These are all reasons why I still wear a watch. I now use a watch that is powered by the sun and has atomic-clock syncing, which helps me with the bus and subway schedule…but the irony is that I don’t receive the atomic clock signal well enough during the warmer months to set my watch through my east-facing windows, so I have to use a phone app to sync the watch to the atomic clock. :person_facepalming:
Not for me. If I’m at home the time is on practically every device. I take my phone with me when I go out. I’m never more than 2 seconds from knowing the time. You might beat me on the draw by 1 second but it’s not a contest usually.
The watch doesn’t need to charge all the time, is simple and doesn’t need to be replaced as often. Cool, but I already HAVE a phone and I need it despite the flaws you mention. I don’t have a landline.
There are many times during my commute when my cell phone is safely tucked away in a belt pouch or briefcase, and it is significantly faster and more convenient to look at my watch. Where I live, there are places in my commute and in my non-work routine where it is wise not to be displaying my phone, or risk dropping my phone. In certain other circumstances, it is less conspicuous to check the time on a watch than to use a phone for that purpose and reveal one isn’t paying attention to someone “important” during that moment. In those circumstances, it is nice to have a watch.
I have mixed feelings about Rolex. I love the brand reputation, I hate the price gouging. Back in the 90s you could get Sub’s any day of the week for $3k. Today, that won’t even get you on the waiting list.
I purchased my Submariner new in 1980 for $900.00. It’s been my primary timepiece for some forty years and still looks great and keeps excellent time. I’ve worn it on countless underwater adventures and in the construction of untold job projects. You get what you pay for IMHO.
No regrets.
Another fine timepiece in my rotation is my Vintage 1971 Omega Speedmaster.
EDC 99.9% of the time: Casio ProTrek PRW-3000B, replaced polariser to fix the negative LCD it came with originally. Alti, baro, compass, sunset/sunrise etc., solar charging, syncs to DCF-77 and other precise time over radio services. The extra functions are nice to have but the extremely precise timekeeping (even when sync fails, this particular specimen only drifts about a second per two weeks) is what keeps this watch on my wrist all the time.
For dressy situations that I fail to avoid there’s Casio LCW-M100DSE, this one also syncs to radio and has solar charging, though it’s not nearly as good at keeping the time between syncs as the ProTrek, drifting almost a whole second per day.