Retirement, pension and a gold watch...those were the days!

[swiss_seth]

I recently had my grandfathers Accutron Tuning Fork watch overhauled. This is probably the first time since 1982 its been done. The process took 7 months which was not great but it seems parts and expertise to fix and maintain these is running thin nowadays.





I have my gold DD and love the look and feel of how gold quickly acclimates to the ambient temperature which increases comfort as a daily wearer.





Does anyone here know of any companies that give a Day-Date as a retirement gift or is corporate America too tight with their wallets nowadays? lol


I am lucky to be in 3% of Fortune 500 companies to offer a traditional pension like my grandpa but I highly doubt they'll give me a watch. Fingers crossed for when I am 62!

[EverCloserUnion]

Thanks for sharing this - great to see those watches.

I personally think the hybrid-working environment has completely eroded the tradition of the big send-off.

This applies when people leave a company: Pre Covid there would be a bit of a presentation, a card, and a small gift. Today people seem to slip quietly out of the door because it's hard to guarantee a decent sized crowd in a hot-desk office .

It seems to apply to retirement departures too - at most there will be a hand-shake and then sorting out the formalities with someone from HR.

[swiss_seth]

Originally Posted by EverCloserUnion

Thanks for sharing this - great to see those watches.

I personally think the hybrid-working environment has completely eroded the tradition of the big send-off.

This applies when people leave a company: Pre Covid there would be a bit of a presentation, a card, and a small gift. Today people seem to slip quietly out of the door because it's hard to guarantee a decent sized crowd in a hot-desk office .

It seems to apply to retirement departures too - at most there will be a hand-shake and then sorting out the formalities with someone from HR.

Agreed, sadly. Not sure how I would change that hybrid approach. It has its benefits and drawbacks as you have mentioned.

[brandrea]

I think giving gold watches is a thing of the past (for the most part).

It’s certainly meaningful to us WIS, but I think nowadays most folks would rather receive a monetary gift or maybe a trip.

I love that you have your granddad’s watch

[Oxfordian]

I received a Gold Watch (Longines) after 25 years service, when I left the company 12 years later I received a bottle of gin and some pens with my name on in case I forget who I am.

One guy I worked with actually did 50 years with the company and retired 8 months after, received his watch (rather nice Omega) after 25 years of service and sod all after 50 years, on retirement he was taken for lunch at the local pub.

Companies used to treat employees as part of the company family and those with long service were looked after rather well but nowadays you're just a payroll number.

[wesdaniel]

Thanks for posting!

A colleague of mine (different companies, same industry) was given a SS DJ41 when he retired a few years ago. He was a senior executive and one of the founders of the company.

Nothing like it used to be...

This is the Lord Elgin Henslee Durapower watch that my father got when he retired in 1950 after 26 years with Chevrolet.

I never wear it... maybe once every two or three years at most. But, try to have it serviced every 10 years or so.





I've been with my company for 11 years and have 11 to go before I retire - at which time, I'm sure I will get... asked if I'm willing to do some consulting work for free. If there was a DD involved, I could probably be persuaded to work the additional 4 years...

[swiss_seth]

Originally Posted by oxfordian

- i received a bottle of gin and some pens with my name on in case i forget who i am.

lol!!

[swiss_seth]

Originally Posted by wesdaniel

Thanks for posting!

A colleague of mine (different companies, same industry) was given a SS DJ41 when he retired a few years ago. He was a senior executive and one of the founders of the company.

Nothing like it used to be...

This is the Lord Elgin Henslee Durapower watch that my father got when he retired in 1950 after 26 years with Chevrolet.

I never wear it... maybe once every two or three years at most. But, try to have it serviced every 10 years or so.





I've been with my company for 11 years and have 11 to go before I retire - at which time, I'm sure I will get... asked if I'm willing to do some consulting work for free. If there was a DD involved, I could probably be persuaded to work the additional 4 years...

awesome!

[ArtNouveau]

This is my late father's retirement Omega, also with a licensed Accutron movement. I had it restored when he passed and it still runs pretty well.
I retired in 2021 after a lengthy 47 years with ATT, no gold watch but do have one of those old fashioned pensions. We did have watch choices for some service anniversaries but nothing fancy.

