Giving a watch as a gift: is it bad luck?
watch as a present superstition · clock gift separation
- watch
- gift
- separation
- superstition
In folk belief giving a watch means separation or a quarrel, especially between partners. The fix is the same as for a knife: a symbolic coin.
Why is a watch considered a bad gift?
A watch counts time, and a gifted watch is said to start counting down the time left in the relationship. That is why couples are often advised not to give each other watches.
Where does it come from?
The belief is especially strong in China, where the phrase for giving a clock sounds like the phrase for seeing someone off on their final journey. In Georgia it arrived more as a sign of separation.
How to give a watch without the superstition
Just like with a knife: the person receiving it gives the giver a coin, and the watch becomes bought. Still, many people see a good watch as the perfect gift and ignore the superstition altogether.