Andy Gets All Wound Up

How Many Watches Do We Really Need?

(CBS)  This segment was originally broadcast on Dec. 3, 2006.

The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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I can't make out what it is with people and watches. No one needs more than one to find out what time it is but most of us have half a dozen watches in drawers around the house that they we never use.

There are an incredible number of ads for watches in newspapers and magazines, so people must buy a lot of them.

Some magazines have a whole special section. They look great, but most of them aren't time pieces, they're show pieces.

If you wore an expensive wrist watch like some of the models shown in the ads, you'd probably go around all day with your sleeve rolled up so people could see it.

The other day I asked Keith Kulin, who edits these pieces, to bring in any watches he had home so I could put them on my desk here. I was expecting four or five; Keith brought in sixteen watches that no one in his house wears anymore. I think you'd find these in a lot of homes too.

Watchmakers think of all sorts of clever ways to make watches look unusual so we’ll buy another new one. Different numbers, Roman numerals sometimes, other times they just indicate the hour with a dash or something.

And then there is the pocket watch. No one I know carries a pocket watch anymore. Pocket watches for men went out of style with vests. A vest always had a watch pocket but when men stopped wearing vests they stopped using pocket watches because there was no place to put one.

I bought one watch several years ago because it only costs $9.99. I was going to give it to one of the kids for Christmas but I never did. I don’t like metal watchbands, my wrist hairs get caught in it.

I pass stores all the time with windows full of expensive watches. I think a lot of women wear watches as jewelry.

A diamond-encrusted watch ought to have a price tag showing instead of the time. The funny thing about an expensive watch is, it doesn't keep any better time than a cheap watch.

I wear a cheap watch. Not a lot of extra stuff on the face. Keeps perfect time. The only time I reset it is every few years when I put in a new battery. I wear it face down.

I got a watch from CBS for being on 60 Minutes for a long time. I got it a long time ago, too. After all these years you'd think CBS could spend a little more and give me a watch with numbers on it.

[mrthornman]

Andy,

Many of us quit wearing watches years ago, because our cell phone has a clock. A wrist watch now is more of a fashion accessory. Not for me, thanks. One less item to deal with!

[vaobryant]

Dear Andy: My wife and I agree with you.

I don't carry a watch as my cellphone carries the time.

My wife Gladys purchased a watch in 1996 which I

feel you

would be interested in if your's ever fails.

It's a Citizen Eco-Drive. Has solar battery

charger that keeps Battery charged. She's never

had it fail for any reason.

[e-mail]

[bobgee_1999]

I still wear the same watch I purchased 13 years ago, the first model of Swiss Army watch to ever hit the market (they've doubled in price since then). Nothing fancy, simpole face. The crystal is scratched and it has taken a pounding, but still works fine, though I've gone through countless bands and numerous batteries. The only other watch I own is a family heirloom pocketwatch. I'll always wear a watch---I suppose it is a generational thing, as I despise cell phones and wouldn't have one if you gave it to me.

[jaqued]

Andy, I have a bunch of watches one is an Eco Drive and it keeps excellent time. Its only problem with it is that it is so massive my wrist keeps going straight ahead when I turn a corner. On the advice of my Harp teacher I it put away with the in the 14 other watches I have and went to a pocket watch. I ourchased several while looking for just the one to make me feel good about it and I got it on ebay from Hon Kong for just 1 dollar. The 30 dollars it costs to get it sent to America made the cost about the same as if I had purchase it here. I actually look at my watch often to watch time slip by at the measured pace of each evenly spaced tick. It also serves as a reminder that one today is worth two tomorrows and that all we really have is now. I say a watch advertised in a catalog recently that lacked hands, numbers or even a clock work. The face just said "NOW". I should have bought that one and thrown the rest away.

[mihikatahdin]

Speaking of watches, Andy, have you noticed that watches with Roman Numerals now have IIII for four, rather than the IV we were taught in school? What is this all about? Drives me nuts...

[thgdriver]

Andy,

My watch has a 24 hour face, It is a Wenger, same people who make that Swiss Army knife with all the gadgets, I find it invaluable as I drive an 18 wheeler for a living and fedeal laws mandate that I keep a 24 hour log. It keeps perfect time. You folks that use your cellphones to tell time while driving, please be carful!!

Keep on trucking!

[thgdriver]

Sorry , please be "careful"

[sflew2s]

Sorry Everybody,

I wear a digital wrist watch 24 hours a day and only take it off to clean it!, I could care less about the clock in my cell phone because it is inconvenient to take it frome my hip or my pocket to check the time, and I can easily sneak a peak at my watch during a meeting where taking out my cell phone would be rude. I can also point to my watch to let someone know that it is time to do something, but if I take out my cell phone and point at it they will thing they have a call to take. So I will go on wearing my watch until they make them obsolete just the same thank you.

