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Thread: Wearing a watch on the inside.

  1. #1

    Wearing a watch on the inside.

    I'm a barber by trade and I've noticed a few of my elderly customers wear there watch on the inside of their wrists.
    It must be a generational thing but I thought I'd give it a go.
    I put a vintage orator chronograph on to get the full back in the day vibe.

    We it drove me insane turning my wrist over to find I was looking at the clasp side.
    Just as I was starting to think it was a terrible idea, I was driving and bloody hell the time was there, I was cutting hair and the time was in full while cutting!! so I'm presuming back in the day it was important to catch the time quickly while performing a job or task.

    Is there anyone still wearing their watches this way.

    Baden

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  2. #2
    Master RJM25R's Avatar
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    At the gym, I wear my Tudor BlackBay this way on a NATO. Safer when using free weights, cables and machines….

  3. #3
    Master beechcustom's Avatar
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    Glad to see this thread wasn't about wearing a watch in prison 😳

  4. #4
    Grand Master dkpw's Avatar
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    I have tried it a couple of times in the past, with the thought being that it would be safer for the crystal to be inward facing. It didn't last, as it just felt weird and I seemed to bang the head far more with it there rather than facing outwards. Not for me.

  5. #5
    Grand Master
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    In the distant past I remember seeing older guys wearing them this way, not something I would recommend!

    Potentially it’ll alter the way the watch performs too.

  6. #6
    Grand Master abraxas's Avatar
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    I believe it is called "the sniper method"....

    https://special-ops.org/operators-we...-face-inwards/
    "Owning one is almost as satisfying as making one." ~ Rolex 1973

  7. #7
    Grand Master Saint-Just's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by beechcustom View Post
    Glad to see this thread wasn't about wearing a watch in prison 😳
    Or à la Christopher Walken.
    'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.

  8. #8
    Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by RJM25R View Post
    At the gym, I wear my Tudor BlackBay this way on a NATO. Safer when using free weights, cables and machines….
    Mmm not sure,Ive been going to the gym since 18 now 62 and
    never succumbed to anything hitting my watch on the top.
    On machines its out of the way on top of the wrist,I cant think of anything I do where wearing on the inside makes it safer tbh.

    How so you?.


  9. #9
    The Omega Chronostop Drivers was designed to be worn on the inside of the wrist. Keannu Reeves also wears his watch this way in the John Wick films.

  10. #10
    I always wear it like that.
    As I wear them on my right, it helps my mouse-hand just skim across the office desk top when I am working.
    An almost no harm done to the acrylic:




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  11. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by beechcustom View Post
    Glad to see this thread wasn't about wearing a watch in prison 
    Or about smuggling watches.

  12. #12
    Master
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    My late father always wore his watch this way when I was a kid

  13. #13
    I read somewhere that wearing the watch on the inside enables you to check the time discreetly.

  14. #14
    Master
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    I used to, for many years. I started doing so when I was a kid, cos it seemed daringly different! In reality, there are few good real reasons why you should wear it either way - there's little practical difference. Its a matter of personal taste and fashion. I don't wear it underneath so much these days - its a good look for youth, but doesn't seem to work so much when you get older!

  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by prexelor View Post
    I read somewhere that wearing the watch on the inside enables you to check the time discreetly.
    I don’t always check the time…
    But when I do, I do it discretely.


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  16. #16
    Grand Master Chris_in_the_UK's Avatar
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    No, just no.
    When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........

  17. #17
    Grand Master snowman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lewie View Post
    My late father always wore his watch this way when I was a kid
    Likewise.

    M

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  18. #18
    Master
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    Would rather wear it on my ankle than wear it that way. People would think I was into Jethro Tull though.

  19. #19
    Grand Master MartynJC (UK)'s Avatar
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    I used to wear my watch that way until my student days ended. My thoughts were - “if holding a pint of beer and someone asked me the time, they got a glass of beer down their clothes not me”.

