apple watch 3 not sending/receiving any messages, including imessages when phone isn't nearby

I first tested my watch by turning my phone completely off and making a call, which worked. I then tried to send an iMessage through the watch with my phone off, and it would not send. I then tried turning the phone on and leaving the area so my watch would have to connect with LTE and (once I was sure it was properly connected to LTE) I tried to send another test to no avail. I then went into my settings and turned iMessages off for a few seconds and then turned it back on and tried again. Nope. Does anyone have any suggestions for what else I could look into? I have turned both devices off and on again, so if that was your fix, I already tried it!! ;-)