Where to Wear the Watch
For practical purposes today, the wrist watch is almost universal. The watch on the wrist of Queen Elizabeth I of England dangled from a bracelet; the watch in the bracelet is a distinctive development of our own time. Railroad men and some others still prefer the larger pocket watch, but the accuracy of the good wrist watch suffices for all save the finest scientific measurements of time. That the timepiece, nevertheless, remains partly a fad and a fashion is made clear by the many less practical ways in which it is mounted. Watches have been designed in rings, on cuff links, buttons, heads of canes; on knives, notebooks, lipsticks—Time for a fresh application!—on cigarette cases and lighters, wallets, ladies’ garters—Time!
Sometimes, especially for more formal wear, the pocket watch is still worn, not with a chain but with a fob. In the vest, or in the right front “of the waistband of the breeches,” is a special pocket for the watch. To the watch is attached a black ribbon that hangs out and forms the background for a medal, a seal, or other jewel.
Oliver Cromwell wore a watch fob. This method of wearing a watch was especially fashionable—in spite of the notice the fob gives to a pickpocket—from about 1875 until 1914, when the World War popularized the wrist watch. Fifty years ago, every college Senior wore a fob with his school’s coat-of-arms and his class. The fob is still affected by certain clubmen, bearing the jeweled insignia of the club.
A recent chronometrical development for the fairer sex is the watchclip. This jewel possesses all the versatility of the clip itself, with the added usefulness of the timepiece. The watch face can of course be cunningly hidden, in the heart of a flower, or as an element of an abstract design. It may be worn on a low neckline, at a lapel, at the cuff, or even on a bracelet.
For a woman during business hours, or at golf, there is good reason for wearing a watch. The wrist watch is the best. For sports, a plain leather band should hold a simple watch. At business, a simple band or gold chain is appropriate; the watch itself may be encased with small diamonds. It should be attractive, but not call attention to itself.
For general day wear a gold bracelet made of flexible links is attractive, worn with the face of the watch open or—for more formal occasions—concealed. This may be made softer by the addition of gems or other stones, but bright-colored stones should be used only if the dial is hidden.
The functional appearance of the watch is further softened in an attractive new style, which combines the watch with a gold fringe bracelet. The fringe draws the eye artfully away from the timepiece.
Jewelled Hours
During social hours, however, one should be more regardless of time. It seems almost an affront, by wearing a clearly functional wrist watch, to let your hostess know you are measuring the time you grant her. At theatre, at evening parties, a woman should at least seem not to care how the time flits by. Indeed, there is on such occasions no need for her to wear a watch at all.