Purchase New Rolex to Pass on to First Child

[johnnycakes]

Hi

I will start off by saying I am very new to the watch game.

We just had our first child and I thought it would be a nice idea to purchase a Rolex that I will pass on to my son at some major life event 20 or 30 years from now.

I am realizing that it's not so easy. I had no idea that you can't just want into a store and walk out with the Rolex that you want. I have 4 ADs in my city, none of them have much in stock.

I am looking for a submariner, Daytona or GMT in stainless steel/black face.

I can put my name on the list and likely never hear about anything other than a submariner, which I might get in 6 months to a year.

I realize that I can go on the gray market and pay a lot over MSRP.

Any other advice as to what I should do?

Thanks in advance.

[mountainjogger]

Since you have 20-30 years there is no rush. Wait and see if the situation improves.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by johnnycakes

Hi

I will start off by saying I am very new to the watch game.

We just had our first child and I thought it would be a nice idea to purchase a Rolex that I will pass on to my son at some major life event 20 or 30 years from now.

I am realizing that it's not so easy. I had no idea that you can't just want into a store and walk out with the Rolex that you want. I have 4 ADs in my city, none of them have much in stock.

I am looking for a submariner, Daytona or GMT in stainless steel/black face.

I can put my name on the list and likely never hear about anything other than a submariner, which I might get in 6 months to a year.

I realize that I can go on the gray market and pay a lot over MSRP.

Any other advice as to what I should do?

Thanks in advance.

That's what you can do.

Welcome to the forum...and the watch game.

[fsprow]

Who knows what your son will value at that time. I suggest an investment in a mutual fund or similar and he can spend the proceeds on what he wants then.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by fsprow

Who knows what your son will value at that time. I suggest an investment in a mutual fund or similar and he can spend the proceeds on what he wants then.

10K invested now in a mutual fund should be worth a tidy sum 20 years from now. I agree forget the watch, if passing on something of value is paramount.

[johnnycakes]

I'm not worried about the value of the product in 30 years, more so the sentimental value.

Wedding day, college or grad school graduation, etc. Getting a 30 year old Rolex that your dad wore for a long time would be very nice.

Not sure if the other brands would hold the same sentimental value.

Originally Posted by fsprow

Who knows what your son will value at that time. I suggest an investment in a mutual fund or similar and he can spend the proceeds on what he wants then.

[bezler]

Originally Posted by johnnycakes

I'm not worried about the value of the product in 30 years, more so the sentimental value.

Wedding day, college or grad school graduation, etc. Getting a 30 year old Rolex that your dad wore for a long time would be very nice.

Not sure if the other brands would hold the same sentimental value.

Do check out other bands. The sentimental value will derive from you having carefully selected the watch, and enjoyed it for decades. There are many brands that offer high quality, canonical timepieces, at Rolex level or better, and they're available and priced more attractively. You (and your son) would truly enjoy them.

[epicurus]

Originally Posted by johnnycakes

I'm not worried about the value of the product in 30 years, more so the sentimental value.

Wedding day, college or grad school graduation, etc. Getting a 30 year old Rolex that your dad wore for a long time would be very nice.

Not sure if the other brands would hold the same sentimental value.

Its not the brand that gives sentimental value....Its the fact that it was Dad's. He will treasure the daily watch he saw you wear growing up.....period. What are you wearing now??

[Sublovin]

Originally Posted by epicurus

Its not the brand that gives sentimental value....Its the fact that it was Dad's. He will treasure the daily watch he saw you wear growing up.....period. What are you wearing now??

Correct! You are trying to “create” sentimental value. Sounds like just an excuse to buy a watch.

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by johnnycakes

Not sure if the other brands would hold the same sentimental value.

PP would be your best bet here.

You never actually own a Patek Philippe,

You merely look after it for the next generation.

[TswaneNguni]

Sub/Date 116610LN Wait 6 months at the AD or buy grey if you need to ,30 years from now you will look back at it as a bargain buy !

[Seibei]

Originally Posted by fsprow

Who knows what your son will value at that time. I suggest an investment in a mutual fund or similar and he can spend the proceeds on what he wants then.

I can not agree more with this.

OP, if you want a watch for yourself, just buy it and enjoy it. If 30 years down the line you want to give it to your son, by all means do.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by fsprow

Who knows what your son will value at that time. I suggest an investment in a mutual fund or similar and he can spend the proceeds on what he wants then.

[DLRIDES]

Buy the watch YOU want to wear, and do such. This will mean more you your child when given.

What’s a few months wait in a 20-30 year projection ....................?

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by fsprow

Who knows what your son will value at that time. I suggest an investment in a mutual fund or similar and he can spend the proceeds on what he wants then.

Spot on

[samson66]

Originally Posted by fsprow

Who knows what your son will value at that time. I suggest an investment in a mutual fund or similar and he can spend the proceeds on what he wants then.

This every time. Most kids would pick a smart watch or no watch over a $10K Rolex.

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[zengineer]

Originally Posted by samson66

This every time. Most kids would pick a smart watch or no watch over a $10K Rolex.

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Kids grow up and no smartwatch made today will be around in 5 years. I understand the financial advantage of an investment over a watch, but many here already have the money side of supporting a child adequately covered and are looking for something with a bit more sentiment.

Here's something nobody has said ever. "A mutual fund!!!!, thanks Dad this is the best Christmas ever..."

