There are moments when the distant past stares back at us with an eerily modern gaze. In the ancient stone reliefs of Mesopotamia, carved more than 2,800 years ago, winged protective spirits known as "apkallu" appear with an almost unsettling familiarity. One hand holds what looks like a contemporary handbag. On the other wrist sits a wide circular band - thick, precise, and positioned exactly where we wear our watches today. To the curious eye, these figures seem to carry both a mysterious device and a timepiece, as if the Gods themselves were equipped with technology far beyond their era.
This image has fuelled one of the most enduring theories in alternative history: the idea that these carvings depict evidence of ancient advanced technology - or even visitors from the stars. Popularised by ancient astronaut theorists, the "handbag" is sometimes interpreted as a portable power source or data device, while the wristband is seen as a communicator, vital-signs monitor, or even a time-travel tool gifted by extra-terrestrial beings. The virtual parallel is so striking that it continues to captivate millions. Yet when we examine the evidence more closely, a richer, deeply human story emerges.
Archaeologists identify the so called "handbag" as a ritual bucket (banduddu in Akkadian), used in purification ceremonies. The figures...often winged sages or protective spirits...typically hold a pine-cone-shaped object in the other hand, dipping it into the bucket to sprinkle holy water, pollen, or perfumed oil as part of a blessing ritual for the sacred tree of life, the king, or his palace. These scenes were a form of visual magic, carved repeatedly across palace walls for protection and divine favour.
The "watch" meanwhile, is simply an ornate bracelet or cuff - a prestigious item of royal and divine regalia. These wide bands, often decorated with rosette patterns linked to the Goddess Ishtar, were crafted from gold, silver, or bronze and symbolised power, status, and divine connection. They were frequently worn on both wrists…and sometimes as headgear as well.
Across cultures and millennia, the wrist has always been a uniquely special place on the body. From Egyptian pharaohs wearing elaborate gold cuffs inlaid with lapis lazuli and carnelian, to the polished jade bangles of ancient China (prized for their protective qualities).
Humanity has long chosen the wrist as a stage for identity, protection, status and personal meaning. This deep fascination eventually gave birth to the modern wristwatch.
For centuries, men relied on elegant but impractical pocket watches, tucked into waistcoats or vest pockets. Checking the time required both hands and a momentary pause - hardly ideal in moments of action. Interestingly, it was women who first embraced wristwatches in the late 19th century, wearing them as delicate bracelet-style pieces that were considered jewellery rather than serious instruments.
The Great War changed everything. In the trenches and cockpits of World War I, soldiers and pilots desperately needed to check the time quickly and effortlessly. Strapping a watch to the wrist suddenly proved its worth in the chaos of battle. What began as a practical necessity rapidly gained momentum.
No single individual did more to transform the wristwatch into a legitimate, masculine essential than Hans Wilsdorf, the visionary founder of Rolex. Often called the "father of the modern wristwatch", Wilsdorf had an almost prophetic belief in its future. Long before the war started, he recognised the potential and produced the first officially certified chronometer wristwatch (1910). In 1926, he introduced the revolutionary Oyster case...the world's first commercially successful waterproof and dustproof wristwatch...which dramatically proved the durability and practicality of wearing time on the wrist.
Wilsdorf didn't just build watches; he actively promoted the idea that a wristwatch could, and should, be as accurate and reliable as a high-grade pocket watch. His relentless marketing, technical innovation, and commitment to precision helped shift the public's perception. What had once been dismissed as a feminine novelty or wartime makeshift, became a symbol of masculine modernity.
By the end of World War II, the transition from the vest pocket to the wrist was virtually complete. Returning soldiers had grown accustomed to the convenience. And as civilian life quickly followed, the pocket watch, once proud emblem of the gentleman, quietly faded into history.
Today, as watch collectors, we are direct heirs of this long journey. We search for our modern talismans of balance, proportion and presence…and that special personal connection that comes from wearing time on our wrists.
And yet, part of us still wonders. What if archaeology has missed something? What if those ancient craftsmen were recording something far more extraordinary than ritual objects?
In our most romantic moments, we can hope that future discoveries will one day prove the conventional view wrong - and reveal that those mysterious wristbands truly belonged to beings who understood time, technology, and wonder, long before we did.
A beautiful thought to hold onto as we fasten our own watches each morning.