[bluestardad]

who cares must be a slow news day!

I personally do not own a watch as time does not matter to me being retired, most of the time I do not even know what day it is nor does it matter, a cell phone with the time on it? I always hated the telephone so I never bothered with a cell phone, and still do not have one today. If I am out some where it is to get away from the house and the phone, not to carry more baggage with me so my ex can call me and complain some more

[thgdriver]

bluestardad

Your computer is like a radio/tv in some ways, If you don't care about, it don't tune in.

[cdltpx]

My watch of choice is an $18 lightweight slim multifunction calculator watch far too geeky for most folks to be seen wearing but now I proudly admit that I am a frugal-geek-trucker. It has never failed unless you count the time I accidentally melted one with deet 24 bug repellant it still worked just was sticky to the touch not my style. I need to travel light so the multiple functions are a must for me. I wrap it in a bandana tie it to my head metal plate to my forehead and it doubles as an alarm clock that I always hear as long as the bandana stays put. Truckers often have sleep with as much noise as possible in the cab to drown out the outside noise of a truck plaza or loading dock. Recently I earned an associates degree in electronics and as a student I would solve an equation just as the other students could or would even find their calculator just because the watch is always there on my wrist not in a brief case or accidentally left at home. My brother is a jeweler he gave me a very costly watch just like his, I wore it two times way too bulky so I re-gifted him he understood why disliked wearing it. By now years later his old one had quit on him and was truly happy to get it back because it was a rare model in perfect condition and it had gained in value now he has a repaired work watch and a less worn dress watch.

[curtisbrubak]

In your entire segment, you forgot to mention the one question you could ask about watches that could win you money on a bet:

"What's the Roman Numeral for the number four?"

Wrong!

Take a look! You owe me an autographed RooneyDollar!

[curtisbrubak]

Andy,

In your entire segment, you forgot to mention the one question about watches you could win money on a bet in a bar:

"What's the Roman Numeral for the number four?"

Wrong!

Take a look! You owe me an autographed buck!

[cwbrileyiii]

Andy, I'm 58 years young and have worn a gold, wind-up pocket watch in my jeans pocket for many years. I don't like anything on my wrist. I chose a Swiss movement over a quartz because my dad was a watchmaker for about 70 years. I saw his business taper off to a trickle with the popularity of cheap quartz watches. His skill with watches was nothing short of amazing, but the march of time left him in the dust. I was determined to help keep his craft alive by eschewing cheap quartz movements.

We lost him 6 months ago.

Charles Briley

[heychester]

Andy Rooney proves once again that he has no idea what he's talking about. He should have been put out to pasture years ago.

[noelleno]

So it%u2019s not just me%u2026.
Observation: People pay thousands of dollars for a "designer" timepiece, yet when I ask for the time...they look at the cell phone!

At 40 years of age, I have not worn nor purchased a watch in close to 25 years. I get 48-72 hours of wear before the battery dies or I develop a rash. I have a lady's pocket watch circa 1890 that I found after my grandmother%u2019s aunt she passed in 83%u2019 and I don't wind it or carry it.
By removing the majority of the frivolous, "pseudo" time-sensitive activities from my life, I have regained the ability to use %u201Cnature's clock%u201D. I usually get within 5-10 minutes of the correct time just by looking at the position of the sun. I use a cell phone as a clock and phone book-ONLY.

[rushman71]

Andy,
About 18 years ago, I was working my first job at a movie theater. One day while cleaning up after a movie finished, I stumble upon a pocket watch with no chain. It had a golden brass like case, about an inch and a half to two inches in diameter. When I looked at the face, it had the name "Bulova" on it. I asked for some opinions from some other workers, who kind of thought it my be worth something, a little at least. I decided to go ahead and leave it there, in the lost and found section.
About a month or two later, I took a look in the lost and found, and noticed that it was still there. I asked the manager at the time if I could go ahead and keep it, since no one claimed it. She said ok.
To this day, I still have it--someplace in a box. Still don't know it's true value, but it's not the money I am after, it's the quality that I look for. I do hope that it's original owner didn't loose something that he felt precious towards. Hey, some people do.

[shanev137]

Hey Andy, it appears that you have too much time on your hands.

[clarencebev-2009]

Thanks Andy, for your time.

[drivelphobe]

Watches are compelling to those who are addicted to synchronicity, detail and have lots of disposable income. Don''t knock it. Watches are like hats. You can only wear one at a time, but variety is a pleasure. Women do wear watches as jewelry and men wear watches for a personal feeling of gratification. Nothing like a nice watch to make your day brighter. They''re sort of like whole-life insurance policies. Not for everyone but for people who understand value and want the finest.

