I agree with the phone or Bose headphones. My son was in first year of college when he asked for the headphones, to drown out the noise in the dorm
He was 24 before he wanted a watch. Now he wears his Apple Watch.
I have 2 sons. One (24) has a Tiffany watch he inherited, and I think he’s worn it maybe 3 times ever.
The other (22) wanted a “nice” watch so badly he scrimped on his “lunch” at Pre-college college program so he could use the money on whatever card they gave him for a Fossil Watch from the bookstore instead (he succeeded in getting it). He now has a Tag Huer (sp?) and he wears that often.
We gave our S a Skagen watch for his college graduation. He decided it was too wide for his wrist, tho he appreciated the sentiment, so I returned it to Costco. He has since purchased a few dressy thin streamlined watches that he alternates for dressy occasions. At 18, he had no interest in watches and even at 31, he only wears them from time to time for dressy events.
The Bose noise cancelling headphones would probably be something he’d get a lot of use from but wouldn’t spend the money on himself. Our kids & their peers both use headphones/earphones a lot, from HS to the present over a decade later.
We gave son a Seiko watch for HS graduation. He had asked for one earlier. Only wanted a classic watch with no bells or whistles attached. Still wears it for dress up occasions.
Both of my sons wear watches. One has several styles, while the other prefers one with a leather band.
I was surprised to see my older son was wearing a watch, he prefers it to pulling the phone out of his pocket. He also is apt to forget to charge his phone. He’s 29. My other son wore a watch that talked to his phone for a while, but his current job requires him to leave the phone in the car. This led me to look to see if watches are allowed when in uniform. Yes, but they need to be conservative. Someone posted that they wear this one and haven’t been reprimanded yet: https://mrjoneswatches.com/products/the-accurate
Our almost 22-year-old son laughs at the idea of a jewelry watch. To him, those are (old) man bracelets with zero function, and he wouldn’t be caught dead. However, strap on a small screen computer and now you’re talkin’. I told him that, at his age, we were all waiting for cool shoe phones.
@mathmom, although they probably aren’t for everyone, there are some cool, unique watches on that website.
Thanks for all the opinions. It seems to be fairly split as to what and not a generational thing. To be clear, I wasn’t necessarily planning for him to wear it every day, but to have something he can wear when he wants to “dress up.” I have no idea what profession he will end up in, so not sure whether he’ll be in a spcasual environment or one wear a suit or at least dress shirt/tie is the norm.
Until recently, he never wore jewelry except when he was much younger and did occasionally wear a sports watch. However, last year his team won its championship and they got championship rings. He had bypassed the class rings that 3/4 of his class got b/c he knew it was a waste of money, but he did want the champ ring. He has worn it a couple of times when he got dressed up, I.e. his Homecoming dance. I fully expect that it will basically just be a keepsake. Then surprisingly, though he is not exactly religious, he asked for a chain with a cross for Christmas (unbeknownst to him, his younger brother asked for one also, so not sure if they are popular now -they go to different Catholic schools so I’m sure they do see other boys wearing them).
@ChoatieMom does your son feel the same about college class rings? Dh went to a service academy also and their class rings are a source of great pride. He is not a jewelry wearer but he always wears his class ring when he wears a suit and/or goes to college events. I don’t even know if he wears a watch regularly but do know he has several - a sports watch, an “old man” jewelry watch which is also from his alma mater as well as a Russian watch his father gave him that he treasures (his father passed away 18 years ago).
I think we will just ask him. I feel badly though that I have nothing for him to open! Last year he got tickets to the NHL “stadium series” where his favorite team, the Caps, played in the Winter Classic game so perhaps I’ll do something like that again. I need to at least get him a couple of small things.
Thanks for ideas!
OP, I offered my son a watch, a class ring, a vacation upon college graduation. He didn’t want anything at the time, so I said consider it IOUs. Two years later, we did the vacation, And he did get a watch
IOUs.
I don’t have a son…My daughter got a very nice watch for her husband when they got married.
All three of my sons, 25-33, wear watches. My husband does not.
Agent 99, is that you?
Not at a service academy, and as I said, I do wear a watch at times, but I would not wear a class ring.
31 yo S wears a watch daily. 28 yo S does not & isn’t interested in owning a watch.
My son and yours could be the same. Mine used an iPad all through high school, so we bought his laptop for graduation. Since he is spoiled rotten (I don’t know HOW that happened), we upgraded his phone at Thanksgiving (long story that doesn’t reflect well on me). We were then stuck for Christmas gifts, and since he is now the only child at home, we wanted there to be presents. I hadn’t thought of a watch, but he told me that he would really like one because he has internships and meetings and things and likes to know the time, but finds it rude to check his phone. I almost fell over with the shock of that statement. I have also noticed that he has become very fashion conscious this year, so I got him a very nice classic watch with a leather band. He likes it a lot and I could see him becoming an accessory guy.
I just looked at some photos from DS#2’a wedding. DS#1 is wearing his watch, but its a smart watch of some sort with a nice, traditional metal band.
IMO a thought, given the bargains that can be gotten at the moment, is to get him some stock in a company that is either going to hopefully grow/bounce back and/or gives dividends. Nice benchmark gift, IMO.
If he is working…how about starting a Roth IRA.
My 31 y/o S2 wears a watch daily and actually has 3 in rotation…he likes watches. His older brother, 34 y/o S1 has at least two that I know of but I haven’t seen him wear one in ages. I think it’s a very personal thing but a great gift if he’s inclined to use it.
No sons but 5 sons-in-law and all wear a watch. My H is a watch collector. They, and his cars, are his vices but I never complain. 
@zoosermom How is it possible that your son is finished high school?!
My son wears his Garmin sports watch most of the time. I had to laugh at the tie tack/cuff links suggestion. I’m not sure I’ve seen a tie tack on anyone under 80 in years. My son would not know what one is. In fact, I work for a Fortune 400 company and I rarely see a tie! Even our board meetings are business casual.