<p>My daughter has a Rolex she received for her eighteenth birthday and wears it all the time, but she is also a bracelet person. It has the diamond dial not the bezel so it is more subdued for everyday wear. I also have a Rolex I love and have worn it everyday and everywhere since the mid eighties, except the in the ocean. A few of her friends have nice watches and wear them all the time as well.</p>
<p>As post #4 indicates, cell phones are ubiquitous now, so many people have no need for the functional purpose of a watch (although a cell phone is more like a pocket watch in functionality, though with the automatic time synchronization).</p>
<p>Make sure that your kids actually want watches, and actually want high-end / luxury / status-symbol watches if they do want watches.</p>
<p>All of us children (older brother, older sister, myself) all have received watched for college graduation gifts from our büyükanne. What I did like was they chose a few and allowed the final decision to be our own. It really helped when we are all so stylistically different. </p>
<p>My brother opted for a white gold Patek Philippe, while my sister opted for a Cartier le ballon bleu and I chose a white gold with diamond lady date just.</p>
<p>I think it’s key to chose a watch that matches them, and they will wear for time on end.</p>
<p>Our S did purchase a watch HE likes that suits his taste that is dressy and classic. In our family, we mostly do NOT have great success with watches lasting a very long time, so prefer spending less in them and replacing as the mood strikes. </p>
<p>I’m finding that my kids are really enjoying asserting their personal taste in purchases they make that suit them. For S, we were never able to figure the perfect grad gift. S has asked me to purchase some items for him and mail it to Anazon so he can resell. We will likely gift him the amount later, after he reimburses me. (The purchases added up to 4 digits.)</p>
<p>Yes, I am quite confident they will wear / appreciate them. Indeed, the impetus came from comments they’ve made, and they’ve shown me ideas of the type of styles they prefer - which are all very classic.</p>
<p>They are also receiving some family heirloom jewelry (not that it’s necessarily worth a lot, but sentimental value) - D is receiving a ring that was my great-grandmother’s, and S is receiving a pocket watch that belonged to H’s grandfather. D has seen the ring and I know she likes it; and I am 110% positive that my son will be touched by the sentiment of the pocket watch, as he is that type. </p>
<p>Not to dis anyone’s Ebel, but I thought that was a step below? And Patek Philippe is out of my price range!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>While this may be true, it’s a useful accessory to have to enhance one’s “professional” look in many corporate offices/fields in order to play to the appearance conscious “pointy-haired bosses”. :D</p>
<p>Of course, I make it a point to avoid wearing watches outside of work because it’s a part of the very professional outfit I’d want to get out of ASAP so I can slip into something more casual…like a pair of shorts and casual non-business casual compliant t-shirt in summers so I don’t feel too hot and like I’m still at work. :)</p>
<p>“perhaps donate a matching amount to charity (along with the “investment quality” watches) in honor of your kids’ birthday?”</p>
<p>Why would a (relatively) expensive purchase warrant that? You wouldn’t have said that if I had said - I’m looking for some good $100 watches, does anyone have any suggestions?<br>
What’s the cut-off line for expensive that warrants being obligated to donate to charity? </p>
<p>Trust me, I’m paying a lot more than the cost of a watch for my kids’ education, but no one seems to react by saying I ought to donate to charity every time I write a tuition check. Plenty of parents on here (not me) have spent thousands of dollars on sports, music, dance, etc. lessons for their children a year and yet they don’t get exhorted to donate to charity. I’m wondering what it is about this purchase that triggered such a response.</p>
<p>But Cobrat, the important question is what kind of watches do all your cousins wear?</p>
<p>No, cobrat, it has nothing to do with pointy-haired bosses. Some things are elegant and classic investments. I’m sorry you weren’t brought up to appreciate those things, but as such, I’m interested in the opinions of those parents on here who do have that appreciation.<br>
It’s really irrelevant that you wouldn’t wear a watch.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>PG,</p>
<p>If you bothered to read my post more carefully without going into react -> attack mode…you’d understand I never said I wouldn’t wear a watch in the absolute sense. </p>
