When & how do you tell.....

[Mars]

.....the kids about your watches?

I have 2 little ones - girl 4.5 years old & boy 21 months old. I have been collecting watches for the purposes of family heirlooms.

I've been thinking about this for some time. That is, at what age is it best to tell them about the collection, its worth & that it is my dying wish that they never be sold? They are to be handed down father to son / daughter, they need servicing & so on.

I want the kids to appreciate the watches as much as I do, but I don't want them thinking they are fat cats or dad's a fat cat or even seeing an overseas trip in one of them. I also don't want them sneaking the watches off to school for show & tell. I want them to be committed WISs.

Any advice is appreciated.

[jdc]

I wanted my middle son to be an Arsenal fan, he chose Man Utd. I am in the process of disowning him, suggest you try the same if they do not follow your hobbies. Mild torture also failed but is worth a shot.

[Trurolexer]

Originally Posted by jdc

I wanted my middle son to be an Arsenal fan, he chose Man Utd. I am in the process of disowning him, suggest you try the same if they do not follow your hobbies. Mild torture also failed but is worth a shot.

Your son have a GREAT taste.

BTW my older son 9 years old, love watch. He love to see the SUBMARINER. I give him my Tag Heuer 200m professional. And he wear it with proud.
Someday if he already collage, i wanna give my Subdate to him.

About the Football...All my sons love UNITED.

[redshirt1957]

I include all my kids in my hobbies and the only one that all four take part in is my Rolex collecting. One flies, two love sports cars, one collects coins, none are interested in guns or hunting, and so on. Even the five year old has picked out her favorite Rolex. From time to time I will ask the model and make of a certain watch and they are correct 90% of the time. As far as what peolpe do with my gifts; never have given in a second thought.

[scottschoe]

18 and 18, unless they fall in love with watches on their own accord.

[Jimbits76]

As Martin says...you can't make somebody love something you do!

However, if you show enough interest in something whilst in their presence it will only be natural that they follow suit.

You can't stipulate that they will never be sold...wouldn't you rather your offspring be safe and have food, warmth or shelter than some silly watch? You never know how things are going to turn out!

As for the WIS jr thing...how old were you when you took an interest in watches?

J

[Mars]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

As for the WIS jr thing...how old were you when you took an interest in watches?

J

I was 43. Bought my first Rolex - a DJ. Thanks for all the advice guys. That Nintendo thing....sheeesh

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by Mars

I was 43. Bought my first Rolex - a DJ. Thanks for all the advice guys. That Nintendo thing....sheeesh

Ole' JimBits has shared his Nintendo with so many people it now looks like a bicycle grip!

[unclesallie]

i think 10 or 11 is the age you can tell them, but 25 is when they'll hock the stuff for that trip to Lauderdale with their friends !
best,
dan

[Widows Son]

It's my greatest fear that someday all my goodies will be on a table somewhere at a flea market.

[yankeefist]

I started showing Samantha new additions to my collection when she entered High School. I don't expect her to keep everything (read more than just watch collection). She already has her favorites and has exquisite taste. Actually, recently she was distraught to find out I traded one of her favorites away (I am now in the process of getting it back). We are hoping to take a trip to Switzerland for her graduation, I always told her I would take her and we would buy her a watch . (let's hope I can afford the one she picks out)

[arttay10]

My Eldest son who is 15 can't wait till I buy him a Rolex -
He sits many times with me reading the more 'funny' posts and the looking at the Photoshop work of the members off here.

If he carries on enjoying the Forum and the watches all well and good - if he does'nt.... well at least we had fun at the time.

[Jimbits76]

Your 15 year old reads this, whatever next????????

At his age I was playing with my little friend in my parent's bathroom.

For many hours I used to fiddle with it.

My skinny teen fingers working up and down it's length.

I actually got quite good at it and thought about going professional.

When the moment came I often let out a cry or moan of pleasure for my whole family to hear.

It used to be about 6 and a half inches in length and always solid and dependable when it was time to play.

Now I'm married I never get the chance and I really miss it.

God I miss my Nintendo Gameboy!

J

[arttay10]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

Your 15 year old reads this, whatever next????????

At his age I was playing with my little friend in my parent's bathroom.

For many hours I used to fiddle with it.

My skinny teen fingers working up and down it's length.

I actually got quite good at it and thought about going professional.

When the moment came I often let out a cry or moan of pleasure for my whole family to hear.

It used to be about 6 and a half inches in length and always solid and dependable when it was time to play.

Now I'm married I never get the chance and I really miss it.

God I miss my Nintendo Gameboy!

J

For a minute there - I thought you was talking about 'Tommy Turtle'

[DSJ]

It's never too early - my son already loves his!

[Leighton]

My kids are more interested in the opposite sex at this point, ages 16 an 19. How healthy is that!!!??? They use their cell phones for the time since they are always at the ready to send and receive a text message. Forcing someone to be interested in a collection, hobby, investment, etc. never works. The only thing you can do is expose them to your interest and if they show enthusiasm - teach them more. But at the end of the day, connecting with your kids and sharing in a common interest (whether it is your interest or not) is more important than anything else in this big old world.

[richardlo]

I have a 21 month old and showed him the Rolex at 20 months. He stared intently as I explained some of its features.

Since that day whenever he sees it on the valet, he reaches for it, grabs it, slips it on his arm, and runs away giggling. When I go after him he throws it, luckily on carpeted floor. This happens about once or twice a day.

Sometimes fun, sometimes tiresome.

[Launch Mini]

My daughter loved watches from the time, ha ha, she was about 3.
She has around 40 now, mostly Swatch and similar types, but she does get to wear my wifes PAM 48 for special occasions.
She has her eyes on my PAM249, Think I will give it to her on graduation.

[Boopie]

I tell my little ones (ages 3 and 6) that Rolex is a nice, expensive watch, much as I point out the exotic cars that we see (we don't own any), point out which houses are expensive houses, etc. I think if kids grow up knowing to enjoy and appreciate fine things, they might aspire to work hard to earn them, whether it's a watch, car, camera, TV, etc.