Give new or pass one down to sons?

[mike]

Well, there's really no wrong answer. Strong arguements both ways. I did both----twice.

Both sons got a new Rolex when they graduated. Heck the polor EXP II my youngest got did two tours in the sand box--lots of memories there.

Later on they eack got one of mine as I decided to limit my exposure to Rolex.

My daughter got a lady Rolex when she got out of nursing school.

Man,----glad that's over.

[Chewbacca]

i would pass down as my dad did for me. but i had to show my dad an appreciation and respect for my swatch and heuer 1000 before i ever got the nod that i would get one of his rolexes if i got good grades and matured. as a result, those lessons allowed me to get my own modern ones anyway.

my wife and i plan on using the same playbook with our kids.

[samsam]

Since you decided to go new, allow me to suggest a GMTIIC. If your son is going to school in another time zone, set the GMT hand to your home time and hour hand to his local time. This way he will always remember you and it's a nice added touch IMO.
Having said that, nothing wrong with a Sub date.

[RXAPPP]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Given your situation, I would get him a new starter watch (non Rolex) and see if he's really into watches first. If he shows he is into watches, wait until he is married or for his first child to give him your watch. It will mean a lot more. He is gonna get it when you die anyway so what's the hurry?

Did that with our daughter - A new Quartz Cartier - she will get Mum's Rolex and APs when the time comes.

I'll get my son a non rolex nice watch and he can get mine when I am gone

[Kadhytia]

From my personal experience my grandfather passed down his Cellini to me. During that time I already consider myself as a WIS. Three months later I sold it and bought a GMT C new from AD; I made the decision because of the small size and the yellow gold.So personally its best to find out what he likes then get him new IMHO. He would take better care because he loves it and not forced to enjoy it because it was passed down.

[tkerrmd]

I have done both, and both special events in the families life, the act probably more than the watch is what is the most important

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

I have done both, and both special events in the families life, the act probably more than the watch is what is the most important

Yup, my plan is to give my son one of my subs when he turns 25, that's in 3 yrs.
The rest of my Wilsdorf clan goes to him when I go to the big Fillmore West auditorium in the sky.

[BNA/LION]

Pass one down.
Look at your collection with your son and get a feel for what watch he likes. Give him the one he likes the best and start a tradition. I would guess once he gets the bug and by the time his child graduates he will have a nice collection too. He will give his child a choice of one of his watch's and so on and so on...

[the dark knight]

I'm in my early 30s now. I'm thinking back to how I would have felt if my dad passed me down a watch when I was in my early 20s. I think I would have been very appreciative, but at the same time I don't think I would have QUITE appreciated it as much as I would if he'd make the same gesture now or even say 10 years from now.

The reason is that I think in my early 20s I was still a bit too young, a bit too short of life experiences to truly appreciate the things my own father went through in his life. 10 years later, having gotten married and staking my own claim in the world, I'm beginning to appreciate more kind of the things my own dad must have gone through, and I think a passed down heirloom that kind of symbolizes that "journey" my father went through and that I'm walking now would have much more meaning. If that makes sense.

So for that reason I think for someone in their early 20s, a BNIB "graduation" watch makes more sense.

[threemonkeys]

<--- three watches for my three monkeys. I'll hand them down eventually. Not for college, though. It takes a bit of aging and life experience to fully appreciate the importance of legacy-type gifts. IMHO, of course.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Pass down. It'll be more likely to stay with him if it has some sentimental meaning vs just a watch.

This is exactly what I'm doing. My son graduates next weekend and at dinner that night I'm taking my just serviced Sub (when he was little he'd tell his friends "My dad has James Bond's watch!") off my wrist and handing it to him. Everyone is different but I know my kid and this will mean more to him than a store bought one as it will be a very personal expression of my pride for his accomplishment.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

This is exactly what I'm doing. My son graduates next weekend and at dinner that night I'm taking my just serviced Sub (when he was little he'd tell his friends "My dad has James Bond's watch!") off my wrist and handing it to him. Everyone is different but I know my kid and this will mean more to him than a store bought one as it will be a very personal expression of my pride for his accomplishment.

That's what I would do too.

[TimeOnHand]

I would pass down to my children.

[AH0RSEY]

BNIB now - and then eventually he will get your watches anyway huh!!!! ;o)

also, the feeling of going into the AD and letting him chose the watch shouldn't be underestimated - but make sure its a good AD so he enjoys the experience. Lucky lad either way

[hx_ONG]

for my case, my dad bought me & my siblings new rolex and according to him he will pass down his own rolexes to each of us in the future. I think the one he will pass down to me in the future is way more special compared to the new one he bought me.