[nolebert]

Dear Andy,

Complain... complain... complain...

Does trashing other people''s choices in life make you feel better about yourself?

If someone chooses to wear a nice wristwatch, no matter what the expense, what is it to you? I guess it just makes you feel better to make light of other people.

Gil Allensworth
Aiken, SC

By the way Andy... do some homework before you go on the air next time... The wristwatch took over from the pocket watch when Louis Cartier designed the Santos. Cariter designed the Santos for dirigible pilots so they could check the time quickly by glancing at their wrist instead of having to reach in their pocket and pull out a wristwatch to check the time.

[lawrentiew]

Hi Andy I like Your program on watches cause I have a lot of them from Mickey Mouse to a wrist watch with a built in lighter. MR ED

[zoarv]

Dear Andy
If no one is using a pocket watch any more why do the still put a watch pocket on jeans? Maybe you should let them know!
PS-I found it amusing that when I clicked on your name, an add for Viagra pops up.

[drlee6530]

To the on and only Andy Rooney. I have been watching you for many years and ca no remember a store I did not agree with. When you did the piece on watches I had to write and let you know as a very technical person and consultent for over 20 years I hated having to reset my clocks and watch. To solve this problem I use awatch that recieves a siginal from Bolder Colerado on 60 Khz and I never have to set ane time piece I own as they all set automaticle even for the change from daylight time and standard time. I love daylight time as I can go to work in the day light and go home in the sun light, Yet the people that dreamed of swiching beteen the two needs to be chastised as all life on this earth need sunlight to surive. In humans it produces vitamon D and if you do not get enough ov this vitiman you loose bone density as your body can not use Calcium to keep your bones strong. So my sugestion is clocks and watches that automaticly keep the proper time and get rid of Standard time so people will get sunlight for their health.
By the way keep helthy as it would be a great loss to loose your quality advise!

With Great Admeration from a long time Fan!

Dr. Dana-Renee Lee PhD

[drlee6530]

To the on and only Andy Rooney. I have been watching you for many years and ca no remember a store I did not agree with. When you did the piece on watches I had to write and let you know as a very technical person and consultent for over 20 years I hated having to reset my clocks and watch. To solve this problem I use awatch that recieves a siginal from Bolder Colerado on 60 Khz and I never have to set ane time piece I own as they all set automaticle even for the change from daylight time and standard time. I love daylight time as I can go to work in the day light and go home in the sun light, Yet the people that dreamed of swiching beteen the two needs to be chastised as all life on this earth need sunlight to surive. In humans it produces vitamon D and if you do not get enough ov this vitiman you loose bone density as your body can not use Calcium to keep your bones strong. So my sugestion is clocks and watches that automaticly keep the proper time and get rid of Standard time so people will get sunlight for their health.
By the way keep helthy as it would be a great loss to loose your quality advise!

With Great Admeration from a long time Fan!

Dr. Dana-Renee Lee PhD

The wrist watch, much like the pocket watch before it is going out of style. People now have their cell phones to tell time for them. A watch is mostly just jewelry that happens to tell time now. And not too accurately at that.

If you buy a premium watch (one costing more than $1000), chances are it''s mechanical. That means that the most expensive watch in the world is going to keep worse time than your typical $20 quartz watch. Consequently, though my watch is my only form of jewelry, when I need to know time accurately within a couple of minutes, I look at my computer or cell phone.

The wrist watch, much like the pocket watch before it is going out of style. People now have their cell phones to tell time for them. A watch is mostly just jewelry that happens to tell time now. And not too accurately at that.

If you buy a premium watch (one costing more than $1000), chances are it''s mechanical. Mechanical just isn''t as accurate as a quartz. The most expensive watch in the world is going to keep worse time than your typical $20 quartz watch. Consequently, although my watch is my only form of jewelry, when I need to know time accurately within a couple of minutes, I look at my computer or cell phone.

I have to agree though with many people who''ve commented that this was a really stupid piece. Equivalent to a 3 minute rant about the "Brooklyn Dodgers." You should run your piece by someone under 40 to see if it''s still relevant.

[drlee6530]

To the on and only Andy Rooney. I have been watching you for many years and ca no remember a store I did not agree with. When you did the piece on watches I had to write and let you know as a very technical person and consultent for over 20 years I hated having to reset my clocks and watch. To solve this problem I use awatch that recieves a siginal from Bolder Colerado on 60 Khz and I never have to set ane time piece I own as they all set automaticle even for the change from daylight time and standard time. I love daylight time as I can go to work in the day light and go home in the sun light, Yet the people that dreamed of swiching beteen the two needs to be chastised as all life on this earth need sunlight to surive. In humans it produces vitamon D and if you do not get enough ov this vitiman you loose bone density as your body can not use Calcium to keep your bones strong. So my sugestion is clocks and watches that automaticly keep the proper time and get rid of Standard time so people will get sunlight for their health.
By the way keep helthy as it would be a great loss to loose your quality advise!

