Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Have you considered going back to a mechanical watch?
- Thread starter The Cockney Rebel
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Answer to thread title: No.
Watches for me are a tool and an AW offers way more in that regard than a traditional watch.
For more opinions on this subject see here:
forums.macrumors.com
Watches for me are a tool and an AW offers way more in that regard than a traditional watch.
For more opinions on this subject see here:
If you were to stop wearing an Apple Watch, for a traditional mechanical watch, what watch would it be, and why?
For me, it would be the Santos De Cartier. To me, it’s beautiful (the SS & gold version) which stands out a mile, is classic, and was the first wrist watch ever made. How about you?
forums.macrumors.com
Then there’s no point to have it. My Garmin can do most of the fitness stuff just fine.
Going back to a digital watch it has cool old school vibes 😆 Personally can't stand mechanical watches.
![vintage-casio-watches-02-2802998145.png]( "vintage-casio-watches-02-2802998145.png")
I have this but the gold version ha. Definitely retro and fun to have in my collection that consists of much higher priced pieces
yup. The ability to easily change straps is a great feature. Interesting, I have a Cartier "Roadster" mechanical that has a similar band connection feature and a selection of leather, synthetic and steel straps.
I saw a JLC ultra-thin moonphase listed for $7k yesterday - unfortunately couldn’t figure out a way to get wife approval 🤣
This resonates with me. I didn't wear a watch before the Apple Watch because I didn't find much utility to a regular watch, especially as smartphones began to encompass the time keeping function.
My guess is that a preference for mechanical watches is likely because either
- it doesn't need charging (this is a valid utility point over AW - but in most urban settings is a non-issue)
- it's a stylish accessory.
Great watch! I have the 39mm version of that one.
I think it’s a fine idea to wear a nice watch for a while!
I’m someone who has always owned fitness trackers (Garmin, Apple, Fitbit) but also collects watches..
The difference in my fitness, and consistency of my workouts between wearing and not wearing a tracker is very small - in fact, my partner commented the other day that I’m far more regular with my workouts when I don’t wear a tracker!
Probably comes down to missing/delaying workouts due to Apple Watch not being charged - or skipping a days workout/going easy if my Garmin says I’m “overworked”
I’m someone who has always owned fitness trackers (Garmin, Apple, Fitbit) but also collects watches..
The difference in my fitness, and consistency of my workouts between wearing and not wearing a tracker is very small - in fact, my partner commented the other day that I’m far more regular with my workouts when I don’t wear a tracker!
Probably comes down to missing/delaying workouts due to Apple Watch not being charged - or skipping a days workout/going easy if my Garmin says I’m “overworked”
I just love the Santos De Cartier.
It‘s so unique, and just oozes class.
The only Rolex I like is the gold one, but I have small wrists and the Cartier would be ideal.
Also, it stands out a mile away. Rollys are just too “easy a choice” if you know what I mean?
It‘s so unique, and just oozes class.
The only Rolex I like is the gold one, but I have small wrists and the Cartier would be ideal.
Also, it stands out a mile away. Rollys are just too “easy a choice” if you know what I mean?
I've gotten really into watches in the last few years; I have a Tudor 1926 (41 mm), and a Hamilton Khaki Field Titanium (42 mm); I love them both -- they're both great "everyday" type watches, and I'd put the Tudor as more dressy. The Tudor 1926 comes in sizes down to 36 mm I believe, and Hamilton Khaki Field down to 38 mm. Soon getting a next one, likely a diver -- Tudor Black Bay 54 is very likely. Eventually planning a Rolex in the next years, and Grand Seiko too. It's certainly fun to collect these things, and they all tell stories for us in addition to keeping time. Cartiers are really cool too -- the Tank is always a classic but I agree the Santos looks great -- hope you get it soon!
Attachments
Sounds like you've got a digital watch? (This is likely a quartz movement with a battery for power -- so not technically mechanical.) Just did a quick search and there's a cool article on the history of Indiglo:
www.hodinkee.com
Looks like Timex puts Indiglo in many of their watches now
In-Depth: Shining A Light On Timex Indiglo
The history of a bright blue-green revolution.
