Robin Bobcat - 31 December 2008 01:39 AM

Joe: Go for a pocket watch. They have large faces, are almost invariably black and white, use no leather, won’t impede or be damaged by juggling, and look very stylish.

I got mine for $13. It’s a cheap quartz one, but it works very nicely. A ‘real’ wind-up one will set you back about $100, minimum, but most come with warranties, and make a good family heirloom.

The only drawback is I need to be able to glance at the watch when my hands are full and I’m jabbering away during a show.

I do like pocket watches.  I ought get one for my day-to-day use, then keep wristwatches in the drawer with the other small props I use in the show.

JoeDaJuggler - 31 December 2008 03:10 PM

The only drawback is I need to be able to glance at the watch when my hands are full and I’m jabbering away during a show.

Just incorporate pulling out a pocket watch and looking at it while juggling into your show.

I don’t wear a watch now.  I used to have one…a swiss army that was silver & brown leather.  It was so pretty.  But it was a “ladies” watch…which is of course…much daintier than a man’s watch.  And I am not dainty.  Not even at my wrists.  Although, my mom IS…I must have patriarchal wrists.  Anywho…I kept breaking the strap.  And eventually stopped getting it repaired.  I bent the little metal piece that holds the strap onto the face of the watch.  (It sort of looks like a toilet paper roll holder, if that makes sense.)  Once that was bent I couldn’t put it back together myself.  I had to buy a new piece or take it to someone for repair and I just wasn’t into that.  It’s been in my jewelry box for years.

Tah - 31 December 2008 03:39 PM

JoeDaJuggler - 31 December 2008 03:10 PM

The only drawback is I need to be able to glance at the watch when my hands are full and I’m jabbering away during a show.

Just incorporate pulling out a pocket watch and looking at it while juggling into your show.

Or juggle clocks.  It could add new meaning to “time flies”.  Or alternately, to “time crashes to a halt and shatters into a million pieces”. . .

I only ever bought one watch.  All the others I’ve worn have been little cheap ones that I ended up with one way or another, and that each served me well for many years.  The one that I actually bought was a relatively fancy one for probably about around $50, and I bought it because it had a silent alarm on it.  So currently I have a scattering of little wristwatches and pocketwatches, and the one fancyish one.

I don’t wear watches either anymore.  If I’m at work, the time is on my computer. If I’m in my car, there’s a clock there.  My cell phone is always with me with the correct time at a glance. 

I noticed watch sales (I work at a jewelry store every Christmas) have been going steadily down over the years.  This year we sold very few.

I actually have always wanted to get Jason a nice watch, b/c he does wear them when he has them.  If I could pick one right now…I get him this…

Fossil

JoeDaJuggler - 30 December 2008 07:59 PM

I have a watch problem.  I need a large, easy to see face (and I refuse to buy anything with a digital readout).  It’s amazing how many watches have gray hands on a gray background or silver on silver.  I’ve got super skinny wrists—so the regular men’s flex bands are not good for me.  Also, I’m vegetarian and try my best to avoid buying anything made of leather.  AND I tend to be rough on them (juggling shows mostly).

Lately, I get these cheap $5 plastic watches from Walgreens.  They’re mostly in girly colors, but there is a transparent one.  I get those. 

I don’t think a day goes by when someone doesn’t ask me if that’s a Swatch I’m wearing.

Get one of these then:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Casio-MQ-24-7BLL-Analogue-Resin-Strap/dp/B000JNKABW/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=watch&qid=1229770831&sr=1-7

silver caliber magnum - 30 December 2008 08:00 PM

OK but i dont know why watches wouldbe so much as a conspiracy.

A Secret Service watch with a $25 worth ticker inside… come on. There MUST be more than that.

Geeeezzz

It depresses me that even the SS watches are made in China.

Charybdis - 02 January 2009 07:59 AM

It depresses me that even the SS watches are made in China.

With a Japanese movement.
And still they wonder what happened in Pearl Harbour…