With Great Admeration from a long time Fan!

Dr. Dana-Renee Lee PhD

[tilliebees]

Hi Andy, My husband and I have watched 20/20 for 27 years. He loves the show and I watch it to see you. I don''t always agree with you but appreciate your opinions and you make me smile. Tonight when you were talking about watches and made the comments you made about pocket watches I realized how uninformed you were. My son-in-law has repaired and sold antique pocketwatches for years. 3 years ago he started carrying new high end pocket watches and accesories along with vintage and antique. He has a huge business. I invite you to look at his website (pocketwatchsite) and then come spend a day with him. You will find that people order not only one pocket-watch but 3 or 4 at a time. We are amazed at the 100''s of sales he makes a year and the demand their is for both antique and new pocket-watches. You owe watch-makers an apolgoy!
B Hunter
Utah

[aztecdakota]

Wrist watches are TOPS!!!! Ask anyone in the Military. Makes operations much more effective and coordinated. OR you can pull out your cell phone while crawling up a gully under heavy fire, waiting for that air strike at Zero Eight Hundred.

[garyc21]

My daughter and family gave me a pocketwatch 2 years ago and I just happen to have 2 pairs of pants with watch pockets and I proudly wear the watch every time I wear these pants. In fact I am wearing them today.

Gary Collins
[e-mail]

[cmehring]

Indeed, most accurate time keeping is provided by quartz technology or should I say by uplinking to an atomic clock, i.e., time-keeping based on the atomic scale with time measured in terms of the high-frequent oscillations of a quartz crystal or an atom.
However, besides new developments and improvements in current watch technology (see for example ergo-electronics.com); the watch industry has also seen a Renaissance and renewed fascination with mechanical watches in recent years. Indeed, to this day, mechanical watches provide a benchmark for engineering design, quality, innovation and human ingenuity for the most respectable watch manufacturers and their master watchmakers. Mechanical watches relate to the end of the physical scale which is opposed to the atomic scale, i.e. the astronomical scale or celestial mechanics. Here, time is measured and observed via the continuous turning of hands and the rotations of a multitude of interlocking wheels analogous to the motion of the planets around the sun and their rotations around themselves.
If you will, the evolution from mechanical watches to electronic (quartz) watches, with time measurement relying on ever smaller physical and time scales, also reflects, in some sense, the changes in human life throughout the last centuries; from the slower paced life before the industrial revolution to the fast-paced life in the information age.

[cmehring]

..... continued
However, as yesterday, today%u2019s advances in technology and innovations in science are born out of the ability to halt and think, they are born out of a mood of tranquility. A mechanical wrist (or pocket) watch with its characteristic and soothing %u201Ctick tack%u201D sound lets us remember this fact and makes us aware of a commodity which is more precious today than ever before, TIME.
Dipl.-Ing Carsten Mehring, Ph.D.

[helloall34]

Another rerun... Please retire and let Seinfeld take your place.

[hitoyou11]

Another rerun... Please retire and let Seinfeld take your place.
Please not Seinfeld, let Seinfeld retire. Let him do any thing, just keep him off TV.

[rogernewell1]

I can remember only one thing that a college president said in speaking to my high school graduating class in 1956. He told the story of a man who was retiring. He was given a pocket watch as a retirement gift. When he opened the cover the man found that the only thing inside was a note saying, "If you come back again, we will give you the works."

[tkwp]

The Thousand Watch Project ("TKWP").

The idea behind this project is to collect 1000 watches (via donation) and have each donor write an epitaph. It is Moskow Linn''s assertion that "With the advent of cell phones, wrist watches are dying a slow death. But it is difficult (if not impossible) to throw out your old wrist watch even if it is broken. Is that because when it was worn it was almost an integral part of the body? Does it represent an important moment in one%u2019s life?".

We love Moskow Linn''s idea for the ten word epitaph, and many of them are really great. Some are funny, some are nostalgic, and some represent specific moments in time, but they are all unique.

Once the project has received 1000 watches, the entire collection will be donated to the Smithsonian Gallery in Washington DC, as "An Illustrative display of this moment in time."

So far about 350 watches have been donated, so there is still time to send yours in. They do not need to be functioning or even complete, to be featured in the collection. Each featured watch will be tagged with the epitaph included by the donor, and will be available to view online, and eventually in person at the Smithsonian Gallery.

To donate your watch to The Thousand Watch Project, please send it to:

Moskow Linn Architects
88 Broad Street
Boston, MA 02110

Be sure to include your own ten word epitaph and email address if you would like to be contacted when the item is available to view.