As much as my tech savvy self loves digital devices, smart watches, and other fitness wearables, there are many times where I prefer to wear a watch. Just a watch. I find it refreshing to unplug and have something on my wrist that isn’t vibrating with notifications, making me feel guilty that I haven’t taken more steps, etc. If you’re looking to get back to the basics, here are three good reasons why it’s ok to leave your wearables and smartwatches at home in favor of a traditional wrist watch.
1. Be present
How many times do you pull out your phone to check the time only to see a screen full of notifications? While notifications on the home screen can be helpful, they can also be a huge distraction when pulling out your phone to check the time especially if there’s something urgent requiring your attention. Wearing a watch and leaving my phone in my purse allows me to be more present whether I’m with my family or friends.
2. Set an example for your kids
The former teacher in me also knows how important it is for parents to model the behaviors we want to see in our kids and lead by example. Wearing a watch shows children the importance of non-digital time pieces and serves as an important way for kids to learn to tell time.
3. Make a fashion statement
Just like a piece of jewelry, the watch you wear is an expression of individuality. Sure, you can customize smartwatches but they’re not quite the same as a traditional watch with bands and dials of different materials and watch faces of varying sizes and colors. I’ve always gravitated towards a stainless steel watch but I recently got a Cora Series ($275) Jord Wood Watch to add to my collection and since wearing it, the purple heart and pearl have been turning heads because it stands out from the smartwatches and wearables that are more commonly seen around so many wrists these days.
Purple heart wood makes up the band and encircles the pearl watch face studded with Swarovski crystals with a circle cutaway to provide a peek at the gears that lie behind. I love the contrast of the natural grain of the dark wood with the bright face with silver hands and find that this goes with any outfit- casual or dressy and any colors I happen to be wearing. The underside of the watch features a clear crystal face, allowing the movement of the gears which is fascinating to kids and adults alike!
Underside of Jord Cora Series watch with a crystal back that allows the movement of the gears to be seen
Unlike my favorite stainless steel watch, the fact that this watch is mostly wood means that it rarely sets off airport metal detectors though to be on the safe side and to keep the TSA lines moving when I travel, I usually still take it off and stash it in my bag as I go through the line.
Jord has a wide selection of gorgeous watches in a variety of different face types and sizes for men and women made out of all different kinds of wood including koa, cherry, ebony, rosewood, zebrawood, maple, bamboo, and more.
Tip: How to get kids to wear a watch
The best way to get your kids to start wearing a watch is to let them pick one out themselves. Just like you and me, they have their own sense of style. Emily’s first watch was a turquoise one with bright red cherries on it that she selected as a preschooler when shopping with her great grandmother. Her brother’s happened to be the Jord Ely ($129) made out of cherry wood. He loves wearing it but is also quite careful to always take it off and put it in the same place in his room each afternoon when he gets home from school!
While kids don’t need an expensive watch, allowing them to choose a watch provides them with a sense of pride and ownership that ensures that they’ll be more careful with it than if you were to choose one for them.
For more information about Jord Wood Watches, visit their website.
Jord sent me the Cora and Ely for review purposes but all opinions are my own.