[HappyPrince]

These days most companies would rather give you a swift kick in the rear at the first opportunity than have you stick around until you retire. Loyalty is a one way street.

[superpop]

I am in med tech sales and up until around 15 years ago, most of the big multi modality companies would hand out Sub's like candy bars at the national sales meetings to folks that had a good year. A few of the more seasoned guys would simply sell them as they already had much more expensive watches. It was a different time in the industry, now it is a grind with not nearly the financial upside and perks.

[4reRlxGuy]

A close friend's father worked in management for Sysco (food distribution) and retired in the 1990s. He received a day date and a Lincoln continental for his retirement. Don't know about a pension but assume he received one since they were common pre 90s.

[ltmgeller]

What a great tradition that I feel has fallen to the wayside.

[racerx]

I have my paternal grandfathers gold Hamilton he received for 50+ years of faithful service at International Harvester building trucks. Unheard of today.

[Zach69SS]

Thanks for posting nice pictures. Now it’s More like show me the door, rather than show me the money. Sad that those days are gone!

My dad received a gold plated Seiko when he retired as he worked for the city.

Where after a lifetime of service you would receive a nice watch for your retirement. Nowadays you are lucky if you receive an $100 Amazon gift card.

[Mr Ben]

I passed the milestone of 25 years with a company and got an automated workflow notification thanking me - I think the personal touch and the chances of a watch may have disappeared some years ago!

[4reRlxGuy]

Originally Posted by Mr Ben

I passed the milestone of 25 years with a company and got an automated workflow notification thanking me - I think the personal touch and the chances of a watch may have disappeared some years ago!

I offer ownership after 10 yrs at my firm. One of my employees left to start his own firm during covid. He opted to cash out (after 15 yrs fresh out of school).

He got 80k net that he used for part of his start up costs. Besides the $ he learned a profession.

[skipstar]

I have spoken of this before…. My friend runs a major company on Cape Cod Ma and he gives all his 20 year employees a Rolex on their anniversary. Mostly SS sport models, I had to assist him last year with 2 separate ADs to get 6 different watches. He is a great guy!

[racerx]

Originally Posted by Mr Ben

I passed the milestone of 25 years with a company and got an automated workflow notification thanking me - I think the personal touch and the chances of a watch may have disappeared some years ago!

I also passed 25 years at my company and got a desk ornament with my name on it. It’s still in the box it came it.

[2ltdjorn]

My uncle got a gold DD at 20 or 25 years with his company, oil company out of New Orleans. Has been sold to another international company, and don’t know if tradition carried.

I remember he wore it all the time for a few years then retired it to the safe.

[brigadoonb]

Pensions…loyalty is a thing of the past in the corporate world, sadly.

BUT…..I have seen and heard of several small business owners giving watches out to their most senior employees, which shows to me that true business sense is still around, just in smaller doses.

Side note…after a major milestone at my company, I was able to “pick” a gift from a preselected catalog. I ended up picking the “best” gift I could find and pulled the trigger on a $50 circular saw.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rollieplz]

Both my father and father in law received a Rolex for 25 yrs of service. We get minimum points to spend on some 3rd party site and an email shout out….

[EverCloserUnion]

A major US corporation I worked for (prior to my corner of the business being divested) offered a frankly bewildering range of anniversary gifts.
A company-branded pen at five years, a corporate signet ring at ten, and inexplicably a battery operated 'snow thrower' at 15.

This was a global programme. Our chaps in Bangalore also received a 'snow thrower' at 15 years.

We now receive a 'shout out' from HR on the company intranet, so that's progress.

[Little machines]

Thank you for sharing ! The past and present is a great way for us to share our watch stories with who we love and the passion of preserving these beautiful time pieces!

[swiss_seth]

Originally Posted by EverCloserUnion

This was a global programme. Our chaps in Bangalore also received a 'snow thrower' at 15 years.

Outstanding! You can’t make this stuff up.

[ronricks]

Seems like smaller companies are more likely to offer a Rolex now than larger ones.