The Pocket Watch - A Link With the Past

My grandfather had a gold pocket watch that had been passed down to him by his own grandfather. The surface was smooth and shiny and cool and felt wonderful to the touch. It had a faint smell that I always associated just with him, a smell that was at once nostalgic and romantic. It spoke to me of simpler, perhaps friendlier times. Whenever my grandfather handled that beautiful timepiece, his eyes seemed to mist over with thoughts and images that were just out of reach, a treasure trove of memories.

I was still young when my grandfather passed away and, sadly, I never learned what became of that watch. Of course, as a child, I had had only passing interest in such things; but now, as I grow older, I find myself attracted to a lot of what my grandfather stood for. He was a man of highest integrity, a gentleman in all things, and someone who always seemed to know how to handle himself in any situation. He dressed smartly, but never in a way that drew attention to his appearance or made it seem as if he were trying to put on airs. And, of course, there were those classy little touches that defined him, like that pocket watch.

Somewhere along the way, I decided to look into purchasing a pocket watch of my own. At first the idea seemed outdated or even silly, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that such worries are for those who allow others to dictate their self-image. I like to believe that that doesn't describe me. And once I started checking out the pocket watches of today, I was glad of my decision.

As it turns out, craftsmanship is still with us in the modern age, at least in a few areas, and pocket watches are one of them. Materials range from stainless steel to brass to silver to new-fangled metals like platinum and titanium. Last, but certainly not least, there is the classic gold. Inside, crystals of common or rare materials keep tiny gears ticking along with astounding accuracy. Perhaps owing to their link with the past, pocket watch manufacturers seem to take a pride in their work that is seen in very few industries nowadays.

In the end, I went with a lovely brass model that fit my budget and was reminiscent of my grandfather's watch both in style and feel. Perhaps one day I will be able to pass on a little of the wisdom of my life experience to my own grandson. And, in addition, one day he may inherit that watch, something to attach his memories to. In my humble opinion, this is how life should be.