The Wedding & Engagement Watch: From Bride to Groom

The concept of engagement gifts exchanged between bride and groom may seem strange, but much like a ring, partners like to solidify the moment of their unification with something special. In recent years, it has become very common for a bride to offer a token of love that harbours as much meaning as an engagement ring; the watch has become this symbol.

Increasingly, the bride offers an engagement watch to their loves ones to symbolise the start of a long line of generations for which it will be passed on. As if to capture a moment in time in which two people could meet, fall in love, and pass on a symbol of this special relationship in the future. But what is the history behind this practice and where does it stand today?

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ContentsHistory..................................................................................................................................................2

Symbolism of the Watch....................................................................................................................3

Types of Watches...............................................................................................................................4

Modern Usage.....................................................................................................................................5

Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................6

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History

It can be said that the engagement watch is in response to the increasing desire for women to level the gender playing field. Historically, a groom would offer the ring to a bride, she would graciously accept the token and return the favor by accepting his hand in marriage. Although this practice is still very beautiful and exists today, women have felt increasingly compelled to have a part in the early stage of the engagement and offer something in return.

During the 18th century in Europe, male engagement rings fell out of fashion in favor of alternative gifts such as a pair of cufflinks. Eventually, as male fashion changed, so did the engagement token and the tie pin became the new symbol for male engagement gift which carried on up until the 20th century. Eventually, after the wartime period in Europe, watches become a new symbol for engaged men as well as a highly fashionable item for men to possess.

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Symbolism of the Watch

In the earliest periods of male fashion, a watch suggested the height of sophistication by symbolising to others that a man had to adhere to an important and busy schedule. In post-war fashion, the watch slowly declined and subsequently experienced a revival in the Instagram generation as symbol in response to an increasingly technology-centric and social media focused generation; apparently an attempt to highlight the significant value and maturity in analogue tools.

In terms of marriage, the watch or timepiece also holds much significance. Beyond the obvious sentimentality, the watch is an item that holds inherent usefulness and will continue to do so for generations, thus signifying a symbol of unification that is passed down through generations. Watches are also built to last, and are mostly resistant to ongoing wear and tear from continues use, and are as such considered a symbol of ongoing love that is impervious to change.

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Types of Watches

There’s a wide range of watches that can be considered a suitable engagement gift. Some argue that the only suitable kind of engagement watch is a pocket watch, but in my view all watches symbolise the elegance and importance of marriage, so you’ll have a few popular choices:

Traditional Timepiece - This includes the pocket watch and dress watch, which often have beautiful and unique designs, but can be difficult to maintain and are not usually suitable to wear in every occasion.

Luxury Watches – Often referred to as Hate Horlogerie in horology, these are the types of watches which will appeal to collectors and connoisseurs, often with hand-crafted components, precious materials, and simple functionality. These are more for being collected as opposed to used frequently.

Chronograph Watches – A chronograph watch has multiple functions and timekeeping capabilities, usually with three or four different sub-dials that can perform and record a variety of time-functions with automatic and quartz movements.

Mechanical Watches – In modern culture, mechanical watches are the most commonly found and are built to be used over a period of many years, which will definitely be reflected in the cost. Although mechanical watches need to be wound, they highlights the simple pleasure of mechanical function.

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Each of these models are popular with all kinds of watches collectors, and each would make an excellent engagement token. Keep in mind what you would want to signify with each, as well as price range and functionality.

Modern Usage

In today’s usage, a modern watch that is both functional and easy to maintain is a popular choice as an engagement gift. Not only is it an excellent token of engagement and love, but it is a long-term and practical investment which is built to last over a long period. On modern usage, there are also a range of accessories which can go with modern watches such as watch boxes, watch winders, and smartphone compatible add-ons.

With thanks to eCommerce and online shopping, which gives access to a huge range of products both antique and current, someone interested in investing in engagement watches can choose from thousands of potential products. Do your research and see what is available.

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Conclusion

The concept of the engagement watch has been debated on many corners of the internet, in blogs and official news outlets. The argument puts into the consideration whether or not an engagement gift such as a watch is a suitable signifier of female empowerment,

Whether or not this can be agreed upon, I think it goes without saying that the watch is a wonderful token of love and should be explored by all couples interested in modern engagement practices. It adds true value and creates a wonderful memory based around an object which can be passed on through generations.

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