People have been asking Why do Soldiers Wear Watches Backwards?
And there are a few interesting reasons why.
Many social etiquettes have become a tradition among watch wearers.
For instance, many people believe that watches should be worn on non-dominant wrists.
Also, a lot of people seem to think that women should wear their watches on a specific wrist.
That said, we would like to let you know that there is no one way to wear a watch.
While some people would like to wear their timepiece on their right wrist, others feel more comfortable wearing their watch on the left wrist.
At the end of the day, all that matters is wearing your wristwatch where you feel most comfortable, so don’t let anyone put you in a box on what you should and should not do when wearing a watch.
These days, there are even people who wear their watches backwards.
This is quite common among soldiers, especially those on special Ops.
So for people curious to learn why soldiers like to wear their watches backwards, you’re welcome to read today’s post.
Is there anything wrong with wearing watches backwards?
Like we mentioned earlier, many people like to think that there is a natural way to wear a timepiece.
So when they see others wear their watch differently, they look at them as bizarre.
Just so you know, many people enjoy wearing their watch backwards, with the face positioned on the inside of their wrist.
Yes, it may look super weird because it may not be something you’re used to, but guess what?
There are many reasons why people would choose to wear their watches facing backwards.
For some civilians, it is a kind of hippy culture they like.
But for soldiers on special ops, wearing their watches backwards is a lifestyle.
Soldiers and the backward watch wearing culture
For soldiers engaged in special Ops, wearing a watch backwards comes with many benefits.
Wearing a watch with its face sitting on top of the wrist can be pretty inconvenient for soldiers on the field.
With their watch in this position, telling the time can become a challenging experience, especially if they have to remain in a lying position for an extended time.
But with their timepiece facing backwards, they don’t need to make any unnatural movement to tell time.
Also, since soldiers on special Ops have to handle rifles for extended periods, it makes a lot of sense to wear their timepiece backwards.
Wearing it the traditional way with the watch’s face on their wrists can lead to distractions caused by reflections on the dial.
So with the watch facing backwards, soldiers don’t have to worry about reflections from their watch’s dial coming in the way of their target.
To be honest, it doesn’t make any sense to wear your timepiece the traditional way if it will hinder your work.
When soldiers are out on the field, they need to stay alert to achieve tactical precision.
Unfortunately, with their watches worn the traditional way, it could get in the way of their job, causing them to lose precious seconds, especially since they need to check the time every now and then.
For soldiers on the field, every second counts.
The slightest distraction can result in a life or death situation.
Besides managing time during special operations, wearing a watch backwards helps soldiers to protect the dial of their watches from scratches and bumps that may damage them.
So the next time you come across a soldier wearing his watch backwards, don’t freak out or see them as weird; it’s a pretty standard thing among soldiers and other special forces.
Do other people wear their watches backwards?
Even though wearing watches backwards is a norm among soldiers, people outside the armed forces also enjoy wearing their timepieces in an inverted fashion position.
For instance, many old school pilots still prefer wearing their watches backwards as it helps them correctly time turns and calculate distance.
Even though modern GPS has proven to be more accurate, many pilots still like to do things the old fashioned way.
Also, people with fragile units wear their watches backwards to protect their dials from bumps and scratches.
While watches like the Casio G-Shock can withstand heavy collisions, delicate watches are not built to take a beating.
Plus, many people find it pretty easy to tell time with their watch fitted in an inverted fashion position.
Again, if you have a watch with a dial that gives off annoying reflections, it wouldn’t be out of place to wear your watch backwards.
In the same vein, if you constantly have to work with heavy machinery and equipment, it would make a lot of sense to wear your watch in the opposite direction.
What types of watches do soldiers wear?
When it comes to watches used by soldiers, many brands come to mind.
Of course, Casio G-Shock is one of the most popular watch brand used by soldiers; other brands on the market are also very popular among special forces.
G-Shock is famous among Special Ops soldiers because of its durability and unparalleled performance, especially in extreme conditions.
Besides the G-Shock, other brands like Seiko, Timex, and Luminox produce sophisticated military-style watches fast, becoming the number one choice for soldiers.
For instance, the Luminox Evo all-black edition is among the number one military consumer watch on the market currently.
Frequently asked questions:
Who do special ops soldiers wear their timepiece upside down?
Wearing watches upside down is a pretty common tradition among special-ops soldiers.
It has become a tactical position for soldiers on the field as it makes it a little more convenient to tell the time in this position while closing in on a target.
Do the military issue special watches to soldiers?
The US military still issues its personnel with unique watches.
Nevertheless, soldiers are allowed to use theirs if it meets the official specifications.
While there are many approved special forces watches on the market, the Casio G-Shock has become a household name among soldiers.
What are the best military watches?
While the watch market is saturated with many military-style watches, some popular models include Casio G-Shock The 6900 Military, Marathon WWW194007 TSAR Military Diver, Breitling Cockpit B50, Marathon Military Navigator and others.
Conclusion
From staying out of sight to telling the time easily to avoiding distractions and protecting watches from bumps and scratches, there are many reasons why soldiers prefer wearing their watches backwards.
Even ordinary people these days enjoy wearing their watches in the inverted fashion position.
