[Fritz Weis]

Answer:
It is a more natural position to read the time when holding tools or doing labor. Military and special forces personnel, as well as armed police officers, can wear watches backward to make seeing the time easier while holding a rifle or gun. I got my father these military watches for his retirement and he was really happy with it.

Praesidus Tom Rice A 11

 

[Hoss]

Hmm, backwards? Guess I’m backwards. Have always worn my watches that way. I’m a left foot braker too . Guess I’m just bass-ackwards!

 

[syntaxerrorsix]

Hmm, backwards? Guess I’m backwards. Have always worn my watches that way. I’m a left foot braker too . Guess I’m just bass-ackwards!

I don't suppose you drive a manual...

The main reason why I've ever worn a watch on the underside of my wrist was to keep it from snagging on gear. Primarily throwing on a ruck or dive gear on. The watch face tends to hang up in the suspension.

 

[Colt38SuperDude]

I don’t know about other soldiers but when I was shooting at the enemy, I’m too focused on hitting the enemy instead of looking at my watch while shooting.

 

[srjdsmith]

…like wearing your cap backwards when you’re not a catcher. “Some men just want to watch the world burn.”


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[HOTHEAD]

It's more ergonomicly correct on your body. Specifically, the muscles in the shoulder and top of forearm.

No really, try it.
Look at your palm, then back of hand.

 

[amd65]

In the old days, I think it was because the glowing radium face might draw fire.

 

[Lt. Donn]

Hmm, backwards? Guess I’m backwards. Have always worn my watches that way. I’m a left foot braker too . Guess I’m just bass-ackwards!

Me too

 

[lazarus66]

Pretty common among guitar and bass players, too.

 

[pugman]

I know a mechanic who wears his that way. Claims it’s less likely he damages the face

 

[KennyFSU]

I usually see that when guys are trying to show off what's in their hand as well as their watch face.

 

[Nanuk]

Answer:
It is a more natural position to read the time when holding tools or doing labor. Military and special forces personnel, as well as armed police officers, can wear watches backward to make seeing the time easier while holding a rifle or gun.

When I was holding my gun on someone I never felt the need to know what time it was. I am both a combat arms military vet and retired LE.

 

[Finestkind]

I have never been in the military but when i do use a watch I have it facing in. It keeps me from breaking the crystal.


Finestkind

 

[k9medic]

Been a watch fan my entire life and I stopped wearing one about 18 years ago. Never once worried about breaking the crystal although I have a nice chip on the bezel from a guys tooth during a fight in my younger years as a LEO. I also have a scar on my hand where my watch got caught between the seats of a helicopter during an emergency and I pulled so hard it ripped the seats and my hand.

 

[Hoochrunners]

If Biden only would’ve worn his watch backwards…

 

[Bren]

When I was holding my gun on someone I never felt the need to know what time it was. I am both a combat arms military vet and retired LE.

Same (although I quit LE for Law, rather than retiring).

 

[CBennett]

Depends on how nice my watch is and what im doing. For me it helped protect the face if I was working actually doing something...also if it was a range day or i was doing a lot of shooting I noticed(even when im tree stand hunting now that i think about it) I tend to have of wrists up or visible so a glance down and i see the watch face without having to turn over my wrists...I dont often sit with my wrists down they are more canted in or up as it may be...dont really know for sure though I wear them both ways depending what im doing..sometimes I even switch wrists...like when im fishing i have my watch on my right hand/wrist backwards as the face is towards om when i cast or retrieve... I a watch looker..im always glancing at my watch dont know why nervous habit maybe..mostly from my old work before I retired when certain things HAD to happen as certain times and i hated setting 15 alarms a night

 

[Darkangel1846]

I don’t know about other soldiers but when I was shooting at the enemy, I’m too focused on hitting the enemy instead of looking at my watch while shooting.

Kind of a stupid remark!

 

[Grabbrass]

I know a mechanic who wears his that way. Claims it’s less likely he damages the face

I have never been in the military but when i do use a watch I have it facing in. It keeps me from breaking the crystal.

My grandfather used to say the same thing, but after many years of wearing a watch daily, the most wear on all of my watches happens on the clasp area of the bracelet, not the "head." If I know I'm going to be engaging in an activity where real damage could occur though, changing a tire or etc., I take the watch off for a few minutes.

 

[G29guy06]

In the old days, I think it was because the glowing radium face might draw fire.

Not just that, but in daylight depending on which way your off hand goes (hand up, or overhand grip palm down). For people that do the support hand palm down on top of barrel vs under, it reduces the risk of sunlight flashing off it when “on target”