<p>Rolex is too ubiquitous - it also can convey a certain message (to some) that your children may not wish to convey about status, wealth, etc. Most people only recognize one or two watches as expensive, and Rolex is the most recognizable. It seems to me to be the watch that people who want other people to know how much they spent gravitate towards. Many of the most ultra exclusive watches pass under the radar. There are many watches with more style, exclusivity, etc. that don’t attract that attention.</p>
<p>I consider Tag equivalent in price range and quality to the Ebel - the Ebel is not somehow a “lesser” watch than the Tag, though both are not at the ultra luxury level. The lower price point Patek Philippe watches are a little blah - they only become interesting over $20K or so.</p>
<p>Why not consider Bulgari? Beautiful and unique - they won’t likely see their watch on someone else’s wrist. They have some gorgeous chunky stainless watches - the Ergon and a few diving watches. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is another option - classic, understated, incredibly beautiful.</p>
<p>I don’t want to see my watch all over the place. When my H gave me a Cartier watch last year, he chose the Baignoire rather than a Santos or Tank - half the people I know have one or the other. The Baignoire is beautiful and elegant (mine is yellow gold) and I doubt people recognize it as a Cartier.</p>
<p>My rolex is the classic oyster datejust. I have never really thought that it did/ didn’t send a message to anyone. It is just a classic well made watch that I wear everyday. I am sure that some folks I meet notice it, some don’t and some probably think it’s fake. Makes no difference to me what others think.</p>
<p>" Certainly one could find far more useful information on ratings sites and from professional jewelers. "</p>
<p>For obvious reasons, jewelers are going to promote the brands they carry and downgrade the brands they don’t, so there is a limit to how much I will put stock in them.
As for watch forums, I did go on there – but I don’t have a sense, when JoeSchmoe says “Such-and-such brand is tacky or showy”, who JoeSchmoe is. Here, I have a sense of people from having posted with them before, and have a sense of whose tastes I would trust. Not to mention – they have “prestige wars” that make CC look tame! </p>
<p>Hyperjulie, your interpretation of my post wasn’t at all what I meant. Oldfort said it much better than I did. If you buy something that is classic and understated, it will be perfectly fine in any environment – casual to dressy – and won’t be showy. God forbid we get the big, flashy gold Rolex of the greed-is-good era that screams “I paid a lot of money for what’s on my arm.” I am looking for a quality brand that will last forever, and that’s why I asked if anyone had experience with these brands. </p>
<p>I’ll just close by noting people come on CC Parent Cafe to talk about remodeling kitchens or going on luxury vacations, that cost far more than what I’m talking about (and I never gave a price range, either. It’s not unlimited, and there’s no $37K Cartier watch happening here).
I’d also note that a lot of people on CC gave their kids cars (or bought a car for themselves and gave kid their old) when the kids learned to drive - which we didn’t do, they have never had their own car – but I don’t think they are “bragging” or “throwing money around” – that’s just what fits their lifestyle.</p>
<p>“If you want to pay 10-20K for a Rolex, fine, but there are problems. How likely would you be to lose it? How much do you travel? What does it signal to people you meet?”</p>
<p>You don’t have to pay 10k for a Rolex. A classic Oyster Datejust doesn’t cost that.
