The most valuable and irreplaceable resource of mankind is time. Since ancient times, people have been looking for reliable ways to measure it. So the watch was invented. Over the centuries, their design has been improved and reduced. And with the invention of individual pocket watches in the 15th century, it became necessary to create etiquette rules governing their use in society. With the invention of watches, these rules of etiquette adapted to them. In particular, it was determined on which hand they should be worn. Today, many are interested in the question: why is the watch worn on the left hand, and not on the right? An explanation of this tradition has several theories.
History of pocket and watches
It is worth briefly recalling the history of pocket and wrist chronometers before sorting out the question of why the watch is worn on the left hand. In the 15th century, Peter Genlein invented the clock spring, instead of the bulky pendulum, which marked the beginning of the era of pocket watches. Extremely fragile and expensive accessories were able to buy only people with decent condition.
Being the prerogative of wealthy people, gradually pocket watches became not only an instrument for measuring time, but also an indicator of status. They began to be made of gold and other noble metals and decorated with precious stones.
The female half of society no less than the male needed individual accessories. Therefore, in parallel, female models of pocket watches were also made. As a rule, they were more elegant in appearance and were often made of noble metals. With the improvement of the internal mechanism, women's pocket watches began to be made smaller.
In 1839, the Swiss company Patek Philippe SA, specializing in the manufacture of exclusive watches, decided to pamper its customers and created a bracelet watch. The novelty soon began to be very popular, making the accessory not only an important device, but also an elegant and convenient decoration. At that time, every woman herself chose which hand to use for wearing watches, bracelets and other jewelry.
The male half of society was initially skeptical of watches, considering them a purely female accessory. But in the early 1900s. Louis Cartier received an order from the famous French aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont - to figure out how to adapt the chronometer to the needs of the pilot, who during the flight was not very convenient to get his watch out of his pocket. Cartier created a model of a watch on a leather belt with a metal fastener for a famous aviator and his friend, which was firmly attached to the wrist and allowed Alberto to know the time without taking his hands off the helm of the aircraft.
Soon, many practical men began to use a similar product design. And with the outbreak of World War I, thanks to the military, wearing a watch on his wrist, this design conquered the whole world.
Why do people wear watches on their left hands: various historical theories
According to the most famous theory, the fashion for wearing watches on the left hand arose due to their design. Since the lion's share of the planet’s inhabitants are right-handed, watch manufacturers have designed them in such a way that they are comfortable to wear on a less active hand. At first, the wheel for the plant was on top (as on a pocket watch), but later for convenience it was moved to the right side. Thus, putting the watch on the right hand, it was not very convenient to start it, and most preferred to use the left to wear the accessory.
According to another theory, at first high-ranking officials who had to write a lot used their watches. The chronometer on their right hand prevented them from doing this, so there was a tradition of using the left hand to wear an accessory. Later, imitating the bosses, subordinates also began to wear watches, and the tradition spread to the masses.
As for the beautiful half of humanity, since then, as they began to work, women's watches have ceased to be just elegant accessories. Many ladies began to put them, like men, on their left hands, because it was much more practical not only to start the watch, but also to work with them.
Another theory is known explaining why the watch is worn on the left hand. In Europe, the second half of the 40s was hard to find a good job, so many stole. It was believed that thieves, especially pickpockets, put their chronometers on their right hands during “work”, signaling these to their colleagues so as not to accidentally collide. Therefore, every honest citizen, in order not to be confused with the criminal, used his left hand to wear a watch.
Wearing a watch on your left hand: the practical side of the issue
Companies specializing in the manufacture of watch movements have their own opinions on why watches are worn on the left hand. According to the results of numerous experiments, it was noted that a person makes fewer movements with his left hand (if he is right-handed). Therefore, wearing a watch on a less involved hand, its owner less damages the mechanism of daily shaking. Therefore, the watch will last much longer than if you would use the right hand to wear it. For this reason, most companies produce watches adapted for the left hand.
For left-handed people who have a less active right hand, specialized models of watches with a winding wheel on the left side are developed, which are convenient to wear on the right hand.
Medical theory
Doctors also have a theory explaining why the watch is worn on the left hand. So, even slightly pulling the wrist with the watch strap, a person reduces blood flow in this place, which means that the hand with the watch functions a little worse and gets tired more. For a less active left hand, this is not as harmful as for the right. For this reason, doctors advise people to wear a watch on a weaker hand: right-handed people on the left, left-handed people on the right.
Representatives of alternative Chinese medicine express their own opinion why men wear watches on their left hands. According to the ancient Fukuri doctrine, the point “Tsun” is located on the man’s left wrist. The constant use of the left hand to wear a watch stimulates this point, which contributes to the normalization of heart rate. However, one should not forget that, going to bed, it’s better to take your chronometer, as the “Cun” needs rest from stimulation.
Women, however, according to Fukuri, on the contrary, should use the right hand to wear a watch, since they have this point on the other side than men.
Right or Left Hand: Psychologists Version
But psychologists have a different opinion from other specialists regarding the choice of hands for wearing watches. They argue that his perception of time depends on which hand a person uses to wear a watch.
The right side in psychology symbolizes the future, therefore, if an individual uses his right hand to wear a watch, he fearlessly goes forward. But the left side is the past, which means that those who wear this accessory on their left hand are dependent on past mistakes and are afraid of meeting the future.
Why the watch should be worn on the left hand: the mystical version
One cannot ignore the opinion of those who believe that choosing a hand to wear a watch determines the fate of a person. They believe that, in order to achieve success and favor from fate, both men and women should definitely use their right hands to wear watches.
In addition, the shape of the dial also plays an important role. Uncertain personalities should give preference to a triangular watch, and people with poor concentration of attention - diamond-shaped. Round and oval shapes contribute to the determination and tranquility of its owner.
The “right” hand for watches today
In the middle of the 20th century, there were clear requirements for wearing watches - the left hand, and not the right one, was the obligatory hand for this. However, today there are no norms governing the wearing of this accessory. Every day, all over the world, women and men wear watches on their left hands or on their right - it all depends on their desire and convenience.
Doctors recommend using the left hand to wear a watch, psychologists use the right hand, and product manufacturers create models for both hands. Thanks to this diversity of opinions, today each individual person decides on which hand he is better off wearing a watch (on the right or left), not being afraid to cause condemnation of others.