not long after this, Ethan sent me this article, and I realized there was a lot more to add to the conversation. Hope you enjoy!

What Time is It?

Written by Ethan Wambold

Throughout the centuries, humans have been obsessed with style. The 21st is no different. In the academic world, we know it is rather easy to give off a good impression with a dress; appear neat and tidy, wear clean clothes and look “put together.” The same can be said for the business world and really any other professional field. Although accessories like Abraham Licoln’s top hat are understandably out of style, wristwatches have not suffered the same fate. The wristwatch once was a staple of everyone, from the adolescent schoolboy to the highly respected politician. Nowadays, only people with money or prestige appear to see the importance of the watch (and I don’t mean the Apple or smart watch). Now the hobby seems to be nothing more than that: a hobby. I strive to change this notion, even if it starts with only one person reading this article and wanting to go and buy a watch!

Before delving into the importance of things that tick, a quick word on time as a concept. In modern day, people in general are less concerned with time, the management of it, and the understanding of its passage as a whole. Individuals are overall less prompt than they once were. Once upon a time, it was a universal rule that you appeared to a meeting or event respectfully early. Nowadays, coasting into an event or important place right on time, or even late, is a sad normality. Many people forget that time makes the world go around.

Here at Cairn, there is a large grandfather style clock on the center walkway. The clock has obvious use in telling the time and looking aesthetically pleasing and “academic.” But the clock has a more philosophical importance as well. The clock ticks through all types of weather, extreme or pleasant, never ceasing to continue the counting of minutes, hours and seconds. It is a reflection of a student’s time here on campus– and a reminder that time marches on no matter the circumstances of the individual or the world. The clock has been with every student through their four years at the school–and many generations of students before my own. In the same way, with wearing watch on your wrist, forgetting time is an easily avoidable evil, and adds the chance to carrying an object of sentiment.

As a college student, I greatly pride myself in my small collection of wrist watches. Every watch shares a story and a reminder of the period of life when I bought it. When asking my father, a fellow enthusiast (and the man I credit with getting my addiction started) he had much to say on watches in college. He claims that nearly everyone wore one, even clinging to it to ensure they made it to places early and on time. In the 1990s there were no cell phones, and if you had one it was far from practical and tactile. It served no purpose in keeping time.

I would argue the modern cell phone still serves no purpose in keeping time. Sure, pulling your phone out to check the time in theory gets the job done, but does it really? Doing this opens a flurry of distraction, and the initial reason a person pulls out their phone becomes social media, text and digital time. By simply having a watch on your wrist, this is an avoidable distraction. When you want to know what time it is, an analog watch offers nothing more and nothing less. 

Watches are also classy– this fact I am sure will never go out of style. So, although it may make you feel “ancient” or of the last century–buy a watch– as cheap or as expensive as you like. I assure you, the enjoyment produced by the piece will transcend its price quickly!