My Watches, My Memories

After getting my new Swatch recently, I started thinking about all the watches I’ve owned over the years. Each one holds a special memory. Not just because they were all gifts from family, but also because they mark important phases in my life.

They do more than tell the time (and show how late I’m running). Every watch has marked a special moment for me. So I thought I’d take you on a little museum tour of the watches that have ticked along with me over the years. Let’s go!

My Watches, My Memories

1982 Casio

My uncle bought me my first ever grown-up watch for Christmas way back in 1982. It was a Casio digital watch, and  I remember being super excited to own such a high-tech watch! Being a kid and not having to worry about confusing old-fashioned clock faces was also a bonus.

I wore it everywhere for years… and then I lost it. It just disappeared, and I looked everywhere but couldn’t find it. One day, I was helping my mum defrost the old-fashioned freezer section in the fridge. There it was, right at the back. Go figure.

Swatch

By the time I was 15, Swatch watches were all the rage, and almost everyone at school had one. Fashion and trends ruled, so I said goodbye to my high-tech digital watch and happily went back to a traditional one. For my 15th birthday, my mum let me choose my very own Swatch, and I couldn’t have been more excited.

If you’re from my era, the good old 80s, you might remember how colourful everything was. Neon and bold prints were everywhere. I remember standing at the Grace Bros counter trying to decide which Swatch to buy. There were so many to choose from! But even then, I preferred safer, neutral colours, so in the end I chose a grey one with colourful hands.

Seiko

I’ve owned my silver Seiko since I was 23, and more than 30 years later, it’s still my favourite watch. My mum gave it to me for Christmas all those years ago, and I’ve treasured it ever since. Wearing it feels like carrying a little piece of her with me.

I’ve even attached a silver bracelet, a gift from another uncle, and I wear them together. I love how the watch feels on my wrist. It’s loose enough to be comfortable but secure enough that I never worry about losing it.

Apple Watch

I didn’t rush out to buy an Apple Watch when they first came out. I love new technology, but I usually only invest in it if I know it will make a real difference to my life.

That turned out to be the case when my mum was living with us, and age was sadly catching up with her. There were times when she was home by herself, so to make sure she was safe, we got her a personal alarm that she wore around her neck on a lanyard. If she had a fall, it would automatically alert me through my mobile phone.

The tricky part was that I wasn’t allowed to carry a mobile phone with me at work. So the perfect solution was an Apple Watch, which my husband bought for me. Any alerts could come straight to my wrist.

It worked well, and I clearly remember the time my watch started buzzing to tell me that my mum had fallen, sending me into instant panic. Luckily, I live only a short three-minute drive away, so I raced home and found her completely safe. Phew!

Turns out she’d had a moment and, annoyed at the alarm dangling around her neck, threw it onto the bed, setting it off. What a relief to see her perfectly okay, even if she was a bit miffed about the whole thing.

2026 Swatch

In 2026, new child safety regulations mean we aren’t allowed to wear smart watches at work anymore. My Apple Watch had to retire.

I was sad to say goodbye because I also liked seeing how many steps I got in each day, usually well over 10,000, because we really are on the go, go, go.

Then, when my birthday came up, I was feeling nostalgic about my long-gone teen years. I decided the cure for nostalgia was to revisit a fun time and go all out with a colourful Swatch I never would have had the courage to pick back then. I was so shy, I didn’t even want to draw attention to my wrists!

Bright, Bold and Beyond

And now I’ve come full circle and am the happy owner of a very bright pink Swatch watch that my boys bought me. Picking a bright colour like this is a big deal for me. It kind of signals a new phase in my life, when I’m feeling braver and going outside my comfort zone.

I’ve always played it safe, and while I’m not booking any bungee jumping experiences anytime soon, I know that since last year, I’ve been much more open to trying new things and embracing new adventures.

I’ll always be on the reserved side, at least until I get to know someone, but I’m totally okay with drawing attention to my wrists now.

And that sums up all the watches I’ve owned. These days, my bright pink Swatch is my everyday watch, the Seiko comes out for special occasions, and the Apple Watch is mostly a weekend watch. If I remember, I will sometimes wear it to and from work to track steps.

Each one of my watches reminds me of a different time in my life, the people who gave it to me, and the moments that made it special.

Wearing them now feels like I’m carrying a little piece of my past, my present, and a hint of the fun times and adventures ahead—yay! Who knew watches could be little time machines of memories?