Why are watches worn on the left?
@silver_shaddow (1204)
April 3, 2007 6:34am CST
I own a few wrist watches and I always wondered why was it designed to be worn on the left?
It looks awkward when you wear it on your right and have to turn it to the inside.
And not only watches, You hold a fork by your left, your breast pocket is on your left. You wear your wedding/engagment rong opn your left, You read your lines from a book or text from the left. The right hand is totally over looked. It feels like a scale loosing it's balance!
Ever wondered the same?
5 people like this
21 responses
@silver_shaddow (1204)
•
3 Apr 07
It feels heavier on the right. But it looks better I agree.
2 people like this
@MorningDew (833)
• Saudi Arabia
3 Apr 07
I wear my watch in the right had... I don't know why but I like it in the right more...
regarding the engagement ring.. I've heard that being engaged is much better than being married and you wear the engagement ring in the right... right??!!
@silver_shaddow (1204)
•
3 Apr 07
nope. The term "engagment ring" differs form country to country. In the middle east the engament ring is also the wedding ring. Worn on the right, but in the event of marriage, it's just "switched" to left. Simple, yea?
In Europ and the US, however, the "engagment ring" is worn on the left, but it looks different as it is a diamond ring. Then the perfect circle one "the wedding ring" is also worn on the left in the event of marriage.
Back to watches, forks and knives, I still have no idea why the left hand is used more then the right. And I wear my watches on the left, but sometimes I switch when I feel bored.
It looks better on the right though! ;)
2 people like this
@MorningDew (833)
• Saudi Arabia
3 Apr 07
you are right regarding the engagement ring, although I was talking about the middle east ring...
you use the left hand for the fork because if you are a right-handed you won't be able to cut meat with your left, so you use the right hand for that..
the other stuff I'm not sure maybe our left is just luckier :p
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@silver_shaddow (1204)
•
3 Apr 07
Ok here comes the surprise...I hold the fork by the right, as I enjoy using my left hand holding the knife and go through a thick juicy stake lol. Give more training to left and somewhat keeps me in balance.
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@chertsy (3798)
• United States
3 Apr 07
I can only think that watches are worn on the left hand if your right handed, and on your right hand if your left handed. I think most things that was invented like shirt pockets, lines on a book, etc. was done by someone that's right handed. Only thing I can think about the wedding band is that your wedding band is closest to your heart being your left hand. With me being right handed, with everything on the left, it's easier for me to do things. There is a lot of things for left handed people.
2 people like this
@aradia (68)
• United States
3 Apr 07
Most people are right handed and wearing a watch on that wrist makes it more uncomfortable when you write, or at least, it does for me. All my big bracelets go on the left because it's hard to set your arm down and write something when you have a watch/bracelet around your wrist and you can't lie your arm/wrist flat.
that's what i always thought. :)
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@silver_shaddow (1204)
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4 Apr 07
And a nice thought it is. Thank you for responding. and I like your avatar a lot!
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@healer (1779)
• India
3 Apr 07
Actually i never wondered about it till today after i saw this post. Its kind of weird but if we look into it deeply its not like what you have mentioned here, i saw watches for right hand also i think its like the demand is not there so the companies might not be making anyway but i saw some. And regarding the wedding ring in our country some of the communities here wear their weeding ring in the ring finger on the right hand anyway its not a must these days. Anyway i like this post a lot, good luck
@silver_shaddow (1204)
•
3 Apr 07
You're most welcome. I like the picture you posted too!
1 person likes this
@socorban (650)
• United States
3 Apr 07
Its because watches are usually worn on the weaker hand, the one not used to write with. Since the vast majority is right handed, most of the stuff is made for a righty. Thats why if you live in a big city it would be a good idea to open up a lefty shop for all the stuff the poor left handers need that are usually designed for a right hander, like scissors and what have you.
I am fortuniate to be kinda ambidexturous, so i can go either way really.
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@silver_shaddow (1204)
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3 Apr 07
Thank you for your response. you have a good mind for business!
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@silver_shaddow (1204)
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4 Apr 07
I can't do that either way. I take off my watch if I am using a keyboard or lap-top. It gets in the way. And I'd hate for my watch to get scratched!
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@neilf49 (809)
•
3 Apr 07
Don't really know the answer to this one but it may be something to do with the way the brain works. I know that from my marketing experiences that people when they enter a store tend to look to the left first, that's why the best offers are there when you enter. Don't pretend to understand it but am aware.
By the way, I wear my watch on the left, my son who is left handed wears his on the right, but my friend who is right handed also wears his on the right. I'm confused lol
@silver_shaddow (1204)
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3 Apr 07
lol
Thanks for the response and for that marekting tip. Will make sure to pay attention next time as I go to the Super Market.
