Watch Pockets

[Sheepdog]

For some time now I've been wondering when those watch pockets on the right front of conventional jeans were going to go away. In the past, I've carried a watch or a Zippo in there, but since I quit smoking and retired I don't really use those things anymore. Well, I re-purposed that pocket. I recently bought two vehicles that use those proximity fobs for push-button starting. That old watch pocket is the perfect place to carry those fobs. Now, if I could only remember to take the dang things out when I change clothes...

[Guzzistajohn]

I actually use that pocket for it's intended purpose now and then



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[Sheepdog]

I actually use that pocket for it's intended purpose now and then



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My granddad worked for the railroad. I have his Elgin, but I don't dare carry it around. It's over 100 years old!

[boatdetective]

John-

Good on you for carrying a proper pocket watch. I would only warn you and others that vintage pocket watches do not have "shock absorbing" jewels on the balance wheel- which were designed to protect the delicate pivots on the balance staff. Back in the good old days of watch repair, restaffing balances was a routine repair.  The pocket watch pictured does not have a shockproof assembly.  So, if you are sporting a pocket watch, try to be a little careful of what you arte doing (as getting a replacement balance for a 1931 Hamilton 992B can be a bit of a chore these days).

[wrbix]

Perfect place to carry my small everyday carry compact Spyderco. No fishing around in bottom of a deep pocket.



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[cookiemech]

I use the watch pockets in my L. L. Bean jeans ALL the time. Given that I (and most people) carry a smartphone, I no longer carry a pocket watch, though I do have a couple. But the watch pocket is very useful for a small ring of keys (my main keyring separates into two parts; one carries house keys and one keys to my garage and outbuildings, so I'm often only carrying half). Also, when working on a small project, say installing a light fixture, it's nice to keep small screws or wire nuts close at hand, rather than digging deep into the main pocket(s).

Pisses me off when they make the watch pockets smaller (for style?) I spent several minutes retrieving my half-key-ring keys from a newer pair of jeans the other day.

Of course, a watch pocket is supposed to be for watches, which are smooth . . .

[wrbix]

Yeah, I've used nothing but LL Bean jeans for decades.....don't tell me they've downsized their watch pockets.

[LeRoy]

My idea of an Every Day Carry in the watch pocket of my jeans? What else but a Hamilton 992B in an original, robust "Styled in Steel" stainless case? It's of a vintage similar to me. All wisdom and cautions to the contrary, I've carried this watch for close to 20 years and its predecessor, a 992, for over 20 more with little in the way of trouble apart from a damaged crystal. Here's a tip for the unwary: tuck the watch into your pocket with the crystal facing your body.

[cookiemech]

Yeah, I've used nothing but LL Bean jeans for decades.....don't tell me they've downsized their watch pockets.

Seems to me that the watch pockets are only downsized on some styles of their jeans. My wife buys them for me on an irregular basis, and some versions have a slightly different cut to them; pockets and stitching are a bit different. The suspect ones to me look a bit nicer, but it's harder to put my hands into the front pockets, and the watch pockets are smaller.

However, I also have some fairly new ones that are sized just like the old ones, so hopefully it's not an overall trend . . .

[sib]

Since this thread seems to have drifted toward criticizing trends in jeans manufacture, I'll add my own:  a few years ago, Levi's in waist sizes smaller than 40 went from 7 belt loops to 5.  They must be saving about $0.03 per pair.  I haven't bought Levi's since then, since other brands still have 7 loops in smaller waist sizes.

[donn]

I quit carrying keys, pocket knives etc. in there, because that pocket would blow out while the rest was perfectly good.  No radio car keys here, which I account as a good thing after hearing about all the ways those things can be hacked.

[Lannis]

Since this thread seems to have drifted toward criticizing trends in jeans manufacture, I'll add my own:  a few years ago, Levi's in waist sizes smaller than 40 went from 7 belt loops to 5.  They must be saving about $0.03 per pair.  I haven't bought Levi's since then, since other brands still have 7 loops in smaller waist sizes.

What's even WORSE is that they started tagging pants with an actual waist size of 38s as 40s, and sometimes even 42s!   And they're not the only ones, it seems to be universal lately ....   

Lannis

[Moto]

Watch pockets are for keeping a pair of earplugs handy at all times, in case you get the chance to take a ride.

Moto