<p>I love Costco but somehow buying a luxury watch there would seem funny to me. If I were inclined to buy a luxury watch (which I’m not), I think I’d like the whole experience of going to a quality high end jeweler. That would be fun.</p>
<p>Maybe I’m slow, but I still don’t understand what SOG’s, hyperjulie, etc.s fuss is about. If one person has an opinion about what constitutes good taste, why should that offend you? You are certainly entitled and expected to also have your own opinion about what is tasteful. That you are offended (whether by misunderstanding or otherwise) about OP’s opinion of how people choose to dress, signifies to me that the “issue” lies with you.</p>
<p>Yes, purchasing at Costco is a different experience and doesn’t give you the experience of going to fine jewelers, but does have excellent return policies and stands behind their products. For their high end products, merchandise varies considerably by store and can be different from what is available on-line. For example, the watches we saw at the store yesterday were NOT in the on-line inventory of the 84 watches listed.</p>
<p>PG, I’m sure you’ll have a great time searching for the perfect watches and find ones that your kids will treasure. Happy shopping!</p>
<p>Its hilarious when people give a negative opinion about something and then get offended that others are offended. Like, it’s my job to not offend, but you can be as offensive as you want in the thread.</p>
<p>There is no protection for the contrarian opinion. If you aren’t ready to be disagreed with, why on earth would YOU disagree?</p>
<p>sheesh.</p>
<p>A friend of mine always says, “I try to avoid judging others. Otherwise I find myself judging me for judging you for judging me for judging you.” </p>
<p>Here, we just get to slug it out. </p>
<p>carry on.</p>
<p>Bevhills- OT, but your comment about admitting to a trip to Europe reminds me of when my son returned to school after a summer break (7th grade or something) at his prep school. In art class he commented on Michelangelo’s David and his affluent classmates asked him when he went to Europe. He told them he saw it in Las Vegas! :)</p>
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<p>Perfect. :p</p>
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<p>The current consensus among historians who studied that part of French history is that there’s no definitive evidence Marie Antoinette actually made that statement and that it’s likely to have been a fabrication of French Revolutionary propagandists looking to galvanize the already discontented French commoners to revolt and topple the ancien regime. </p>
<p>Prices of cake may have been cheaper…but was probably still expensive for most of the French. </p>
<p>The prices of bread or cake was a symptom of a more serious problem, the shortage of grain to make bread or cake because France endured years of bad harvests right before the calling of the Estates-General in 1789. That combined with a great population boom in previous decades meant that there wasn’t enough grain to make enough bread/cake to meet burgeoning demand. The bad harvests just aggravated an already bad situation.</p>
<p>Momofawildchild: It is a VERY good thing that we didn’t meet you at the David statue. We were walking through Caesar’s Palace when one Ellebud, age3 at the time, yelled out (after seeing the David statue) “Mommy look at his *****!” I stepped up the walking pace as everyone around us burst out laughing.</p>
<p>And yes cobrat, it may have been a shortage all around. And yes, it is very possible Marie (we are on first name basis since I’ve been to the house) never said that quote.</p>
<p>Jeez, hyperJulie, you are just so jealous :D</p>
<p>"What I really don’t like is the assumption from some on this thread that those who caution against purchasing such a luxury item for a young adult or who simply don’t have a set of values or priorities that would justify spending several thousand dollars on a watch are just green with envy. It just echoes of teenage girls calling anyone who doesn’t like or disagrees with them OMG SO JEALOUS. To say, no, it was never intended to be about class and then say that those who disagree are just envious of your discretionary spending capabilities seems contradictory on some level.’</p>
<p>Nailed it.</p>
<p>Perhaps it’s just more fun to argue about things that were never said, then to actually talk about watches. I’m sure that the delicate flower, pizzagirl, needs others to rush to defend any imagined insult, as she certainly couldn’t whip out an argument or smack a poster down, as quickly as she’d swat a fly.</p>
<p>On that note, I have spent way too much time on this forum, so I’ll try to pull out of this silly imaginary dispute before poetgrl chides me. I’ll admit to adding nothing useful to this thread, though it did keep me from being bored out of my mind.</p>
<p>bevhills- that’s hilarious. Maybe we were there at the same time!</p>
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<p>I annoyed my HS Art teacher once by saying I saw Michelangelo, Rafael, Donatello, and Leonardo every day. He wasn’t too thrilled to find I was referring to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, not the Renaissance artists or their works. Hey…I was 13. :D</p>
<p>Actually the “insult” came from the OP first (post #58) when she said that people who have “excellent and understated personal style” can carry an elegant watch in any circumstances as opposed to people “who don’t know to dress well” may feel the watch will “standout” in certain circumstances. </p>
