Take off that Apple Watch: 5 reasons why it’s okay to swap your smartwatch for a ‘dumb’ watch

I review smartwatches and other wearable tech for a living, but sometimes, I swap out my Apple Watch (or Garmin, Samsung, Google, etc.) for a good-old-fashioned ‘dumb’ watch. And you know what? You should, too.

Beyond telling the time, a traditional watch also allows you to better disconnect from an often overwhelming digital world, while showing off your personal style, and/or accessorizing your outfit. Below are the five biggest reasons why I recommend placing your smartwatch on sabbatical from time to time in favor of something a bit less fussy.

1. You're in formal wear

Say it with me now, “No smartwatches with formal wear.” And one more time for the folks in the back, “NO SMARTWATCHES WITH FORMAL WEAR.”

Just imagine if James Bond wore an Apple Watch Ultra 3 instead of his classic Omega Seamaster or Rolex Submariner (depending on the era of 007). Rather than being the smooth-talking, immaculately-dressed spy we’ve all come to know and love, suddenly, he’s more finance bro than action hero.

Smartwatches are incredibly amazing devices, with serious benefits from health and fitness tracking tools to safety and communication features. However, nothing makes a finely tailored suit or an elegant evening dress look tackier than a glowing mini-computer on the wrist.

So, next time you’re dressing up, whether for a wedding, a fancy date night, the opera, a funeral, etc., skip the Apple Watch and opt for a dressy dumb watch instead.

2. To take a break from the health stats

The best smartwatches are brimming with features to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle. Moreover, attempting to keep a healthy streak going, whether it's hitting a certain daily step count or getting eight hours of sleep every night, is a great way to develop and maintain new habits.

Sometimes, though, you just need a break, and that’s okay! After all, all those metrics and physical health tracking insights can at times be a detriment to one’s mental health. I certainly feel this way occasionally, which is why I make a point of going for walks and workouts sans smartwatch every so often.

Thankfully, most smartwatches make it easy to skip a day or two without affecting your physical fitness achievements. Apple, for example, lets users pause their Activity Rings at any time without penalty, i.e., you won’t ruin a hard-earned Ring-closing streak.

3. You appreciate vintage charm

There’s no such thing as a vintage smartwatch, unless you want to count some of Garmin’s earliest Forerunner models, which look more like digital kitchen timers on a strap than actual smartwatches.

On the flip side, you can spend the rest of your life combing through the seemingly endless and complex back catalogue that is 100+ years of mechanical and battery-powered quartz watches.

Whether we’re talking the fun, color-splashed plastic Swatches and retro-futuristic Casios of the 1980s and 90s, or older all-metal mechanical wonders from legendary brands like Cartier, Longines, and IWC, vintage watches offer infinitely more personality than any modern smartwatch.

And while the aforementioned big-name mechanical brands are often quite spendy, wallet-friendly, vintage-inspired alternatives from companies like Timex, Orient, and Seiko offer all the fun of an actual heirloom timepiece, without breaking the bank.

4. Durability and water resistance are paramount

Most smartwatches offer just 50 meters of water resistance, which is enough to keep your watch protected for short periods of surface-level swimming, but not snorkeling, diving, or high-impact water sports.

Smartwatches also don’t mix well with salt water, unless you thoroughly rinse the device after every swim with fresh water. Similarly, you should never wear your smartwatch in a hot tub, sauna, or similar environments.

So, what’s a guy to do when he’s looking to take the soak of the century, but still wants to know the time? I grab my trusty $99 G-Shock and a towel, without a second thought.

Offering a whopping 200 meters of water resistance, a shockproof case, and an overall design that's basically indestructible, it just might be the toughest bang-for-your-buck dumb watch in existence; mine has survived years of hot tub soaks and still works like a charm.

5. You need a digital detox

Last but not least, occasionally, a digital detox is in order. And frankly, I highly recommend taking at least one day off a month from all your tech gadgets. That’s right, leave your smartphone, earbuds, and smartwatch at home.

Need to tell the time? Look at a dumb watch. Want to look up somewhere to eat? Ask an actual human for advice! Bored without music or podcasts trumpeting in your ears? Try enjoying the sounds of the city or nature instead.

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