[Gaijin]

I say BNIB. He will get your your other Rolex someday. A BNIB for a brand new graduate would be nice.

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

I say BNIB. He will get your your other Rolex someday. A BNIB for a brand new graduate would be nice.

x2

you are already influencing by getting him a rolex, so, let it be a new one to celebrate finishing college and starting out in life and creating his memories with his watch.

your watches to him will come later, when you are both older and when you both can appreciate that act more.

just my two cents.

[elcompa]

Originally Posted by JohnBoy

Just an opinion - but I think I'd give a BNIB one to a BNIB graduate; a personal watch to specifically acknowledge his/her personal hard work and accomplishment. If the bug 'takes,' there will be special times in the future that will be appropriate to 'thin' your collection - and they will be appreciated! If there is some immunity from the first vaccination and the BNIB has been sitting in a drawer - older models probably won't be wanted either. Ah well....patience, Dad....patience....

Great answer! I side with you on this. Give new for graduation. If, in a few years, you realize he / they love it, then begin to pass on something from your valued collection.

[elcompa]

Originally Posted by SamSam

Since you decided to go new, allow me to suggest a GMTIIC. If your son is going to school in another time zone, set the GMT hand to your home time and hour hand to his local time. This way he will always remember you and it's a nice added touch IMO.
Having said that, nothing wrong with a Sub date.

Sam,
You are so on target with this. What a great touch. You are also giving me sentimental ideas. This is the best one I have heard in a long time. Tnx!

[Beef]

Originally Posted by bgriz

Saw the other thread on passing down watches...made me think its not a question of if I will give them a watch, but whether to give new or pass one down.

I have mixed feelings on how to handle this. My boys show a casual interest in my watches, they think they are "pretty sweet". When my oldest son graduates college next year I want to give him a Rolex watch as sort of a reward for his accomplishment, and to give him exposure to this disease we all have. lol. There's no question in my mind he will like it, but what I'm not sure is if I want to get him a bnib watch of his own, or pass one of mine down.

I tend to think a 22 yr old is not yet that sentimental and therefore would prefer a bnib watch more right now, then someday more appreciate inheriting my watches.

I realize I can do whichever, and I'm leaning towards new, but I'm curious what others have done or plan to do....give new or one of yours?

This can go either way and have a happy outcome. Whether you give him new or one of yours is immaterial. He will develop sentiment for either because the gift reflects your pride in his accomplishment. Mine have no choice, they'll receive one of mine at college graduation.

[rustyduck]

I just gaved my son his first following graduation. -- air king 3,6,9 blue. he has smaller wrists and so it was a good fit. we'd seen one of the GQ articles about how the air king was the perfect all around watches. I told him that I suspected that it was the first of more than one Rolex he would acquire (besides mine) with his wortk ethic and ambition. He was very appreciative but said "It's a Rolex. It's great. It's awesome. Its my "first"." Well, that pretty much says it all. My kids don't ask for anything really. we paid for college and they work hard. I got him a seiko after high school. he took care of it. I expect that he will go to grad school as well so I will have another opportunity to give him a new one. I suspect there is no right answer and each person values differen't things. some will want new. some will want dad's watch. some will change their minds as they get older. do what is the most appropriate for your particular son or daughter. having said that, I'll mind (and he'll mind) the loss of an air king less than the loss of a sub c if that were ever to happen but it's just a matter of degrees.

[T. Ferguson]

Another consideration for me is that there will be other opportunities to give my son a watch as a gift where BNIB might be more appropriate. His wedding day would be a good opportunity to do the his and hers thing. And I also thought that when he has his first child a BNIB Rolex would make a better gift because it would be a birth year watch for my grandkid that would be an instant heirloom for him to pass on at the right time.

[landroverking]

I have passed down a TT sub and two SMPs.

[tunes]

my son was born in 2013 so i got him a 2013 GMTii...not sure when i'm going to give it to him though...its just going to sit in the safe until then.

[porschedude]

Whatever you feel he will appreciate more! Im sure either way he will enjoy whichever option you choose. Goodluck!

[pinkelle21]

Dang all these kids getting a brand new rolex for an undergrad degree, that's awesome! I think handing one down is definatley more meaningful👍


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