The return of the watch, or how Casio ended up back on my wrist

The Casio A158W, looking great on my hairy wrist.

(Credit: Scott Stein/CNET)

Here's a retro tale for you: I wear a watch again. To be more specific, I wear a Casio digital watch, the A158W. Sporting an aluminum wristband, beeping buttons that can't be deactivated, a chronometer, and a cheesy green microlight--no fancy backlighting for you--it's a carbon copy of '80s wrist fashion. I got it at Duane Reade on my street corner for $20.

For a while, I tried to go without a watch. It's been commonly written lately that watches are passe, having been replaced entirely by cell phones. After my last watch's wristband broke, I tried to go phone-only for the time. I'd worn a watch for so long that my wrist had developed a permanent tan line. My left wrist is even slightly thinner from years of watch-wearing. It's a little scary (but not as scary as the hair that sprouts from my arms like fur).

One problem: I have a baby. And I live in a city with no car. Every morning, I commute with a baby strapped to my front and a backpack on my back as I head to daycare before work. Reaching for a phone in my pocket to tell the time is not just difficult, it's dangerous.

I got the Casio because I realized that practically no stores sell watches anymore. The few I found were high-end retailers, and so I settled for the local Duane Reade, where an embarrassingly lost-in-time selection of watches lay trapped in a white plastic display. Rather than go halfway with a cheapo brand or modern digital, I went whole hog by picking the most ridiculous throwback in the display, a model that looks like it could actually have been in the store since 1984.

The watch is, in fact, a current model, created for its retro classic appeal. (Casio's own site doesn't list this particular model, but does have the very similar A158WA.) And you know what? The numbers are nice and large, the glare is minimal, and the microlight is low enough to not wake up my kid when he's going to sleep.

Do you wear a watch? If so, what do you sport? If not, what would get you to wear one? I say the retro watch needs a comeback. Leave that phone in your pocket where it belongs.

[toofarfromthis1]

Believe it or not, I don't own a cell phone so I "have" to wear a watch. I usually wear my Timex Ironman, it doubles as heart rate monitor when I go running. I have a very nice CYMA when go out and want to look good. And I have a GARMIN 201 that I use to measure speed and distance when I go running, and I ONLY wear that when I go running. Image me running, 2 watches (one for HR and one for speed/distance), give me an mp3 player and I have more gadgets than any runner needs!

I love the CASIO though! I saw a CASIO that would automatically light up when you turn your wrirst.

[EdCenter]

Only reason I wear a watch is to cover up the tan marks around my watch (there's an untanned strip that goes all around my left wrist, something familiar to SoCal people with watches). I guess I can wear short sleeves without my watch to even out the tan, but that'd take months!

[bobmarleypeople]

I also wear a casio. I've had it for about 4-5 years now actually. It's the WS-300 http://www.casio.com/products/Timepiece/Sports/WS300_Series/ though the model I have has different colors than the ones on the site along with a completely different strap (which has changed about once a year). Definitely my favourite watch I've ever had, especially with the dual analogue+digital time showing (not something you see often these days). Also water-resistant for pool/sea/hot springs.

I heartily recommend.

[Stringfellowhawke]

I wear the Casio Solar G Shock watch. I like the solar power feature and the case is large and mean looking. It is also good for watersports.

[matt0821]

Going a little nuts actually since my watch died a few weeks ago. Need to just go buy a new one already... Don't know what you mean that they're hard to find though, I see watches in about any store I walk into from Walgreens to Walmart and up on into your Sears/JC Pennys dept stores. What I'm amazed at is there are no bluetooth only cellphone type watches. Rather have it on my wrist then in my pocket. Just need to snap the headset in somewhere.

[sodablue]

That's actually pretty cool. I may have to give up my Tissot and get one of those.

I still have a Lorus watch in my drawer from that vintage... My first watch as a kid was a Timex that had red LED numbers and you pushed the button to get the time. Now that would be awesome for them to make again!

[RPG_Master94]

That watch sound like the Fossil one I bout two years ago!

(Read my comment below)

[davidmcelroy_dotmac]

Practically no stores sell watches? Maybe in your little bubble of the world, but most of the country is within a stone's throw of a Walmart or a Target, both of which sell nice looking, very inexpensive watches. I don't wear a watch anymore, but I'm really confused by the notion of them not being available, because just about any random discount chain is going to have them.

[BirdDog01]

I retired my Rolex to the bank vault after 39 years when my jeweler decided he wanted 4 times what I paid for it for a routine service. I now wear a Casio G-Shock Waveceptor. It is solar powered and sets itself nightly by the NIST signal from Boulder CO. It is thus far more accurate than the Rolex ever was, also even bigger and clunkier. I have a thin, gold antique Gruen for dress occasions (once or twice a year at most. I don't usually carry my cell phone or iPod.

