The world of watches is a rather ironic hobby. Time is money, but that doesn’t explain why some people will pay millions of pesos for something that tells the same time as your phone.

I got into watches in 2017 after my father gave me my first mechanical watch. I was fascinated by how it didn’t need a battery to keep ticking. And what hooked me was the rich, deep history behind horology.

However, after a biking accident toward the end of 2022, I stopped wearing my watch altogether. I only started picking up my Seiko Baby Alpinist earlier this year after meeting someone even more passionate about timepieces than I am.

Although my watch hasn’t changed one bit, my perspective on wearing it has.

We are constantly bombarded with distractions because of our smartphones. I’m not saying these devices are inherently bad, but having constant access to the digital world comes with certain trade-offs. We are all obsessed with our screens, whether we realize it or not.

One activity leads to another. What could be a simple glance to check the time can easily turn into minutes of doomscrolling.

Social media is addictive by nature, and there seem to be more negative consequences than good ones: difficulty sleeping, dissatisfaction in life, envy of others, as well as resentment and bitterness over societal issues.

I realized that the less time I spent on my phone, the better I felt. That’s why I appreciate physical activities such as cycling and exercising. Apparently, wearing my watch gave me one more reason not to look at a screen.

Instead, I get to momentarily appreciate a work of art and an engineering marvel every instance I check the time on my Seiko. Wearing a watch is not a revolutionary act, but it’s the little things that help bring joy into everyday life.

I remember the first time I used my Alpinist instead of my phone when working out. It felt liberating not having to hear my iPhone’s annoying alarm at the end of each rest, and I ended up with a deeper appreciation for my watch.

There’s also a sense of companionship from having a timepiece on your wrist. More than just telling the time, a watch also reminds us of the shared memories as we wear it over the years. In a way, it also becomes an extension of oneself as an expression of one’s personality.

Should you get into mechanical watches?

Yes. I believe that mechanical watches are still relevant in 2026—not as a necessity but as a hobby. They remind us that there is more to life than social media, and they can help inspire us to think deeper about ourselves and the world.

The good news is that you don’t need a luxury watch to enjoy horology. There are models at different price points. And one of the most enjoyable parts of the hobby is finding the one watch that resonates with you.