Sale PSA: A leopard print wrap dress from Faithfull, now 40% off, a great cotton sweater from Isabel Marant, now 58% off, and and a very cute classic cashmere Breton sweater from Vince, now 40% off.
And another favorite Etsy shop: this one, for jewelry! I like this shop for inexpensive items that are a little trendy that I might not want to spend a lot on – I especially appreciate the options for various gold levels.
Today’s post is on smartwatches – or fitness watches, or whatever we call them. The question being: do you have one?
I have resisted the Apple watch for years. Partially because I already have a watch, which I like a lot and has sentimental value. Why would I want to replace it with a computer on my wrist?
However, over Covid I started wearing no jewelry – which was part of it. Why do I need to see the time, especially when I am home all the time anyway, and I have a clock right there on the microwave, my most used appliance? And then, one day, I logged into our insurance website, and saw that in exchange for my husband attending a virtual physical, we had been awarded a choice of “rewards.” I don’t remember all of them but I do recall one was a scale, to weigh myself (no thank you) and the other was something like a free month of Sunbasket. And the third option was a Fitbit watch.
So! I ordered the Fitbit.
When it arrived, I was already beginning to feel some regret. I’ve really been trying to decrease my purchasing footprint – and especially the electronics related variety, since it can be so difficult to recycle. I decided to wear it for a few days just to try it out and then would pass it on through Nextdoor, etc. I found it not so great looking on the wrist (and you agree, right? Just look at the photo!).
But after a few days, I realized I really liked it. It was way lighter than my metal watches for one thing…and it was telling me my steps! And then I went on the familiar road which I think is already so well known to all of you…I because obsessed with hitting the 10K steps a day mark…and I’ve been wearing it a lot since. Now I’m thinking about getting an Apple watch, but part of me just wants to keep the Fitbit. Because I really don’t need all the gadgets that the Apple one has, and I only have to charge the Fitbit about once a week, and all I really care about is the steps. But seriously, am I really going to have to wear one of these for the rest of my life?
Do you guys have a “smart” watch? Do you wear it everyday? This is so petty but I wish I wasn’t so addicted to it, because I usually like to wear bracelets on my left hand. Fellow jewelry lovers, what do you do about this?
19 Comments
Nina
May 17, 2021 at 9:46 amI upgraded from my fitbit to an Apple watch a couple years ago. The Apple watch is great because I live in a 3-story house and I don’t always have my phone handy. The watch will tell me if someone texts/emails/calls me when I am not around my phone. However, it does need charging at least every other day.
Susan
May 17, 2021 at 10:27 amKeep it! Love my Fitbit and jewelry and proud to say I wear both on same wrist. I stopped wearing my Fitbit during the pandemic and just started to wear it again when I started to do outdoor stuff more (jump ropes, walking). As soon as I start going back to the office I’ll wear my jewelry too because I’m a believer that we will get back to pre covid normal.
Evelyn
May 17, 2021 at 10:49 amI still wear a watch every day, except for showering. It’s a habit I’ve had since I received my first watch at 5 years old. At one point, I had a digital Timex watch, but the various functions were quite distracting and it started to not tell time correctly after a few years so I switched back to an analog and haven’t looked back.
Mary
May 17, 2021 at 10:50 amI recently got the Apple Watch 6, and it’s such a nice companion to my phone. Given your love of Hermès, I’m surprised you haven’t gotten into it yet. Since the bands have been usable through the different generations of watches, it feels more acceptable to invest in the bands… with the watch itself, you know in a few years you’ll be upgrading.
I just got a grommeted leather band from Goldenerre which I love. Also have the Milanese strap which is v comfortable, and I plan on getting a Braxley band (machine washable!) for casual/heavy sweat wear.
I had given up wearing watches for a while as well, but with going out more and a bit of travel, love knowing the time. I do wish the charge lasted longer than a day, but the other features- weather, steps, flashlight, digital credit card, answering calls w/o having phone in hand and unlocking your iPhone when you have a mask on… are really super convenient.
Kristy
May 17, 2021 at 12:08 pmI was gifted an Apple Watch a few years back (generous in-laws!) and surprisingly love it despite thinking it was silly prior. During WFH, I swapped out the original band for a leather Tory Burch one (with a separate sport band for workouts) and find myself wearing it everyday. It’s been helpful in encouraging me to move / exercise / stand more, especially at home.
B
May 17, 2021 at 12:35 pmI have an apple watch. I loved wearing it for about 6 months and then went back to my stainless steel rolex and remembered why i loved it – now i never wear the apple watch lol
S in US
May 17, 2021 at 1:18 pmMe too! Was obsessed with the Apple Watch for awhile but never took the plunge for a Hermes strap. Back to wearing my old school watches. That said, I’d totally use the Apple Watch if I were on a hike or long fitness walk or were expecting some important calls/messages
Michelle
May 17, 2021 at 2:13 pmI’m a previous Fitbit wearer turned Apple watch girl! My thoughts, before owning the watch, were very similar to yours. The Apple Watch is nice to have, but I didn’t want to be glued to something forever. So when my previous Apple Watch died, I replaced it out of the habit of needing something on my wrist….not necessarily because I love having one.
For someone who begrudgingly accepted her first Apple Watch as a gift and who wears it irregularly (only at work, when working out, and when running errands), I like my watch for what it does. It was not life changing like people claimed it would be. I use it to check emails/texts, weather, the time, and how much I walked and/or worked out. That’s it.
