I don't think meaning or implication of the word 'carry' has changed in 60+ years.
People used to 'wear' watches 60+ years ago and they do the same today. One carries a fire arm but one wears a watch. Unless ofcourse if it is not worn.
Not those who started with a pocket watch. So a transition from carry to wear happened at some point. As society didn’t switch to wristwatches overnight chances are the two verbs coexisted for a while, regardless of the type of watch they carried/wore.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.