<p>We are looking for investment-grade watches to give to our children for their 21st birthday. Of the nature of - you will never need another fine watch again, and in styles that would be appropriate for everyday but also business and dress. Have found various ones that we like in the above brands. All of the watches we are considering are with steel bracelets, not gold or mixed metal. The one for D may have either a diamond bezel or diamond dial. They are all (IMO) very classic looking and won’t go out of style. </p>
<p>I have experience only with Baume & Mercier – I have a dress watch of theirs, but it’s very dressy in style, so I don’t wear it often. I have a Cartier Tank (leather strap) that is classic and I’ve worn everyday over the years, but I know that my children won’t care for that particular look.</p>
<p>Are there watch aficionados on here? What is your opinion of Omega specifically, as we are leaning in that direction for both watches.</p>
<p>PG, my husband gave me an Omega Constellation for our 15th anniversary - we’re at 31 now and I have worn it every day since - 2, maybe 3 battery changes. Mine has the stainless band with the gold inserts.</p>
<p>Coincidentally, for the same anniversary I got him a TAG watch, still going strong although it had to be sent back for a thorough cleaning a few years ago, as it was losing time a bit.</p>
<p>I gave S a watch for graduation. He returned it because he says with his cell phi lone no one uses a watch any more and it was too wide for his wrist. D doesn’t like watches either, so we didn’t get her one either. Got her in iPhone 5 as early grad gift instead, with family phone plan. </p>
<p>Really wanted to give our kids classic watches, but it just didn’t work out.</p>
<p>I am a Rolex and TAG person. Rolex lasts forever (of course) but you have to wind them which can be a pain. TAG is easier in that respect. I think Omega would be great, too.</p>
<p>The true watch afficionados would choose an Ebel, a Patek Phillipe, a Jaeger Lecoultre, or an IWC before a Rolex or Tag. The mechanical features are what make them interesting, exclusive, and expensive. Make sure you get a good winder, too. Will depend on what your budget is.</p>
<p>Are you certain your kids will want/wear watches (really certain–and certain that they aren’t just telling you that because it’s what YOU want)? Putting that much money into something that will sit in a drawer would be a shame. The styles I liked when I was 21 are a far cry from what I liked at 30 or 40, so I honestly wouldn’t want to be given a very pricey gift at 21 that I would be expected to wear for many years. I also don’t know anyone in that age group who even wears a watch.</p>
<p>My H bought himself a stainless steel Rolex years ago. Every few years it needed very expensive maintenance–the local jewelry stores wouldn’t touch it, but insisted on sending it back to Rolex, which charged several hundred dollars to service it. Kind of like keeping your Rolls Royce in shape. I don’t know if other luxury brands are similar, but I wouldn’t put that burden on anyone. He also got sick of the style, despite how classic it was, so now it sits unworn, unserviced, and unloved.</p>
<p>My husband got a very expensive Movado as a company gift (for being there a million years). I think it is fairly timeless and will still be in fashion for years to come.</p>
<p>I have an Omega I’ve worn just about every day since 1996. Its similar to the deville prestige, but i’m not sure if I have that exact model or not. It’s stainless and gold, and has a very low profile that I love. I would avoid diamonds on a watch if it’s meant to be worn every day. I’ve had no problem with mine except when o decided to wear it under water for several minutes. Very dumb (and expensive) move on my part.</p>
<p>I have had my Rolex for 21 years now (it was a gift from my parents). I wear it every day, it does not need winding and although the servicing is expensive , I have only had to do that twice. I much prefer to have a classic watch that lasts than to go through several inexpensive ones.</p>
<p>I have the Ebel Beluga with a diamond bezel and diamonds in place of the numbers. I absolutely love it and wear it every day. But I can assure you that my 22 year old daughter would not want it if I were to offer it to her. It is beautiful and classic, but it isn’t what her generation wants right now. In fact, we just took her into NYC to pick out her graduation present. I really wanted to get her diamond earrings because I thought she could wear them the rest of her life. She liked the earrings, but opted for a Van Cleef and Arpels clover necklace that I never would have selected if I were shopping on my own. I could tell that she wanted to make me happy, but when it came down to it she just wasn’t that comfortable with the earrings and the necklace fits her style right now.</p>
<p>Between the five of us we have most of the watches mentioned. My husband gave his rolex to our son when Mr. Ellebud received his father’s gold rolex after fil’s death. My husband also has a patek that he received. My son’s rolex has always run 4 minutes fast. I have a Baume Mercier and Omega…one was an engagement present, the other I received from my mother. The Baume I have to wind every night which can be a pain.My girls have nice watches…Movados. They are nice but not wonderful in terms of investment. Have fun shopping.</p>
<p>One of the nice things about buying a watch is that the person selling the watch is making a nice solid middle class living in that field.</p>
<p>Just since I think it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that if we don’t ever buy anything, there will be even more hungry and homeless.</p>
<p>MomCat…you know sometimes in life one can do something joyful with interference from the PC Police. I strongly think the PG is aware and participates in charity giving. Not all of life is a teachable moment/guilt giving moment. Sometimes there is joy just because it is a joyful moment.</p>
<p>Agree with MommaJ, make sure they would really appreciate them and use them. My kids wouldn’t wear anything but a digital watch, if that. I’d much rather help them with their Roth IRAs if they needed, potentially helping them acrue many tax free dollars. Are you dead certain they all actually want these? If they would, then it sounds like a very worthwhile present to last a lifetime. But… my family has lost sooooo many watches.</p>