Sorry Cell Phones, Watches Are Still Relevant

After spending about twenty minutes in a retail outlet the other day, I began to consider whether or not the watch was still relevant. I am 19 years old, and the majority of people my age do not wear watches - the cell phone has replaced the watch as a way of telling time. Likewise, many adults have ceased to wear watches for the same reason. So does the watch still have a place in modern culture, or has the cell phone replaced it completely?

Modern cell phones have myriad uses beyond telling time, the most obvious being the ability to communicate via phone call and text message. Cell phones can also function as note-taking tools, cameras, camcorders, calendars, mp3 players, calculators, to-do lists, GPS devices, and more. Could the watch ever come back and replace the cell phone? I doubt it. However, I also doubt that the cell phone will ever entirely replace the watch.

In the most obvious way, the watch still has utility in areas where cell phones are not allowed or are not allowed to be on, such as hospitals, courtrooms, and movie theaters. Granted, most people do not spend much time in these locations, but it is still a valid point. A more notable or broader reason for the watch's continued relevance are situations in which checking a cell phone would be rude or inappropriate. For example, glancing at a cell phone during a job interview or date would be rude and would communicate to the other person that you are easily distracted and that he or she is not worth your time. It is much more subtle to glance briefly at a wristwatch, and is unlikely to offend another.

During similar situations, relying on a watch is a safer choice than depending on a silenced cell phone to tell the time. Everyone makes mistakes and forgets to silence his or her phone from time to time. In some situations, though, this might spell disaster - for example, during an important business meeting or during a wedding. Essentially, a person is better off depending on a watch than a cell phone when etiquette dictates such. There is still a certain level of prestige associated with a nicer watch, so those trying to dress more formally to impress prospective employers or a date may find a watch useful.

For those that exercise, watches are also a better choice than a cell phone for keeping track of time. Many watches have stopwatch functions and an individual does not have to worry about being distracted during a workout by text messages or phone calls. This results in a more efficient and more effective workout.

So no, a watch does not have the same utility as a modern cell phone does, nor could a watch ever replace a cell phone. Still, there are a number of situations in which a watch is still a useful item to have and may help to create a good impression or to be productive. Do you have any thoughts on the modern utility of watches? Feel free to share your thoughts in the form of a comment. Thank you for reading!