We have been asked many times why some of our watches have cryptic Latin phrases on them and what it's all about, so we thought we would explain.

Time’s Greatest Teacher: How Memento Mori Shapes the Modern Watchmaker’s Art

In the quiet tick of a mechanical movement lies one of philosophy’s most profound reminders. 'Memento mori' (Latin for “remember you must die”) has guided human contemplation for centuries, urging us to acknowledge life’s finite nature not as a source of despair, but as motivation to live more meaningfully.

This inspired the makers of sundials to bring this philosophy to their work; it frequently featured in Latin and Old English inscriptions on their work.

For the modern watchmaker, this ancient wisdom finds its most elegant expression in the very essence of our craft: the measurement and marking of time itself.  At Wagstaff, traditionally, we used to mimic the old tradition of sundial makers and added inscriptions to the reverse of watches and, very occasionally, on the face itself.  This practice fell out of fashion, but we have brought it back.

The Philosophy of Finite Time

Memento mori emerged from Stoic philosophy, where thinkers like Marcus Aurelius wrote extensively about time’s passage and mortality’s certainty. The concept wasn’t morbid—it was liberating. By accepting life’s temporary nature, one could focus on what truly mattered: virtue, relationships, and the present moment. Medieval monks adopted the practice, keeping skulls in their cells as daily reminders, while artists throughout history embedded symbols of mortality—hourglasses, wilting flowers, extinguished candles—into their works.

The hourglass, perhaps more than any other symbol, captures this intersection of time and mortality. Its sand falls grain by grain, each particle marking an irretrievable moment, yet the whole device can be turned to begin anew—much like the cyclical nature of life itself.

Time as Life’s Most Precious Currency

Every watchmaker understands an essential truth: time cannot be saved, only spent. This makes our craft inherently philosophical. We don’t create time we merely help people become conscious of it. Each timepiece we create is, in essence, a memento mori device, a constant companion that whispers the ancient reminder with every tick.

The mechanical watch, in particular, embodies this philosophy beautifully. Its movement mirrors the human heart, steady, rhythmic, finite. The mainspring slowly unwinds, just as our lives gradually unfold. The escapement releases energy in measured beats, much like our own measured breaths. When a watch stops, it can be rewound; when life stops, it cannot.

The Modern Watchmaker’s Response

At Wagstaff Watches, we embrace this philosophical heritage by creating timepieces that honour both the precision of time and the preciousness of life. Our approach to watchmaking is informed by the memento mori tradition in several ways:

Craftsmanship as Legacy: Knowing that life is finite drives us to create watches that outlast their makers. Each component is crafted with the understanding that this piece may tick long after we’re gone, carrying forward our dedication to the art.

Intentional Design: Rather than rushing to follow trends, we design with deliberate consideration. Like the Stoics who contemplated each decision’s weight, we ask: “Will this element contribute meaningfully to the watch’s purpose and beauty decades from now?”

The Poetry of Imperfection: Hand-finished elements bear the subtle marks of human touch—slight variations that machine production cannot replicate. These “imperfections” are actually signatures of mortality, proof that real hands and hearts created something unique in a limited span of time.

Celebrating the Present: While our watches measure time’s passage, they also anchor us in the now. The gentle weight on the wrist, the quiet tick against the skin—these sensations remind the wearer to be present, to notice this moment before it passes.

Living by the Tick

Perhaps the greatest gift a fine watch offers isn’t precision, it’s perspective. In our age of digital distractions and virtual experiences, a mechanical timepiece grounds us in physical reality. It reminds us that time moves at its own pace, regardless of our ambitions to speed it up or slow it down.

The next time you check your watch, consider it not just as a tool for scheduling, but as an instrument of wisdom. That gentle tick is your memento mori, your reminder that this day, this hour, this very minute is irreplaceable. The question becomes: how will you spend this precious, unrepeatable time?

In the end, the finest watches don’t just tell time—they teach us to treasure it. And perhaps that’s the most profound connection between the ancient philosophy of memento mori and the modern art of watchmaking: both remind us that in our finite existence lies infinite possibility for meaning, beauty, and love.

At Wagstaff Watches, we believe that understanding time’s true value makes every moment more precious and every timepiece more meaningful.  If you buy someone to measure, as we call it #WagstaffTime, you are reminding them just how important their time is.