Watches, identity, and counterfunctionality: My latest, and last, word on the subject

Posted by Rob Walker on June 9, 2009
Posted Under: The Designed Life,Update

Longtime readers know that I’ve long had an interest in watches that  really aren’t very useful as tools to tell you what time it is. What’s the point of such things? Well I used them in a Consumed column as an example of the identity power of counterfucntionality — drawing on the research of Wharton’s Jonah Berger. That column is here.

Deep Glamour has just run a series of posts about watches. This post examines watches as markers of “an eye for style and design.” This one focuses on status.

With all that in mind, I hereby announce yet another in my astounding series of quixotic side projects: Counterfunctionality, A Gallery. I’m adding one counterfucntional watch or watch-like object per day, from my very extensive collection of links. Enjoy.

Further diversion may be found at MKTG Tumblr, and the Consumed Facebook page.

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