Looks like Timex puts Indiglo in many of their watches now
Last edited:
In answer to the topic question: no, never.
The first and only mechanical watch I've ever owned was given to me when I was in grade school or early high school in the 1970s, and I changed to Casio LCD digital quartz watches more or less immediately. I wore Casio LCD digitals into the late 1990s, but quit after NTP became widely deployed and I had a bout with RSI in my left wrist.
Mechanical watches became obsolete when Seiko introduced the Astron 35SQ (quartz) on December 25, 1969. Quartz watches are an order of magnitude more accurate than mechanical movements, and require vastly less maintenance. Especially modern solar-powered, radio-controlled or GPS quartz watches. If I have to go backwards, I'll wear a Casio GWM-5610-1 solar-powered, radio-controlled LCD digital quartz watch. If I have to be dressy, a Citizen Eco-Drive AR3074 solar-powered, very thin watch will do, though it's not hard to dress up an Apple Watch: nice Milanese Loop, minimalist Apple Watch face, silent mode on.
Frankly, mechanical "watches" aren't watches any more, because they can't even match (let alone beat) their technological superiors at the primary purpose of a wristwatch: keeping & telling good, accurate time - they're ornamentation now.
Apple Watch is spec'd to maintain synchronization to UTC within ±50 milliseconds.
And it does a whole lot more than just tell time.
If you find its notifications annoying, turn them off - that's entirely on you because it's within your control. Need "digital detox"? That's what "do not disturb" is for - no need to be performative about it - just do it.
The first and only mechanical watch I've ever owned was given to me when I was in grade school or early high school in the 1970s, and I changed to Casio LCD digital quartz watches more or less immediately. I wore Casio LCD digitals into the late 1990s, but quit after NTP became widely deployed and I had a bout with RSI in my left wrist.
Mechanical watches became obsolete when Seiko introduced the Astron 35SQ (quartz) on December 25, 1969. Quartz watches are an order of magnitude more accurate than mechanical movements, and require vastly less maintenance. Especially modern solar-powered, radio-controlled or GPS quartz watches. If I have to go backwards, I'll wear a Casio GWM-5610-1 solar-powered, radio-controlled LCD digital quartz watch. If I have to be dressy, a Citizen Eco-Drive AR3074 solar-powered, very thin watch will do, though it's not hard to dress up an Apple Watch: nice Milanese Loop, minimalist Apple Watch face, silent mode on.
Frankly, mechanical "watches" aren't watches any more, because they can't even match (let alone beat) their technological superiors at the primary purpose of a wristwatch: keeping & telling good, accurate time - they're ornamentation now.
Apple Watch is spec'd to maintain synchronization to UTC within ±50 milliseconds.
And it does a whole lot more than just tell time.
If you find its notifications annoying, turn them off - that's entirely on you because it's within your control. Need "digital detox"? That's what "do not disturb" is for - no need to be performative about it - just do it.
I’m one of them: I can’t renounce to admire my Submariner, bought for the birth of my son, and to the utility of AW. So my Sub is on my left wrist, my Ultra 2 on my right one.
I get that the whole vibe of this post is “old man yells at cloud” but it’s silly to say the Apple Watch is mostly a toy. For one thing, it’s pretty terrible as a toy, with functionality too limited for continued novelty. For another, there are tons of extremely useful features outside of notifications. Even something as simple as using it as my alarm each morning, where it vibrates on my wrist so it wakes me up but not my partner, is invaluable. There’s nothing about it that is truly essential which makes sense as it’s designed as a supplement to a phone, but it offers me a multitude of small quality of life improvements that add up to it being an extremely useful device to have on each day.
100% agreed.
Though I would say that while mechanical watches are poor “watches”, as a fashion statement or piece of jewelry they can add value.
But as a watch, poor choice.
