The word on watches

Press, 17 January 1989, Page 13

The word on watches

Most school pupils will insist that they need a watch. How else will they get to class on time? Or know when the final bell is going to ring? Conversely, most parents are a little wary about sending a delicate and expensive piece of fine machinery into the scholastic jungle. According to Kennetts Jewellers, however, they need not fear. The days when watches equated with the Sunday best are gone, and a new motto has developed among the watch-making fraternity. “If you are prepared to put your wrist through it you should be able to put your watch through it.” Watches are now designed to survive just about anything short of repeated hammer blows.

As anyone who has ever witnessed a fourth form chemistry class will know, school watches should be water-resistant if not water-proof. Any Quartz watch is reasonably shock-resistant, too.

Digital watches are still popular among boys, and the alarm and stop-watch facilities come in handy for sports. Girls tend to prefer the analogue watch. Fun, brightly-coloured watches are the most popular, and have the added advantage of being relatively inexpensive. With the removal of import duty and a reduction in sales tax, watches in general have become less expensive. A good, reliable watch can now be bought for between $2O and $BO.