What does it signal? I doubt most people will even look / notice in the first place. Which is fine, because the point isn’t about impressing other people, it’s about having something fine for yourself.</p>
<p>Rube here. Since I kicked over this hornet’s nest, perhaps I owe folks a bit more than Twitter-length snark. </p>
<p>First off, I like nice, expensive things, though I’m much more inclined to get them for family members than for myself. In fact, I suspect that, as a household, we probably own one or more of the items mentioned in this thread. </p>
<p>However, I certainly was not born with “taste,” at least in the white, upper-middle-class sense (and my spouse would argue at length that I still have none). Along my meandering path through life, I’ve been fortunate to have gradually increasing exposure to folks who do have that sense of taste – and, more importantly, tact and grace about sharing it with me so I could learn. Those are also qualities I’ve tried to learn and, perhaps, failed in so doing. </p>
<p>That said, this thread did not come across to me that “someone is just saying how they like to eat.” Rather, upon first challenge, we got the response that folks whose tastes were different from the OP’s “don’t know how to dress well.” Just because my value system (or willingness to share it on a message board) differs from others doesn’t make me in need of remedial cultural training. That – and not envy – is what rubbed me the wrong way, though I suppose I probably should have taken a pass on saying anything about it.</p>
<p>All in all, I share the instinct to celebrate a big occasion in a big way commensurate with one’s means. If it were me, I’d opt for something that is nice enough to feel special but not so nice that the kid will either (1) be afraid to wear it or (2) need a rider on renter’s insurance to cover it. But, that’s just me, and, as I’ve mentioned before, I value my anonymity so that no one knows I’m actually an eighteen-pound terrier. Carry on.</p>
<p>But that isn’t what I said, SOG. I didn’t say that people who have different tastes than mine, or who didn’t value or want to wear luxury watches, were inferior or something. I didn’t articulate it well, but what I was getting at is – there’s a coterie of people who, upon hearing those brands, automatically think “showy” or “flashy,” or they assume we are talking about watches that announce themselves loudly and thus would only be appropriate in a business-suit-on-Wall-Street or black-tie-wedding setting but be over the top for every day wear. I think they’re wrong. As several people on here mentioned, they have simple, elegant Oyster Datejusts or Omega Constellations or whatever and they can indeed wear them everyday, with jeans, with casual wear, business casual or business formal as fits their lifestyle. Versatility. </p>
<p>Most people don’t value fine watches and a simple Timex or Seiko does the trick. What’s wrong with that? Nothing as far as I can see.</p>
<p>Busdriver and others…this is the CAFE. It was created here for just the purpose PG posted about…to have topics NOT related to college. Advice is often sought in this part of this forum for all sorts of things. Jewelry has actually been discussed in the past. </p>
<p>I agree…PG is looking for info about nice watches…and that is a very suitable topic for the cafe!</p>
<p>PG. I do not own any of the watches you listed but I like your plan to gift your children w/ investment quality watches for their 21st BD or for college graduation. Maybe have your son help select his sisters and ask her to help select his … just a thought. Good Luck.</p>
<p>The OP’s question on the Parent Cafe is absolutely no different than any number of other threads which are started. People ask medical questions all the time, and many of the members chime in whether or not they have any medical expertise at all. All kinds of questions are asked here of people who are not experts in the field and there is little criticism of that, even when the dollar amounts are far, far higher. And regardless of whether or not people think the OP was boasting, she said already that her kids have made statements which made her pretty confident that they would like a watch. I’m betting she knows her kids better than any of the negative Nellies who have basically told her her kids would NOT want a watch, who say they don’t like watches (as if that is remotely relevant), or that they think wearing nice watches indicates some kind of agenda. Some people like nice watches, others appreciate fine jewelry (a watch can serve as jewelry as well), some are into original art, beautiful furnishings, cars, or travel, all of which are pricey. Someone planning a trip around Europe or Asia and asking opinions here instead of Trip Advisor would never be accused of “boasting,” nor would someone asking opinions about Viking Stoves vs. Jennair or Sub Zero. I didn’t find the OP boastful, and I agree with Oldfort about the judgmental attitude displayed to a simple question, which if deemed “cringeworthy,” just could have been ignored while moving on to an actual topic of interest.</p>
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<p>You are projecting here. You don’t know the OP’s kids from Adam. If she had asked if the CC community thought it was a good idea to get her kids a nice watch, that would be different. She didn’t.</p>
<p>A few thoughts on the original question:
I have had a simple Baume and Mercier mixed metal watch for at least a dozen years and love it. I wear it daily, and it’s been totally carefree. I only recall replacing the battery once in all this time.<br>