<p>I feel it’s harsh to categorize people who advise against the purchase of expensive watches as gifts for young adult kids due to practical reasons (as suggested in this thread, easily lost or stolen, why not invest in the kids’ IRA instead”) as incapable of wearing chic attire. </p>
<p>Rather than thinking that the practical people are green-eyed monsters, I feel it is difficult for some practical people to not speak up and say, are you sure you have adequately funded your retirement fund, emergency fund, enough life insurance coverage, no credit card debt, blah, blah, blah before you buy a specific style of expensive watch that may just sit lonely in your kids’ jewelry drawer or worst, lost or stolen. </p>
<p>That said, I know how it is in certain environments, it is sort of de riguer to be wearing a gown, suit, purse or shoe by this designer. If you aren’t, well….</p>
<p>And as a side note, when someone is pitching a sale to me, I do look at the watch, among other things, and wonder how much commission he will get. </p>
<p>As for the OP’s original questions, may I suggest a Rolex Submariner just as Ivygolfer suggested as it will hold its value for years to come. I even suggest it for your daughter rather than the ladies’ datejust.</p>
<p>I’m in the razorsharp camp on this.</p>
<p>My mom bought be a very nice watch (Girard Perregaux) when I graduated from high school. It was a classic, and I wore it regularly for about 15 years until I started running, when I switched to runners watches. Over the years I lost it and had it returned, and had it repaired several times. Its now up in the drawer as a treasured possession, but its not going be worn again. I no longer wear a watch since I have a clock in my pocket on my smartphone at all times. </p>
<p>I thought about repeating mom’s gesture for my oldest child, but decided it wouldn’t be completely appreciated by anyone, and would probably be broken or lost quickly.</p>
<p>I think its a problem in today’s affluent society to figure out what kind of personal keepsake type gift is the best. For girls, I think its easier because you can go to jewelry, which is simply supposed to look nice. For guys, you’re mostly stuck with watches, and I don’t think that many youngsters wear them anymore. </p>
<p>Good luck in figuring out what to get.</p>
<p>To add to what’s been said about watches as jewelry for ladies… Pizza, have you considered a J12 for your daughter? I have no idea if the “watch” part is any good, but it is a lovely, timeless piece.</p>
<p>(Man, I’m going to get flamed for even suggesting this!!! :))</p>
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<p>I don’t think practical people are green-eyed monsters. My parents were in that camp and they had absolutely no desire to own luxury items and wouldn’t understand why anyone would want these things. Practical people who put savings, funding retirement, emergency funds, etc. etc. over everything else can be quite scornful/judgmental of those who can afford and enjoy buying luxury items and it doesn’t really stem from jealousy. </p>
<p>My folks were always assuming that people who spent money on luxury items probably had mountains of credit card debit or would eventually lose everything because they weren’t being practical/careful or using their money properly. From their point of view, those who spent money on luxury items and things that weren’t absolutely necessary were on a lower evolutionary level than the practical people.</p>
<p>I don’t think my folks ever did anything frivolous. Saving money was more important than anything else. I guess I never adopted their view of the world and I really try (sometimes it’s difficult) not to be soooo judgmental of folks who have a different worldview. For myself, I don’t want to squander money, but I don’t want to obsess about it either and spend my life doing only the practical things.</p>
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<p>Well, hyperjulie didn’t “nail” this thread for me. She just took an amalgamation of various comments from different people on this thread, threw them into her brain blender, and spit out a Victimhood Margarita. I don’t think any one person expressed the totality of her sentiments, which unfortunately, to me took the low road on this discussion.</p>
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<p>I think you are making this up and wish you’d done this, now, but did not.</p>
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Would you speak up in real life - “are you sure you could afford it?” Probably not. I would never assume someone is being irresponsible and give an opinion unless he/she outright asks me, “Do you think it is a good idea to spend $X on my kid.” We are all mature adults here, being around the block a few times, not exactly unsophisticated when it comes to finance. It is condescending and presumptuous to offer advice on how to spend one’s money.</p>
<p>Never mind me. I’m just going to be over here in my Hawaiian shirt, gold chains, and plastic Ironman watch, cursing the rich. </p>
<p>[Homer</a> Simpson - Bush Gif](<a href=“http://gif-central.blogspot.com/2012/03/homer-simpson-bush.html]Homer”>Homer Simpson - Bush Gif)</p>
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<p>Poetgrl,</p>
<p>Amusing you’d think that considering that’s far more tame than what I did the same year with one teacher with whom our personalities clashed. As a result of the latter, I got to know the dean very well my first semester in HS.</p>
<ul>
<li>Puts on Clash’s “What’s your name” & “Garageland” on itunes list for SOG*</li>
</ul>