    Wearing only inexpensive watches I had no idea where this interest in time measuring devices would lead me.
    “ Ford... you're turning into a penguin. Stop it.” HHGTTG

  20. #20
    Grand Master Griswold's Avatar
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    Tried it once for a while many many years ago. Felt wrong, looked wrong, so never bothered again.
    Best Regards - Peter

    I'd hate to be with you when you're on your own.

  21. #21
    Craftsman
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    It's a military trait....

  22. #22
    Just weird.

  23. #23
    Craftsman
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    Guess it depends on activities. If you spend all day behind a wheel for example might be easier to take quick glance at wrist. I couldn’t wear it that way as I’m a desk jockey.


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  24. #24
    Master RJM25R's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by P9CLY View Post
    Mmm not sure,Ive been going to the gym since 18 now 62 and
    never succumbed to anything hitting my watch on the top.
    On machines its out of the way on top of the wrist,I cant think of anything I do where wearing on the inside makes it safer tbh.

    How so you?.
    3 easy examples

    Tricep pushdown, lateral raise and chest press












    All easy to catch your upfacing watch on hard metal surfaces so I prefer to wear it on the underside

    YMMV of course!

  25. #25
    Grand Master Dave E's Avatar
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    I suspect that it might be handy for various jobs and activities, but it isn't a good position if you work with a desk and a keyboard, so I reckon why that is why it have fallen out of fashion.
    Dave E

    Skating away on the thin ice of a new day

  26. #26
    Grand Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by RJM25R View Post
    3 easy examples

    Tricep pushdown, lateral raise and chest press












    All easy to catch your upfacing watch on hard metal surfaces so I prefer to wear it on the underside

    YMMV of course!
    I see how that works on those machines,non of which applies at my gym tho.


  27. #27
    Grand Master Neil.C's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dave E View Post
    I suspect that it might be handy for various jobs and activities, but it isn't a good position if you work with a desk and a keyboard, so I reckon why that is why it have fallen out of fashion.
    I think you are right Dave.

    I definitely remember many people wearing a watch inside the wrist when I was a lad but most men did physical jobs in those days.
    Cheers,
    Neil.

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  28. #28
    My dad always did. It was a military thing in his case.

    I can see how it’s a smart thing to do if performing physical tasks but mad to do if you spend all day resting your hands on a desk.

    And that in a nutshell is the generational decline of humanity right there.

  29. #29
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    Good when holding a rifle.

  30. #30
    Master Skier's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve27752 View Post
    Good when holding a rifle.
    I can safely say that whenever I was holding a rifle up to my shoulder, I never once cared about the time.

  31. #31
    Grand Master PickleB's Avatar
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    It may be American, but there are plenty of replies at this link...among which are:


    • I’m a guitarist and bassist, played in rock bands beginning even before high school. When you’re on stage playing guitar, you can’t take your left hand off the guitar neck during a song, so you’d have to wait until between songs to check the time if you wear your watch on the outside of your wrist. If you wear your watch on the body side of the wrist, however, the watch face is visible while you’re playing guitar.


    • Here's an easy way to figure that out. Pick up a glass of water with your watch wearing hand.

      Check the time.

      If your watch is on the inside of your wrist you can continue by drinking the water.

      If your watch is in the outside of your wrist, you can now go change.

      I wear a watch “backwards”. I picked it up from my grandfather, who was in the army. I continued it because it's more natural for me to look at the watch. It's easier to look at the palm of your hand than it is to look at the back of your hand, especially while carrying anything. Very few things are naturally held with your thumb pointing down.

  32. #32
    Grand Master PickleB's Avatar
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    I have just been reminded by another thread that Omega designed their Chronostop Driver's Genève Ref. 146.010 to be worn under the wrist...see: link.

  33. #33
    Grand Master abraxas's Avatar
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    If everybody wore their watches on the inside... we wouldn't be able to see each other's watches... and where's the fun in that?
    "Owning one is almost as satisfying as making one." ~ Rolex 1973

  34. #34
    I wear my Apple Watch on the inside of my (right) wrist precisely so that no one can see it

  35. #35
    Master Jon Kenney's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by PickleB View Post
    I have just been reminded by another thread that Omega designed their Chronostop Driver's Genève Ref. 146.010 to be worn under the wrist...see: link.
    You were also reminded in post #9 of this very thread

  36. #36
    Grand Master PickleB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jon Kenney View Post
    You were also reminded in post #9 of this very thread
    Oops...I'd missed that.