I do, however, feel that advertising has misled us about the longevity to be expected from a good watch. My husband inherited a gold Rolex (originally purchased in the 1970’s) and wears it only for special occasions as, even after spending a small fortune on maintenance for it, he has been instructed that a watch that old is too delicate for daily wear.</p>
<p>I did not mention impressing people, and it doesn’t matter if most people don’t notice, if the wrong people do notice.</p>
<p>As I said, a salesman may use your watch to decide what price to quote you. A thief may use it to decide to target you. A person in a bar may use it to decide who to hit on for the wrong reasons. If you travel a lot, having 5 years local salary on your wrist may not be a good idea.</p>
<p>With all due respect, I think this is kind of a “duh.” </p>
<p>Of course if my kids wind up digging ditches in Uganda for the Peace Corps, or working as the chief psychologist in a prison, or teaching kids in the inner city, or being a park ranger at Sequoia or running a summer camp, wearing a watch of the type that we’re describing probably isn’t a good idea. Why would you think that I would think it was? </p>
<p>And * of course * it’s not a smart idea to wear nice things when traveling internationally, especially in poorer countries. Personally, I don’t even wear my wedding ring; I wear an inexpensive ($20 or so) ring, inexpensive watch and costume jewelry such that it if got lost or stolen, no big deal. </p>
<p>But what does this all have to do with anything?</p>
<p>I think a fine watch is a perfect graduation gift. </p>
<p>If I had money to burn, I’d like an Omega watch if for no other reason than I love swimming and Omega does the timing for so many national and international swim meets. Stupid reason for choosing a watch maybe but when hundredths of a second accuracy matters Omega’s work.</p>
<p>I agree with PG. We are all responsible parents here, at least I am. Why wouldn’t we teach our kids what to wear/not to wear, what to say/not to say, at various situations. D2 was doing some babysitting this summer. She probably carries nicer bags than most adults, so I told her to leave them at home when she is babysitting. She doesn’t wear her very nice loafers when she babysits either because they have a dog. She doesn’t talk abut her travel with most people.</p>
<p>^^I do think SOG is my next door neighbor. </p>
<p>“You are projecting here. You don’t know the OP’s kids from Adam. If she had asked if the CC community thought it was a good idea to get her kids a nice watch, that would be different. She didn’t.”</p>
<p>Isn’t that what we do on every single thread? Project, give advice as to what we would do, whether or not we are answering the questions asked. In fact, I don’t think there are even that many people answering the specific questions here. Projecting or not, I’d still give them the Aunt Gertrude question, and very likely they would prefer to choose their own watch. How many people here would actually prefer not to choose, especially women?</p>
<p>Hi, I have not had time to read the entire thread, but as a Rolex collector/dealer I can tell you stick to Rolex. I have bought, sold, and traded hundreds of luxury watches and I can confidently say I will never buy a luxury watch other than a Rolex, Audemars Piguet, or Patek Phillepe. AP and PP start at 20K so I would stay away from those for a luxury first watch.</p>
<p>For your sons, buy a classic Stainless Rolex submariner or GMT. The new ceramic models are nice but you can get a good used one for like 4K</p>
<p>For your daughter, I would get a Stainless Steel ladies datejust. Factory diamond dials/bezzels are stunning but far to expensive. You can buy a nice used one with a high quality aftermarket diamond bezel for like $3k</p>
<p>Avoid Tag Heuer, Baume & Mercier, and Omega (quartz models) like the plague. As someone that is been in the business I can tell you they are awful watches and will depreciate down to nothing over time</p>
<p>I don’t want to come off like a watch snob, just giving you insights as someone in the business. For more info feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>Responding to other in this thread: Where to buy a used AUTHENTIC Rolex?</p>
<p>Ebay- 95% of the watches on ebay are authentic</p>
<p>Online Forum- The Rolex Forum- [Rolex</a> Forums - Rolex Watch Forum](<a href=“http://www.rolexforums.com/]Rolex”>http://www.rolexforums.com/) here enthusiasts and dealers alike discuss, buy, sell and trade watches. 100% of watches on the site are authentic. </p>
<p>Local Independent dealer- Guy like my self, who knows the market and has connections with other dealers and used Rolex wholesalers (yes, these watches have a wholesale dealer to dealer market). I am from PA and I know at least one or two of these guys in each state. They are not too difficult to find. Check your local craigslist and see if anyone posts “WTB: Rolexes for cash” or something like that. Chances are they are an independent dealer or can point you to someone that is.</p>
<p>OP I do not own a luxury watch so I cannot comment on the quality of the brands you are considering. However, I do own some fine jewelry and I think that a luxury watch fits into the same category. Based in that I would suggest that you go with your daughter to pick out a watch together because jewelry is something very personal and if you want to be sure she will appreciate it for many years I think letting her pick her style is important. </p>
<p>And to all posters who are getting their feathers ruffled by this thread - if the op was not talking about a $10k watch but instead of a used Honda civic for $10k as a graduation gift for her kids would this thread have taken the same nasty turn? I think not. But which one of the gifts will be more memorable to her children?</p>