Future Sentimental Events - timepieces as a gift

[kenixck]

Not sure if this has been discussed but maybe the trend is catching up.
Mod kindly removed/merged if discussed before.

When/Why/What occasion will you give your child a timepiece ? (usually graduation / marriage)

Do you choose for them, let your children choose within a budget?

What's your reasoning behind it ?

(Not the timepiece(s) that you passed on, when you passed on) 

Happy Monday !

[hanz079]

It depends actually.
My child have yet to show any interest in watches yet (he's only 6...lol)
But that being said, I have already bought a Rolex SubC and warranty card is filled with his name ready to pass it to him when he hit a milestone.
As for what milestone, I will have to see. A university graduation maybe if he can study that high?
Or maybe marriage? Or maybe getting a job? I don't know. Will have to wait.
In the meantime, I will be wearing the SubC on loan... lol

[ckk125]

It depends actually.
My child have yet to show any interest in watches yet (he's only 6...lol)
But that being said, I have already bought a Rolex SubC and warranty card is filled with his name ready to pass it to him when he hit a milestone.
As for what milestone, I will have to see. A university graduation maybe if he can study that high?
Or maybe marriage? Or maybe getting a job? I don't know. Will have to wait.
In the meantime, I will be wearing the SubC on loan... lol

 :thumbsup:dad.. its a very good incentive

[kwh74]

Maybe it runs the blood.  When my daughter is about 1 year old, i usually take her her to do window shopping for watches and i bought her a few of cartoon character watches.

Now she is 3 years old and she will pull me to any watch shop that she saw in shopping mall.  She will ask me "Lets go in and look at watch".  I am simply amazed with her joy and smile when she look at watches.

Lets see when she grow up if it really runs in the blood.

[STT1987]

Knowing what I know now, I would not trust myself at 18 years old (or even 21) with a Rolex.

My first watch was a gift. A Seiko Digital alarm (steel with steel bracelet) that I got at Form 1. I smashed the crystal on that thing at least twice and when it finally died 11 years later, it was VERY BEAT UP - basically destroyed.

My second "real" watch was also a gift. A TAG Heuer 2000 quartz model (the one with Mercedes hands). Even though I was working on my first job by then, age 20+ ; I took a lot of liberties with it. Cracked the crystal at least once, forgot to screw the crown and had water in the watch; I even lost the watch for several months until I luckily found it again. It's a wonder that the watch lasted as long as it did until I seriously looked into collecting watches (at a ripe of age of 30++.)

The things is, unless you really really educate and trust your kids; "what is gotten easily is not as valued."
A Rolex watch on a teenager IMHO is not a good idea. It just makes your kid a target. Even past 21, it will depend on the maturity level of the person. I think maybe landing a good job might be a good start with that watch.

Unless they really are interested in watches etc., chances are most kids nowadays will take things for granted. Like giving the keys of your prized BMW or Mercedes to a 18 year old kid who just got their license. Their inexperience will probably result in a dent or two in the car before long.

Just my thoughts.   

[jason_recliner]

I bought my 16600 with the intention of gifting it to my future son. Maybe when he turns 30. Or maybe when I pass away!  I considered other brands, such as Grand Seiko, but he might not be interested in watches. Rolex is the brand that non-watch enthusiasts want, so I think that is the safest bet for a future gift.

[G.MAC]

I am not a father yet but I know that I will get my kid/kids a Rolex each when he/she is born. Model is dependent on the gender of the child. When I would pass it on to him/her..... maybe once he/she has graduated with his/her degree. By then whatever he/she chooses to do with it, is up to him/her. Also it is a good gauge to decide if I should bother passing my collection to him/her at all. I might just choose to liquidate my whole collection if he/she is not a watch maniac.

[dpkong]

When/Why/What occasion will you give your child a timepiece ? (usually graduation / marriage)

Do you choose for them, let your children choose within a budget?

What's your reasoning behind it ?

(Not the timepiece(s) that you passed on, when you passed on) 

1. No real occasion required. Best of course if it coincides with an event but then sales offers usually don't always sync with an event.

2. My kids wear cheap Swatch Flik Flak so I let them choose.

3. I like to let them get used to wearing a watch, watch it tick and then slowly educate them on the value of time.

4. I had pondered about buying a few watches and then eventually giving them one each in time to come, wearing them in the meantime of course! But then slowly, the idea faded and I think they should work for their own desires.

[meoramri]

Of my brood of 3, I gave a mechanical wristwatch to my second one when she was 10. Not because of any milestone but because she was careless and absentminded.

The shock of having to take care of an (in her mind) "expensive" mechanical watch that will be with her day and night reinforces the learning process of being careful, observant, alert and aware of her surroundings.

This is similar to the "taking care of an egg" training .....

If you guys face the same issue, try this solution. It worked for me.