<p>I’m out of ideas. We have a couple of little things but I thought a nice something or other like a watch would be nice, but our son uses his cellphone to keep time. I thought maybe an engraved money clip (he has no money but, hey!) but it seemed sort of “old”, just can’t think of anything. His grad gift should probably be his college education, right?</p>
<p>This might sound weird but my grad gift was a grad party (where i got tons of gifts) and my parents got me a really nice set of luggage.</p>
<p>D1 actually wants a nice watch for graduation. (idea has been passed along to grandmother). She thinks it will be easier than constantly checking her phone. She used her cousin’s Kindle over winter break and loved it, however, I’m concerned she will spend too much time with it.</p>
<p>Ours got their laptops.</p>
<p>If your kid doesn’t already have a nice dress watch, I think it would be a nice gift. It will come in handy later on for special occasions.</p>
<p>Luggage is also nice, especially a carry on with sturdy wheels, for going away on weekends.</p>
<p>D1 is graduating from college this year. We are getting her a pair of south sea pearl earrings, which she will be able to wear to work everyday.</p>
<p>we will be having a huge grad party and will be getting her a new laptop for college-- the one she used all four years of high school is ready to retire!</p>
<p>Not to put a damper on ideas, but our “gift” to both D & S was an undergraduate degree with no debt for them when they graduated. We also had a fairly small (mostly family) party.</p>
<p>Getting DS his laptop. Also, paying for his college.</p>
<p>laptop and rolex and a 200+ person grad party. Brown ppl know how to celebrate.</p>
<p>I gave a US Gold Eagle to a niece for her hs graduation. It’s worth a lot more today than it was back then.</p>
<p>I guess we now have something of a tradition in our house–hs grad gift is that classic Tiffany’s belt buckle with their initials (and–oh yeah–the belt). I gave DH one for some birthday or other years ago. DS#1 “stole” it for most of hs. Even wrote an essay on it as his favorite thing in the world. Got him his own for graduation. DS#2 has “stolen” DH’s for most of the last two years. His just came in this week–he’ll get it the morning of graduation. It’s something they will use (a lot) and will have the rest of their lives (I hope).</p>
<p>How about a trip? My son’s graduation gift will be a plane ticket to visit a friend whose family currently lives in Mexico.</p>
<p>MyLB, which of the two buckles on tiffany’s web site do you give?</p>
<p>[Tiffany</a> & Co. | Item | Engine-turned slide belt buckle in sterling silver. | United States](<a href=“http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?sku=10102936&mcat=&cid=&fromGrid=1&search_params=s+1-p+1-c+-r+-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t+belt+buckle-k+&search=1]Tiffany”>http://www.tiffany.com/Shopping/Item.aspx?sku=10102936&mcat=&cid=&fromGrid=1&search_params=s+1-p+1-c+-r+-x+-n+6-ri+-ni+0-t+belt+buckle-k+&search=1)</p>
<p>One is plain, but appears to have the Tiffany & Co name displayed in a prominent position. The other is ‘engine turned’ not as plain. I love the idea of using that for our son’s college graduation gift–a keepsake and a useful accessory. As you are clearly familiar with them, I’m curious about which you prefer.</p>
<p>The engine-turned one. I think they’ve had that design forever. It wouldn’t exactly be my taste to give something that screamed “Tiffany’s”, and the plain one is also shinier–not something I think you want in a <conservative> belt buckle. (BTW–we also gave one to my brother who works on Wall Street. My kids wear it to high school and around college. This belt really does work everywhere.)</conservative></p>
<p>They get a little patina over the years, and a little scuffed, but, honestly, ours have been (and will be, I hope) well-loved. (And that reminds me–DH’s could probably use a replacement belt. It’s looking a little overly loved for dress, although still looks great with jeans! The owner can also. . . um. . . get a larger sized belt should things go in that direction on down the line. 
)</p>
<p>I love the belt buckle from Tiffany’s! I have been trying to come up with something for my son who is graduating HS. The tradition in my family is that girls get a pearl necklace. My son is the first male in the family since my dad. I wanted something that he could keep but that would be useful as well. Thanks for the idea!!</p>
<p>
Ditto
Except look into whether your kid’s college has a group purchase plan. Sometimes it’s through the bookstore, sometimes the manufacturer has a code that you can get from the college, etc.</p>
<p>I also like the idea of the Tiffany’s belt/buckle. MyLB, are the belts in your family engraved or plain? I’m thinking plain is a bit less ostentatious…DS is not at all ostentatious…</p>
<p>Anyone know any casual, everyday watches that are popular with girls? D already has dress watch options, and my sister would like to give her an everyday watch for graduation (about $100). Needs to be good for warm weather and withstand trips to the beach.</p>
<p>I give my old Seiko dress watch to my son for interviews. It’s 30 years old and is very, very slim. The only downside is that the battery has to be changed every year while modern watches will run for several years on one battery. Still, it goes very well with a dress-shirt.</p>
<p>Just noticed the question re: engraving. Yes. Definitely. And it will not stand out at all–it’s a very conservative belt buckle. In fact the engraved part is a little darker–like the grooves in the buckle, so probably makes the whole thing even less stand-out-y (I get the machine–vs. hand–engraving. Not sure anybody can tell the difference and machine is much less expensive. And there are four styles–I think the one I’ve always gotten is called “Roman”–not the simplest (that’s “Block,” I think), but not italic either.)</p>