DeKALB | Watches are so last century.

As technology continues to make remarkable strides, watches are slowly but surely being replaced by the essential tool of the college student: cell phones.

With cell phones now capable of telling time, taking photographs, text-messaging – and, when necessary, calling people – watches appear to be on the way out.

For some students, wearing a watch simply isn’t essential anymore.

“When there’s no clock around, I’ll just look at my cell phone to tell me what time it is,” said Ryan McBride, a sophomore physical therapy major. “Since I’m always carrying it around, it doesn’t seem necessary for me to have a wristwatch.”

Other students, such as senior accountancy major Jon Banes, still prefer the time-tested timepiece.

“I think they’re more convenient to get the time, by just looking at your wrist instead of grabbing your phone from your pocket,” Banes said.

Though it may appear watches are being phased out, one jewelry store employee argues that they will survive for fashion’s sake, if not to tell time.

“I think people will use watches as more of a fashion statement rather than using it to check the time,” said Casie Diciolla, employee of jewelry provider Out on a Whim. “I think adding features to a watch wouldn’t prompt people to want to wear one.”