Why do men wear watches on their left hand

Traditionally, men wear watches on their left hand. They say that the rules of etiquette require this, but no one can explain what it is connected with. Now, when wristwatches are not so popular, fitness bracelets are put on the right hand. Let's figure out how this rule appeared, where it is described and whether it has any practical justification.

Wristwatches first appeared in Europe in the 18th century. But it was an exclusively feminine accessory, and this continued until the beginning of the 20th century. As for the men, they wore pocket watches that hung on a chain. The stronger sex began to switch to wristwatches with the advent of cars and airplanes. It was inconvenient and even dangerous for the driver or pilot to keep track of the time by the chronometer lying in the pocket of his trousers or vest.

The mass wearing of wristwatches became only during the First World War. They even wore pocket watches on their hands, placing them in a special case with straps. This is exactly the option we see in the film "The White Sun of the Desert". The strange huge watch on Comrade Sukhov's left hand is an adapted pocket watch.

Without collusion, almost all men began to wear watches on their left hand, regardless of nationality, status and religion. Moreover, there are no rules of etiquette about this. If someone decides to put a watch on his right hand, it will not cause condemnation.

The left hand was still chosen as a "time keeper" not by chance. It is known that the vast majority of the inhabitants of our planet are right—handed. It is the right hand for 95 percent of people that is considered the main one and is involved in performing a variety of tasks. But wearing a watch on a "working" hand is not very convenient. Firstly, they can interfere, and secondly, the probability of damaging them is much higher.

Perhaps today the broken clock is not the biggest tragedy. But at the beginning of the 20th century, they were very expensive and not everyone could afford them. In addition, shockproof mechanisms, protective glasses and waterproof housings were not invented. The wristwatch could fail from an accidental blow or even splashes that got inside.

Wearing a watch on the left hand is not fixed in any rules of etiquette. This is done only for practical reasons and is not necessary at all. If it is more convenient for you to use your right hand for this, no one will condemn you even in the most aristocratic company.

You will probably be interested to know why there are several useless buttons on the sleeves of men's jackets.