  37. #37
    Quote Originally Posted by PickleB View Post
    It may be American, but there are plenty of replies at this link...among which are:


    • I’m a guitarist and bassist, played in rock bands beginning even before high school. When you’re on stage playing guitar, you can’t take your left hand off the guitar neck during a song, so you’d have to wait until between songs to check the time if you wear your watch on the outside of your wrist. If you wear your watch on the body side of the wrist, however, the watch face is visible while you’re playing guitar.


    • Here's an easy way to figure that out. Pick up a glass of water with your watch wearing hand.

      Check the time.

      If your watch is on the inside of your wrist you can continue by drinking the water.

      If your watch is in the outside of your wrist, you can now go change.

      I wear a watch “backwards”. I picked it up from my grandfather, who was in the army. I continued it because it's more natural for me to look at the watch. It's easier to look at the palm of your hand than it is to look at the back of your hand, especially while carrying anything. Very few things are naturally held with your thumb pointing down.
    * Why would a right handed person person pick up a glass of water with the other hand?

  38. #38
    Grand Master PickleB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kingstepper View Post
    * Why would a right handed person person pick up a glass of water with the other hand?
    That begs the question as to whether the author I quoted was right handed, and that I don't know. I think that the glass of water was used as a simple illustration of the practicability of wearing a watch on the inside of either wrist...as I do. When working at a desk I'm in the habit of taking off my watch because, as others have pointed out, it is 'in the way' and not best visible on the inside of the wrist.

  39. #39
    Quote Originally Posted by PickleB View Post
    That begs the question as to whether the author I quoted was right handed, and that I don't know. I think that the glass of water was used as a simple illustration of the practicability of wearing a watch on the inside of either wrist...as I do. When working at a desk I'm in the habit of taking off my watch because, as others have pointed out, it is 'in the way' and not best visible on the inside of the wrist.
    I'm sure we can all think of an example where each way works best. If not suitable for work why do you wear it like that, is work mainly at a desk?

    BTW, interesting to look on the 'Watches Worn Well' thread - doubt it includes many insiders!

  40. #40
    Master TKH's Avatar
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    I have seen many accounts and auditors wearing like this seemingly they can see the time easily whilst typing / writing/ studying papers….

    Watch usually scratched to bits..

    But some of the explanations above make sense in certain situations….. Snipers and Guitarists…..

  41. #41
    Grand Master PickleB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kingstepper View Post
    I'm sure we can all think of an example where each way works best. If not suitable for work why do you wear it like that, is work mainly at a desk?

    BTW, interesting to look on the 'Watches Worn Well' thread - doubt it includes many insiders!
    I started wearing it on the inside when I had milk round...and it stuck.

    Only later in life did I end up at a desk in Whitehall.

  42. #42
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Toad monitor View Post
    Would rather wear it on my ankle than wear it that way. People would think I was into Jethro Tull though.
    "here on the inside, outside's so far away" perhaps you are a Tull fan! Cheers, John B4

  43. #43
    Master mycroft's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by notenoughwrists View Post
    I always wear it like that.
    As I wear them on my right, it helps my mouse-hand just skim across the office desk top when I am working.
    An almost no harm done to the acrylic:




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    That photo makes me feel slightly unwell...

    Simon

  44. #44
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by JohnB4 View Post
    "here on the inside, outside's so far away" perhaps you are a Tull fan! Cheers, John B4

  45. #45
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by notenoughwrists View Post
    I always wear it like that.
    As I wear them on my right, it helps my mouse-hand just skim across the office desk top when I am working.
    An almost no harm done to the acrylic:




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Very good! Nice application apart from telling the time. Does anyone else use their watch for other purposes?

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