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[samson66]

Originally Posted by zengineer

Kids grow up and no smartwatch made today will be around in 5 years. I understand the financial advantage of an investment over a watch, but many here already have the money side of supporting a child adequately covered and are looking for something with a bit more sentiment.

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I hear you on the smart watch (note, I hate smart watches) but I still think purchasing a Rolex for a newborn when you have no idea of the child will ever care or appreciate a Rolex in the future is a nice gesture but there may be better directions to go.

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[johnnycakes]

Again pardon my lack of knowledge in the subject, but it seems odd that I can't walk into a store, pay for a product in full, and receive the product when it arrives.

[marcusp23]

Originally Posted by johnnycakes

Again pardon my lack of knowledge in the subject, but it seems odd that I can't walk into a store, pay for a product in full, and receive the product when it arrives.

Yes, it is ridiculous. It’s just that we have all gotten used to the craziness over time...

[Lenny1989]

Originally Posted by johnnycakes

Again pardon my lack of knowledge in the subject, but it seems odd that I can't walk into a store, pay for a product in full, and receive the product when it arrives.

Supply and demand. There are certain models that are coveted right now and therefore only go to customers with purchase history. As such, unless you get lucky for some strange reason, you are unlikely to get these models any time soon/at all due to there being a host of people with purchase history who want it also.

[Token74]

Originally Posted by johnnycakes

Again pardon my lack of knowledge in the subject, but it seems odd that I can't walk into a store, pay for a product in full, and receive the product when it arrives.

It’s pretty simple really. Some of us have spent many years building relationships and paying full retail price when greys we’re selling under retail. When demand starts to exceed supply, that loyalty is rewarded and first time buyers are largely de prioritised in favour of long term loyal customers.

Seems perfectly reasonable to me, although I understand the frustration of those trying to get on the ladder at a difficult time.

Given that trends and tastes vary wildly over the years, and as this is ultimately about your son and not you, why not go for a classic DateJust which is available and a true classic.


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[tymonster]

You can do that with most well known "higher end" watch brands - Omega, Breitling, Blancpain, JLC, TAG, NOMOS, Cartier, Panerai, and a million others.

The stainless steel Rolex market, AP and Patek are off the wall the last few years.

If you don't want to play the Rolex game there are other awesome watches out there to pass down to your kid. Otherwise you'll have to buckle in and pay more or wait a while.

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[zengineer]

I noticed a coworker (a client actually) had a 5 digit Sub on his wrist. I complemented his good taste. He smiled and said it was his father's, gifted to him when he married. His Dad is still alive. I asked if he had memories of his father wearing it and he said yes and almost teared up. This was on the walk out the building after the meeting and someone I've known for a few years so It wasn't uncomfortable.

My point is, if you really want to do this, buy a watch and wear it as he is growing up and at the right time give it to him. It will mean so much more than a safe queen.

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[lamnyc]

Originally Posted by zengineer

I noticed a coworker (a client actually) had a 5 digit Sub on his wrist. I complemented his good taste. He smiled and said it was his father's, gifted to him when he married. His Dad is still alive. I asked if he had memories of his father wearing it and he said yes and almost teared up. This was on the walk out the building after the meeting and someone I've known for a few years so It wasn't uncomfortable.

My point is, if you really want to do this, buy a watch and wear it as he is growing up and at the right time give it to him. It will mean so much more than a safe queen.

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I would. I have my father’s watch that my mom gave him.

[logo]

The idea of passing on a watch really only makes sense if you yourself are into watches - otherwise it’s just a random gift that was stashed away for 30 years. The fact that it’s worn and loved by you is what would make your child appreciate it down the road, not the watch itself. For that reason, I would agree with others that the better option is to invest some money that you can give as a 30th birthday gift down the road, where at that time if you are still thinking Rolex you can say “here’s money for a Rolex.”

That said, a stainless black dial submariner is really not much different on the secondary market compared to new at an AD so that would be the route to take if you did choose to buy now.

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by johnnycakes

Hi

I will start off by saying I am very new to the watch game.

We just had our first child and I thought it would be a nice idea to purchase a Rolex that I will pass on to my son at some major life event 20 or 30 years from now.

I am realizing that it's not so easy. I had no idea that you can't just want into a store and walk out with the Rolex that you want. I have 4 ADs in my city, none of them have much in stock.

I am looking for a submariner, Daytona or GMT in stainless steel/black face.

I can put my name on the list and likely never hear about anything other than a submariner, which I might get in 6 months to a year.

I realize that I can go on the gray market and pay a lot over MSRP.

Any other advice as to what I should do?

Thanks in advance.

Choose one of the dozens of models that are currently available or a model with a short wait period, or a minimal second hand premium. Problem solved.

If you restrict yourself to only wanting to buy the same incredibly sought after (and therefore hard to get) models everyone else wants, you are in for a long wait or disappointment.

[77T]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

Choose one of the dozens of models that are currently available or a model with a short wait period, or a minimal second hand premium. Problem solved.

Probably the best route.



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[johnnycakes]

I'm not really asking "if" I should buy one, more like - how should I buy one? Am I going to sit on an infinitely long list until I purchase more and more non-rolex items from a single AD?

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by johnnycakes

I'm not really asking "if" I should buy one, more like - how should I buy one? Am I going to sit on an infinitely long list until I purchase more and more non-rolex items from a single AD?

Yes you are. Unless you find an AD willing to sell their best bargaining chip(s) to an unknown walk-in client with no purchase history. (This isn’t impossible, but it makes profoundly bad business sense so it isn’t going to be easy to find such a store)