What do you guys thing of wearing the watch

[dusty]

There were a few pictures of Luciano Barbera doing it in one of Flusser's books (I guess it's an Italian thing?), and it didn't look too bad. It's definitely got the functional edge. I think I also saw style icon J. Timberlake doing it a while back, so it's got that going for it too.

 

[DandySF]

Gianni Agnelli owned this style. It's a showy, ballsy sort of gesture. I can't imagine who could pull it off without looking like a copycat or a pretender. Some speculate that Agnelli had an allergy to metals and was forced to wear the watch on the shirt cuff.

 

[dusty]

Maybe it was Agnelli and not Barbera in the book.

 

[Manton]

No, there are pictures of Barbera doing it in the book.  Agnelli pioneered the practice, but it caught on among Italian dandies.  I wouldn't exactly call it widespread now, but you do see it in Italy quite a bit.  I have even seen Italian bespoke shirts with little straps on the outside of the cuff to hold the watchband in place.

 

[DocHolliday]

You better have a really nice watch. My Timex ain't gonna cut it.

 

[ptolbert]

I do it everyday, my watch bands, other than grosgrain and leather, leave me with a nasty rash on my wrist.

 

[DocHolliday]

My father, curiously, can't wear a wrist watch. Something about his body causes the face to fog up. Anyone had this experience? I wonder if wearing the watch over his shirt sleeve would help. (Not that he would. He's now a die-hard pocket watch carrier.)

 

[arkirshner]

No, there are pictures of Barbera doing it in the book.  Agnelli pioneered the practice, but it caught on among Italian dandies.  I wouldn't exactly call it widespread now, but you do see it in Italy quite a bit.  I have even seen Italian bespoke shirts with little straps on the outside of the cuff to hold the watchband in place.

     
    In Dressingg the Man p140 there is a picture of Jean Cocteau with his watch on his sleeve.  Can anyone date his use  before or after Agnelli?

    When St Augustine asked St Ambrose whether they should fast on Saturdays as Romans did or not fast as was the custom in Milan,  St Ambrose replied, "When in Rome do as the Romans do."    
    St Augustine accepted this advice and I shall also. Should I ever get to Rome I shall wear my watch on my sleeve but not before as outside of Italy the practice is simply an affectation.

I do it everyday, my watch bands, other than grosgrain and leather, leave me with a nasty rash on my wrist.  



And whats wrong about grosgrain or leather?

 

[stache]

I do it every once in a while, mainly with thin sweaters that have very long sleeves.

 

[Walter]

No, there are pictures of Barbera doing it in the book.  Agnelli pioneered the practice, but it caught on among Italian dandies.  I wouldn't exactly call it widespread now, but you do see it in Italy quite a bit.  I have even seen Italian bespoke shirts with little straps on the outside of the cuff to hold the watchband in place.

I know Interno8 does that kind of cuff.

 

[gorgekko]

I think I also saw style icon J. Timberlake doing it a while back, so it's got that going for it too.

I presume that was meant as a joke, right, considering Timberlake is neither iconic nor stylish?

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that unless you have an allergy, please don't do it. Not everything from Italy is a good idea.