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In what hand does the watch wear, and for what reason?

In what hand does the watch wear, and for what reason?

March 29, 2024

The history of the wristwatch dates back to its invention in 1812, when Abraham Louis Breguet created the first commissioned by the Queen of Naples and sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, Caroline. However, it was not until the beginning of the 20th century that it began to become popular among women. The male wristwatches appeared in the world of aviation hand in hand with Louis Cartier, who developed the first for the pilot Alberto Santos -Dumont.

Since this time there have been great advances in its development and operation, but Since the beginning there has been doubt in which hand the clock is put . It is on this aspect that we are going to talk about throughout this article.


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In what hand does the clock go?

Although it is something that most of us do automatically, it is possible that on some occasion we ask ourselves if there is any social norm with respect to where the watch should be worn .

Most people wear it on the left wrist, but this is because most of the population is right-handed. And it is actually and traditionally the clock has been placed in the opposite hand to the dominant one. Thus, while the right-handers wear it on the left wrist while the left-handed wear it on the right.


Why is it like this?

The reasons for the clock to be placed on the opposite hand are eminently practical. First, we must bear in mind that this allows what we do with the dominant hand at the functional level do not be affected if we want to look at the time .

For example, when writing the watch and its strap could annoy the user, something that does not happen with the non-dominant hand. Another aspect to keep in mind is the fact that having to stop performing actions with the dominant hand to look at the time could have fatal consequences in certain contexts , as in the field in which the first male watches originated: aviation.

In addition, we constantly use the dominant hand in most actions that require the use of hands, something to wear the watch in that hand would expose the clock to blows, frictions, scratches and various fractures to be more frequent than the dominant slide across surfaces of different type.


Also, it is necessary to value that the first wristwatches they needed to be wound several times a day , something that would require the use of the dominant hand to be easily done.

An explanation with more urban legend

Although it may seem a minor issue, the truth is that even in the twentieth century there are records on reflection on this subject. In addition to the explanations mentioned above, there have also been some false explanations arising from ignorance that we could even consider urban legends.

One of the best known in this regard refers to the fact that the reason was the fact that the clocks were placed in the left hand (in the case of right-handed) because is the wrist in which it is measured usually measure the pulse .

The popular belief when automatic watches began (that is to say, those that left needing to be wound up) was that the clocks were powered to function from the movements or the energy transmitted by the cardiac pulse manifested in said wrist (despite that actually the pulse exists in both wrists and that the operation of the watches has nothing to do with the pulse).

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Why do you sometimes put on the other doll?

While putting the watch on the non-dominant hand is traditional and has a practical meaning, it does not imply that it can not or is badly seen to wear it in the dominant one. In the end, each one of us will place it wherever he pleases and will continue to fulfill his equal function.

In fact, sometimes for being an eye-catching accessory and symbol of power and wealth (if they are branded) they are sometimes deliberately placed on the dominant wrist. It can be a way to distinguish or try to differentiate from the traditional in a symbolic way .

Another reason why is usually worn in the dominant is for aesthetics or design, there are some watches designed to be carried on a particular wrist (something visible by the orientation of the crown). In principle the crown should go on the outside of the sleeve, being visible.

However, we can verify, for example, that although today left-handed people have elaborated watches taking into account their manual dominance, in the beginning the left-handed being was frowned upon and even tried to "correct" himself, or he did not usually have into account for the fact that manual majority dominance is not. In this sense Many people can wear the watch in the dominant hand as inheritance or custom of those times , not as far as it seems.

A last reason, more curious, has a functional sense: given that it is generally placed in the non-dominant hand, putting the watch on the dominant allows you to use your vision to remind us of an important fact. For example, it can serve as a reminder that you have to go to repair the watch or put a battery, or to remember that we have an appointment at some time.


How to Wear Your Wristwatch the Right Way! (March 2024).


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