("A gentleman's watch is thin and gold." Dress for Success, Molloy, 1975)

[RPG_Master94]

I when I turned 13 in 2007 I decided it was time (:P) for me to get my own watch. So spent my birthday money on this really cool retro LED Fossil watch. But then around last July I got my first phone... I think I've worn my watch two time since then... I really should start worrying it more :(

It looks allot like this one, but that strap is made of leather: http://cache.gizmodo.com/gadgets/images/spaceheadonW380.jpg

[plbyrd]

I would wear a watch if it was a bluetooth host that acted as a cell phone, mp3 player and storage device. Your whole body becomes the phone antennae, the bluetooth means it can host a headset as well as media headphones, and it also allows the watch to be a storage device. If there was a USB docking station to charge it and allow high-speed synching then it'd be perfect. Oh, and it would set the time via the cell network by pinging the atomic clock servers. The possibilities are endless. Someone make it, I will come buy it.

[zgreenwell]

That watch idea still fails because you forgot to include a laser.

[Harknail]

I would have replaced my watch when the place where the band attaches broke (I would have just replaced a broken band). But Casio no longer made the Databank watch in silver. Since both my cellphone and HP calculator can tell time, I've just been using those. Most of the time, I don't miss the watch.

[Button Boy]

I have a cell, but I'm old school and I still wear a watch as well. I have a Citizen analog watch, and I love it. It is simple - no second hand, no date, day,etc. It is extremely thin and lightweight. It does all I need a watch to do- tell time and be comfortable to wear. Been through 3 leather bands and two replacement batteries and I'll never give it up.

[FSUMatt]

I wear a Citizen Calibre 8700 and love it. you get a classic look with modern features.

[drhuntr]

Good grief, I have more watches than limbs. Three Skagen (just beautiful watches, and not outrageously expensive), plus my Garmin and a Fossil. I also tried going without and using my phone, and yuck-o. I get peeved when folks pull out their phones in a discussion; it's like they're telling me I'm not as important as the phone call they want to make. At least glancing at a watch is less intrusive (though granted, it can become just as insulting....)

I'm right there with ya! Love the watches. Don't like the tan though.

A Skaagen (beautiful and simple - worn on occasion)
A Suunto (HRM training watch - wear this 8 months out of the year)
A Guess dress watch (not worn in 5 years)
2 Swatches (one sport / one dress - not worn in 2 years)

The other 4 months of the year (non-contiguous) I convince myself that it all seems rather redundant since I have my cell phone is set to display clock all the time, and the Confabulator / Yahoo widget on the desktop, and the task tray clock.

[Perry_Clease]

I don't wear a wristwatch much these days, though I have several of them. I still have a Clebar analog, spring driven, watch that is over 40 years old now. Not having a baby around and no grandkids in near future, if I need to carry a watch it is usually one of my antique pocket watches with a chain or one of those digital watches on a short fob that you clip onto a belt loop.

Otherwise to tell the time it is my iPhone, or iPod.

[notsatch]

Casio MTP-3036
blue face
analog (yes, with hands). digitals are ugly.
Worn everything else under the sun but nothing lasts like a Casio, inexpensive too.

[gjl229]

I have several watches with bands in cordovan, brown, and black to match my belts and shoes. Ummm, yes. I am a male. An old one. With button-down shirts, a navy blazer from M&S, a grey suit from Austin Reed, cordovan or black wing-tips for dress, and a tie for the odd occasion. My favorite has the old red telephone kiosks on it.

My watches have faces with dials (sometimes two) and three hands. They don't know about NIST (two of my clocks do) and they only glow when I want them to.

Then there are my pocket watches, but I won't go into that.

Hereabove is described a fossil rather than a Fossil.

[zithrob]

Even MORE old school - I wear an analog watch. I needed something that I could read without my specs, and I hate fumbling for a cell phone when I can just look at my wrist.

The watch is a Timex Expedition (part # T446429J). This watch met all of my criteria. It's easy to read, supports multiple time zones, and has the Indiglo backlight that is bright enough to use as a nightlite when navigating a dark bedroom populated with the odd sleeping cat, dog or lurking dog toy.

For less than $40, its a watch that gives you the time, day or night, provides multiple time zones, an alarm, a stop watch and has a clean, business like look, but is comfortable on a hike - hard to beat it for the price.

[ptkdude--2008]

At 36, I still wear the Timex Ironman watch I got when I was a sophomore in high school. I've had to replace the band a few times, but it's accurate, easy to read, and doesn't project an "I think I'm awesome because I wear an Omega" attitude.

[scottyrad]

I have 4 watches, 3 Kenneth Cole (all with rectangular faces) and 1 Fossil watch. Not only do I find looking at them to be easier and less distracting than pulling out my cell phone, but I also find them to be a smart looking accessory. None of them were too expensive, all in the 60-80 dollar range, and all have been very durable.