Rolex watches are displayed during the Baselworld watch and jewelery fair in March 2011 in Basel, Switzerland.
Being able to tell time with a flick of your wrist was a luxury not known until the 1920s. Though the pocket watch, dating from the 17th century, was initially considered a more serious method of time telling, it was soon abandoned in favor of the practicality of the wristwatch. Today, expensive timepieces have become a marker of success, and a black Rolex or a Chanel J12 watch adorning your wrist shows just how valuable your time is.