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Wearing a pocket watch with a double-breasted blazer ... what are my traditional options?

orangehaggis

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After several decades of only wearing single-breasted jackets with waistcoats, I bought myself something I've always wanted: a double-breasted blazer. Dark blue, brass buttons, the lot. Now I've nowhere to put my watch.

I tried a long chain through the operative front buttonhole, but I didn't like the look. Then, I tried a chain round the neck with the watch in my inside breast pocket but I found that too cumbersome.

I'd be grateful for advice from the membership, and I'd be especially grateful of any vintage images of watches being worn with double-breasted jackets.

Mark -Northeast Ohio
 

Phileas Fogg

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Such an anachronism. Do you always wear a pocket watch?

I always thought the pocket watch was worn in the pocket of the waistcoat.
 

orangehaggis

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Such an anachronism. Do you always wear a pocket watch?

I always thought the pocket watch was worn in the pocket of the waistcoat.

I'm a walking anachronism. I've always worn waistcoats with single-breasted jackets and always wore a watch on my waistcoat. I always wear a hat or cap, too. I admit nothing, but there *might* be a pair of striped trousers, black jacket, waistcoat and bowler in my wardrobe.

I've seen fashion plates showing gentlemen in formal and semi-formal evening dress wearing watches in their trouser and jacket pockets with black grosgrain ribbon fobs. Not right for a blazer, of course.

I usually wear a watch with my formal Highland dress doublet, too.

Mark -Northeast Ohio
 

paxonus

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Have you tried putting the chain through the lapel buttonhole and dropping the watch in the breast pocket?
 

orangehaggis

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Have you tried putting the chain through the lapel buttonhole and dropping the watch in the breast pocket?

I'm aware that it's done, but it wouldn't work for my purposes. I always wear a handkerchief, often silk, in my top pocket.

I don't think it's terribly traditional, either. I've been searching for period photos of gents wearing pocket watches with double-breasted suit jackets, or with sporting attire; blazers, Norfolk jackets, etc. No luck yet. Such images must be out there somewhere.

Mark -Northeast Ohio
 

paxonus

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I'm aware that it's done, but it wouldn't work for my purposes. I always wear a handkerchief, often silk, in my top pocket.

I don't think it's terribly traditional, either. I've been searching for period photos of gents wearing pocket watches with double-breasted suit jackets, or with sporting attire; blazers, Norfolk jackets, etc. No luck yet. Such images must be out there somewhere.

Mark -Northeast Ohio
The only other option I can think of is to put it in an inside breast pocket. You could have the pocket altered so it isn't too deep and the watch would be easier to retrieve.
 

paxonus

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Bertie Wooster is quite traditional.

1614210288992.png



1614210773785.png
 

Phileas Fogg

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Is there something in the water in Northeast Ohio?
 

orangehaggis

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Is there something in the water in Northeast Ohio?

I don't know about that, but in order to be a member of the traditionalist Continuing Anglican movement here, one must be an eccentric and suffer from a mild personality defect or twenty. We sing Blake's Jerusalem here once or twice a year: 'In England's Green and Pleasant Land'. Not bad for the Rust Belt.

Mark -Northeast Ohio
 

paxonus

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Bertie Wooster is quite traditional, but were the wardrobe people for Ganada Television/ITV?

You might be right about the inside pocket. I'll probably continue to wear it attached to a chain around my neck and stuck into the pocket unless another idea comes along.

Mark -Northeast Ohio
Take a look here:

 

orangehaggis

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Take a look here:


Thanks for the article. If nothing else, it reminds me that I own a pair of grey leather day gloves. I wonder where I've put them...

Mark -Northeast Ohio
 

adrianvo

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Why can't you just wear a waistcoat with the double-breasted suit jacket?

91823712387123.jpg

Source, IG: yoshimitsu1125
 

orangehaggis

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Why can't you just wear a waistcoat with the double-breasted suit jacket?

View attachment 1570473
Source, IG: yoshimitsu1125

Double breasted jackets really should be worn buttoned. They look far too untidy otherwise.

I came up with a solution last week: attaching the chain to the inside buttonhole and placing the watch in my left inside pocket. It's pretty easy to get to and put back again.

Mark
 

adrianvo

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Double breasted jackets really should be worn buttoned. They look far too untidy otherwise.

I came up with a solution last week: attaching the chain to the inside buttonhole and placing the watch in my left inside pocket. It's pretty easy to get to and put back again.

Mark
Alright. You're free to feel that way, obviously. DB jackets were originally worn with waistcoats, and especially with 6-on-1 buttoning I think it can look very good.
 

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