<p>Where in that post did I say that?</p>
<p>Cobrat, stop making threads all about you. If <em>I</em> am considering buying watches for <em>my</em> kids, whom I am confident will wear / appreciate it, and i am asking for feedback and experience on various brands among people who know fine watches, then your comment about how <em>you</em> won’t wear them outside of work because you want to slip into something more casual is completely irrelevant to the topic. </p>
<p>If you have an educated opinion about the merits and quality of Omega/Rolex/Tag/Baume because of particular expertise or interest in this area, or personal experience owning these watches, or particular suggestions about things to look for when buying, then I’d love to hear it.</p>
<p>Not sure I would consider tag to be a luxury watch. </p>
<p>Look into Jaeger Lecoultre. </p>
<p>I prefer Omega myself and the Speedmaster Professional.</p>
<p>Sent from my HTC One SV using Tapatalk 2</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I was replying to UCBalumnus’ comment that most younger adults may not have a functional need for a watch. </p>
<p>While it’s ideal to maintain on topic, people depart on tangents all the time to have side conversations…including yourself on at least several occasions. Last I checked, those side conversations are allowed…or are they only reserved for you and your favorites? </p>
<p>Friendly FYI…it’s usually not a sign of good social skills to first scold someone and then ask them for potentially helpful opinions/advice in the same instant.</p>
<p>Good luck. I am sure you will pick out the perfect watch for each of your kids. After all whatever you select the fact that it came from you and your husband will make it invaluable.</p>
<p>Where’s the best place to buy a new investment-grade watch without paying full sticker price?</p>
<p>That’s an excellent question! I think we are just going to have to negotiate with local retailers. Too many fakes out there to make buying on the Internet feasible. This isn’t an ebay or Craigslist purchase!</p>
<p>Be careful about not paying up for a watch, lizard. You want to make sure you buy it from the jeweler.</p>
<p>PG, I’m not offended by your Ebel thoughts. I could have any watch I want, and I do. Mine is very rare with the black mother of pearl face, so that might influence how I feel about it. I’ve never seen anybody else have it and my watch guy is always more oohing and ahhing over it than the rolex or tag when it’s battery time.</p>
<p>But, I also like my tag a lot. They are very different looks.</p>
<p>Good luck. Have fun. I think I am going to have to get the Patek for my husband, now.</p>
<p>It was still in my head when I woke up this morning.</p>
<p>I don’t mind a jeweler making a buck off of me, but I don’t want them being able to retire after selling me a watch. I like to haggle and am always looking for opportunistic prices on my purchases. I’m not walking into a jeweler like a baby seal ready to get clubbed if I go in to buy an expensive watch.</p>
<p>Both of our girls have the Ebel Beluga with leather bands. They are beautiful and classic looking. The only thing I am not pleased about is the leather band. It has a special clasp, so you could only use Ebel special band and it is $500 every time you want to replace it.</p>
<p>I have rolex, cartier and omega. Omega constellation is my everyday watch. The band is metal with gold accent. I’ve had it for 30 years. H and I bought matching ones for our anniversary. I remember back then they were around 600 each. I think Rolex is kind of clunky for girls, except the cellini.</p>
<p>I think a good place to buy an investment grade watch is through one’s trusted jeweler. They could order it for you and you pay some mark up.</p>
<p>I am a former watch lover, interested in the art of them but never a collector, though I still regret not buying a veritable trove of very old Rolexes with porcelain faces (because they are so hard to get running). If you’re interested in collector value, that drives you to Patek and some other watch=car makers. Otherwise, it’s really the look. </p>
<p>I found I loved the mid-range watches from early in the 20thC when the cases were highly shaped and the numbers stylized. They aren’t worth especially much because watches trade on brand - and jewels decorating, etc. which isn’t me. </p>
<p>If I need to wear a watch, which is essentially never, I pull out an Omega because I like its simple style. It’s about style. If I need to dress up, I consider an old wind-up watch, again for style. </p>
<p>So I think it’s about the styles.</p>