Do left handed people hold the fork with the right hand then, as Etiquette requires it? I don't think anyone would notice, ha ha!
I'm a so confused now.
1 person likes this
@gorgeousdreamer (1034)
• Philippines
4 Apr 07
Nope... I just don't feel like wearing my watches on the right. I feel uncomfortable when my watch is on the right...
1 person likes this
@axe_effect (799)
• Philippines
4 Apr 07
watches are worn on the left sideif you are a right handed person, while it is worn on the opposite side if you are a left handed person, and also the key why watches on the left is that you can adjust the knob with your right hand.
@howard96h (11640)
• New York, New York
3 Apr 07
Most people are right handed and before batteries were put into watches you had to manually wind them up, so they put the button on the right side of the watch and people wore the watch on their left arm so they can wind them. It would be difficult to wind up the watch if it is on your right arm. Now a days it doesn't matter since most watches are run by batteries.
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@silver_shaddow (1204)
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3 Apr 07
Great reply my friend, I have totally missed that!
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@jaywhiting (560)
• Australia
3 Apr 07
Ive accidentally put my watch on my wrong hand before and i noticed it was on there after like ten minutes, when its on my left i hardly remember its even there half the time :P
@PureAries (26)
• Saudi Arabia
3 Apr 07
I think you guys should stop over analyzing it... whatever feels more comfortable..i wear my watch on the left,, i hold the fork with my left hand ,, unless am eating rice or pasta... mmm but i use my right hand for other stufff
2 people like this
@hopeful28 (1439)
• Singapore
8 Apr 07
The reason why I wear my watch on my left wrist is because I am right handed and I wouldn't want my watch to be in the way and get damaged. Don't think there is anything wrong with it being right or left but for me it is a matter of convenience and comfort. My right hand is the working hand and used more, while the left hand is more for wearing accessories.
@silver_shaddow (1204)
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8 Apr 07
I feel the same way too about not applying too much wear and tear on one's accessories.
@smilingurvashi (1151)
• India
4 Apr 07
hey i wear it on my left hand to keep my right and more efficient hand free and functional. if you see there are lot of things that are for your right hand. like pen, mouse, spoons, you even turn overleaf with your right hand and so many other things! and what i know is that urdu sentences are read from right to left!
@silver_shaddow (1204)
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5 Apr 07
Urdu is an interesting language that I would really love to learn.
Thank You for the response, your reply is one of the best!
@dazediva (166)
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10 Apr 07
Ahh interesting that you put this question up. I had recently responded to something similar.
I have observed that right handed people typically wear their watches on their left hands while left-handers typically wear theirs on their right. I suppose that there is some rationale in this since the watch might possibly get in your way when you are writing or typing.
I am proud to be different in that I am a right-hander and I wear my watch on the right. After so many years, it would indeed feel strange if I switch hand. I just take my watch off when I'm writing or typing.
@silver_shaddow (1204)
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11 Apr 07
You should be proud of so many other things about yourself too! ;)
Having worked in the arts devision once upon a time, you notice little things like bracelets and watches, jewelry in general.. the right hand side of the human body is more visible and easier for the eye to catch what's on it. The angle plays a vital side on the display part. When we were doing shoot outs we were asked to "switch" the watches to the right wrist... why? Ever noticed? When a man wears a bracelet on his right wrist, your eyes tends to fix on it and not the left wrist where the watch is. Let him switch that, your eyes ingore the bracelet and enjoys fixing on the watch, because it's on the right!
That's why girls get noticed easier for their bling blings... creepy, eh??
@brandi_girl_16 (624)
• United States
10 Apr 07
Actually not all people wear their watches on their left hand side! Right handed people tend to wear their watch on their left wrist only because they use their right hand so much more often than their left and they don't end up banging their watch against everything! Watches are made for left and right handers the same! Whether you wear it on the left or right side doesn't matter! You have to turn your wrist the same exact opposite direction so I have no idea what you're talking about having "to turn it to the inside"!
@silver_shaddow (1204)
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11 Apr 07
I meant turning the knob to the inside when wearing it on the right. And it's a well known fact that watches are designed for the left hand.
Thanks for your comment!!
@PunkyMcPunk (1477)
• Canada
6 Apr 07
Okay so I'm strange. I wear my watch on my right. It doesn't feel aukward at all and I don't wear it on the inside of my wrist, either.
@silver_shaddow (1204)
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11 Apr 07
From a "visiual" point of view, the balance is off scale because of the reasons I stated in my original posts.