As for jewelry, I wear a love bracelet on my left wrist and 2 daintier Cartier and VCA pieces on my right wrist. I wear my watch on the right wrist and tuck the bracelets into the watch strap, which helps when I work. And I really don’t like things on my wrists – the jewelry doesn’t bother me, but the watch does, so it comes off the second I get home, and it goes on the charger til the next time I use it.
Mitzi
May 17, 2021 at 2:21 pmI have similar thoughts…I’ve resisted buying a smart watch so I’m not so “connected” 24/7 and I enjoy my classic watches. The iPhone has a Health app (heart icon) that counts your steps so you don’t have to wear a smart watch! You just have to keep your phone with you ? but I’ve gotten less obsessed with capturing every single step and use it more for an approximate/directional count so I don’t stay attached to my phone.
Yumi
May 17, 2021 at 2:58 pmI have a Garmin watch I use to track my steps but also because I like being able to look down and see the time. I also get notified of calls and texts. There’s something nice about not always needing to have my cell phone on me; I find that my cell phone is often too much of a distraction but it’s nice to know when people are trying to contact me.
melvel
May 17, 2021 at 7:34 pmI have not worn any watch other than my Apple Watch for the past year. It’s very useful to track fitness goals for me. Plus in these COVID-19 times, the blood oxygen monitoring feature and the timer for washing hands (LOL) has been very useful.
I also use it as an alarm clock, the vibration on my wrist is much less annoying than the alarm bells most alarm clocks give off.
Nvie
May 17, 2021 at 8:31 pmI’m happy with my traditional watches, only borrows my son’s Garmin when I’m taking my evening walks. I find smart watches have poor fit on small wrist, probably except for Apple Watch. Was never interested in one and will not consider replacing my watches with a smart watch.
Sammie
May 17, 2021 at 11:45 pmI have an Apple Watch and I love it. I didn’t think I needed one since I’m always on my phone but after 2 years of use, I found it to be quite convenient. It counts my jump rope steps (heart rate) and lately I’ve been using it more to track my outdoor hikes. I especially love to use it to pay for my groceries when I am at the store (Apple Pay). Only downside is having to charge it every other day.
Lissa
May 18, 2021 at 7:20 amI just think they are so ugly. I was an apple freak (standing in line for phones, etc) but the costs became ridiculous and the main reason for having apple products (ergonomics, ease of use) were less important as windows and android became more user friendly and even more wallet friendly. I look at the fitbits/apple watches and like what they do, but I can’t get past how they detract from what people are wearing (I think the same thing about clunky shoes). I see photos of people and love their outfits but then that watch just ruins it. I thought by now I’d be used to seeing it, but no. If they come out with something actually beautiful, or if my tastes change, I would revisit. So far, my BF has bought 2 for his daughter because she wanted them at Christmas, but I have yet to see her wear them more than once or twice.
E.
May 18, 2021 at 12:05 pmMy expensive conventional watches have not seen the light of day since I got on the Apple Watch train 5 years ago… and of course, I have a Hermes AW with a double tour attelage band in Barenia.
Julia
May 21, 2021 at 9:47 amKat I finally caved and bought the Apple Watch. It was less ugly than the running watch I had previously from Garmin. And it looks better with the Hermes watch strap I bought to accompany it 🙂
Lesley
May 22, 2021 at 4:47 amI had a fitbit previously (got one on super clearance for a work step-challenge at first!). Then I wore it all the time b/c like you, I like to look at my steps and it tells the time (b/c I lose my phone in the house all the time). My husband got me an Apple watch back in November (b/c I would NEVER get one for myself..too frivolous I think)..and I REALLY like it. LOL!!! I love the activity tracker and then I can also read texts/answer the phone without scrambling to find my phone..and there’s a “find my phone” feature. And I do wear it all the time..had to take it off for my sister’s wedding the other day though. I did get an Hermes band but I haven’t opened it yet. Today, maybe!
Clara
May 23, 2021 at 10:50 pmEver since getting my Apple Watch I’ve been struggling to wear my “regular watches.” The convenience of getting calls and important notifications/calls/paying by Apple Watch/metro swipes/managing my music on the train with my watch…it just trumps all my other watches. As much as I love all my beautiful watches, I have a hard time switching out of my Apple Watch. Sure, there will be days I will want to “unplug” an wear my beautiful watches….but I have a hard time not grabbing my Apple watch on busy days I’m out and about. It’s sometimes just easier not to have to pull out the phone or when my phone is in my bag I don’t “miss messages/calls.” Sure I will still pull out my nice Cartier/Rolex watches but every day I’m still asking myself if I really should just be getting rid of them as I haven’t been wearing them enough anymore. Difficult dilemma for me for sure! And yes, I have my eye on the next Hermes Apple Watch…
Tracy
May 28, 2021 at 7:36 amI don’t have a very expensive watch so my point of comparison is different, but I do have a Huawei Band 6 and I really like it. I originally bought it for my mom since not only does it have a blood oxygen monitor it more importantly has a low blood oxygen alert function in contrast to Fitbits and Apple watches that only have the monitoring function. She wasn’t interested in wearing it so yeah, I kept it. I like that it reminds you to move around if you’re sedentary for too long, I also use the timer and weather daily, and as silly as this sounds the breathing exercise is pretty useful! It really calms me down and it’s effective at lowering my heart rate (which I can check using the very same device 🙂