Although the fact that it has been so heavily embraced by a new era of artisans and makers only adds to the timeless authenticity of this knit hat.

The watch cap is just that, it’s a knit hat with a cuff that can be rolled up or down. It was traditionally made from wool yarns but now also out of acrylic and cotton. They can have a pom pom on top but the styles that are generally coined with the name “watch cap” generally do not.

The term “watch cap” literally comes from members of the United States military who would “stand watch,” and the hat was such a symbol of that silhouette that we call the hat a “watch cap.”

I think we can skip all the speculation from the 1500’s to 1800’s about how these hats came to be popular because most of the information looks like a stretch, and frankly it’s just not that interesting. It becomes interesting during World War II when the US Navy was issued Standard Issue knit caps in an olive drab color they referred to as “Jeep Caps.” When the soldiers came home they brought their hats with them and it became a popular style to have your watch cap rolled up above your ears.

Today, the watch cap style symbolizes a classic and timeless look that is a tip of the hat to early blue-collar workers who helped build our country and taught us a lot about grit and determination.

When is the coonskin cap going to be popular again? Davy Crockett was a boss.